Innovative Design Competition Links Students and Businesses in Japan's Digital Field

The online school Datra, based in Toshima, Tokyo, has partnered with GMO Connect HR, a subsidiary of the GMO Internet Group located in Shibuya, Tokyo, to host a significant design competition targeting students from its Web Design Course. Running from April 1 to May 11, 2025, this competition is geared towards providing practical experience that closely aligns with the needs of the job market.

About the Competition

The design competition is a hands-on event that allows students enrolled in the Web Design Course to showcase their skills. The format includes collaboration with companies seeking to redesign their websites or create landing pages. Students will develop and submit design proposals in response to specific challenges presented by participating businesses. The standout proposal will receive a commission from the respective company, enhancing the direct link between training and real-world applications.

The core mission of this competition is to offer a platform that connects students who have developed practical skills with companies in need of designers. In this recent contest, not only did the winning design receive a project order from GMO Connect HR, but several other participants also received job offers directly from businesses, demonstrating an effective and lively matching process.

Background and Objectives

Datra's philosophy revolves around expanding career choices for individuals by equipping them with skills that lead directly to employment. Many students have expressed frustrations about lacking opportunities to apply their newly acquired knowledge in real projects, reflecting a broader issue of insufficient DX professionals in the labor market.

Recognizing this gap, Datra has committed to creating opportunities where students can actively interact with the business environment. The collaboration with GMO Connect HR was born from shared goals, particularly the acute need for skilled web designers within the company. Through this design competition, Datra and GMO Connect HR effectively create a win-win situation where students gain exposure to real challenges, while companies access competent external talent.

Competition Overview

Dates:

April 24 to May 11, 2025

Submission Count:

Over 70 entries were received.

Assignments:

The design task was to create sales materials for GMO Connect HR's corporate website.

Judges:

- Akihito Yasuda, President of GMO Connect HR
- Yohei Horie, Manager at GMO Connect HR
- Shohei Otaki, President of Datra

Prizes:

Winning designs are adopted as official projects by GMO Connect HR, offering students a chance to work on real business assignments.

Result Highlights

Site Design Category

Grand Prize: Kukumama (@Jun_ko_web)
The judges praised the balanced design and its ability to create a welcoming and optimistic impression for potential job seekers. Notably, the suggested layout for the recruitment page stood out for its captivating structure and visuals that communicated the company’s appeal effectively.

Sales Materials Design Category

Grand Prize: Marino (@mari_web_desigh)
Judges noted exceptional balance in text size, layout, and visual selection that contributed to a viewer-friendly experience, especially the clarity of the case study page, which was highlighted as particularly intuitive.

Bridging Theory and Practice

This design competition offered students the chance to tackle real problems faced by existing businesses and to receive immediate feedback. The quality of submissions was commendable, with judges noting many proposals demonstrated practical applicability in professional settings, showing high levels of information architecture and design sophistication.

Beyond the grand prize winners, several participants received job offers from GMO Connect HR, which underscores the competition's success in facilitating significant career opportunities for budding designers. This event illustrates Datra's mission—creating a practical site that connects skilled individuals with employers actively seeking design talent.

Comments from the Event Leaders

Akihito Yasuda, President of GMO Connect HR

"Through this initiative, I realized that Datra's students possess high levels of skill and practical ability. The quality of their outputs, particularly those rooted in user-centric design and clarity, are ready to be implemented within our operations. As the shortage of design and DX talent continues to be pressing, finding new ways to collaborate with such skilled individuals is essential for our growth."

Ryota Funakoshi, Web Design Contest Director at Datra

"This contest represented a unique opportunity for students to experience how applicable their skills are in real-world scenarios. Engaging with practical challenges allowed for invaluable insights that simulated real project demands. In a time when there's an undoubted need for nurturing digital talent, we are committed to sustaining and enhancing these connections between eager learners and offering valuable workplace experiences."

Through this collaboration with GMO Connect HR, Datra has created an invaluable opportunity for students to engage with the professional landscape beyond traditional education, positioning itself as a meaningful solution to the ongoing shortage of DX professionals and showcasing the potential of connecting education and industry. This endeavor serves as a significant step towards establishing a society where individuals can thrive and define their careers in alignment with their skills and passions.