Arakawa launches international design competition “grippin’”

Arakawa & Co., Ltd. is pleased to announce the launch of grippin’, an international design competition inviting designers around the world to explore new possibilities for ARAKAWA GRIP.

The theme of the competition is “New GRIPS.” Participants are invited to imagine innovative applications for ARAKAWA GRIP, Arakawa’s wire-gripping mechanism, and propose ideas that go beyond its familiar uses for hanging and tensioning. Each participant will receive an ARAKAWA GRIP sample kit to explore the mechanism first-hand.

The competition is open to individual designers, architects and interior designers, as well as multidisciplinary practices, residing outside Japan. There is no limit to the number of entries. The entry fee is JPY 5,000 per entry.

Applications are open from October 1, 2026 to April 30, 2027. Entries will be reviewed by an international jury, with three finalists selected. The jury comprises Kaori Akiyama, Yasuhiro Kaneda, Hokuto Ando, Suzy Annetta and Hajime Arakawa.

The Gold Grip Award winner will receive JPY 500,000. One Silver Grip Award and one Bronze Grip Award will also be presented. Each winner will receive a trophy, and the award-winning works will be exhibited at TIERS GALLERY in autumn 2027.

We look forward to seeing fresh ideas that reveal new ways to use ARAKAWA GRIP.

Competition details and application:
https://www.arakawagrip-global.com/grippin2027/