Expert Views
Interview with the winners of the 9th Japan Student BtoB Newspaper Advertising AwardOur thoughts and wishes for the future of manufacturing
First Published in Japanese in September 2024 [2 parts]
The Japan Student BtoB Newspaper Advertising Award aims to help the next generation of business leaders understand business-to-business (B2B) commerce better and support the growth of industry. Now in its ninth year, the contest is sponsored by pioneering companies such as Mitsubishi Electric. This year, students were tasked with creating newspaper ads for low-voltage circuit breakers.
We had the opportunity to speak with two winners at the award ceremony, where they shared how they developed their ideas and what they learned from participating.
Summary
Since introducing Japan’s first fuseless circuit breaker in 1933*, Mitsubishi Electric has led the market and adapted to changing times. But how do students view a product as commonplace as the circuit breaker?
As a manufacturer, we have the opportunity to learn from their fresh perspectives, innovative thinking, and creative approaches. Out of many excellent entries, Akuri Komatsu from Osaka received the Jury’s Special Award, while Izumi Sasaki from Shizuoka won the Mitsubishi Electric Sponsor’s Award.
At the ceremony, we spoke with the two winners about their design process, what they learned about circuit breakers and factory automation as well as their thoughts on the future of manufacturing. We also explore why Mitsubishi Electric chose circuit breakers as this year’s contest theme.
*According to research by Japan Electrical Manufacturers’ Association, 2022
Jury’s Special AwardAkuri Komatsu
Graduate in Graphic Design, Sozosha College of Design
Mitsubishi Electric Sponsor’s AwardIzumi Sasaki
Student at Shizuoka University of Art and Culture, Design Department
FacilitatorMio Shimamura
Mitsubishi Electric Corporation, Factory Automation Systems Division, Digital Marketing Group
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