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Celebrating Innovation: The Creative Hack Award 2025 Winners

The Creative Hack Award 2025, organized by WIRED Japan, has unveiled its winners after a rigorous selection process that engaged creative minds from various fields. Taking place in its 13th year, this prestigious award aims to spotlight groundbreaking ideas that challenge existing paradigms, inviting participants to rethink creativity through the lens of innovation.

Embracing a Culture of Creativity

Founded in 2013, the Creative Hack Award encourages participants to present their unique interpretations of the prompt, "Hack the existing paradigms." This year, the award drew an impressive total of 230 submissions from across the globe, highlighting the event's international appeal. Out of these, 15 finalists were chosen to present their projects at the final judging session held on December 8th. The day involved dynamic presentations and an engaging Q&A segment, further emphasizing the importance of dialogue in the creative process.

The Winners

The award categories included a Grand Prize, Special Prizes, a Young Creator Award, and several honors for finalists. The honor of Grand Prize went to Momo Kawashima for her project "Trace of Rebirth", a profound exploration of regeneration and identity. Following closely, Niki Takahashi secured the Runner-Up Prize with her innovative work, "Five Charms for Shinjuku", which offers enchanting solutions to urban challenges.

Special Prize Winners:

1. Kazuki Kurihara for "Kurihara's Impact Button" - A unique approach to interactive design that captivates the audience.
2. Vertical Center for "RED SPACE" - A project that merges space and experience.
3. Reika Maruyama, Yohei Yanase, Risa Kitagawa, and Kazuki Kurihara for "Majikarta" - A collective effort that exemplifies team synergy and innovation.

Young Creator Award:

• - Xue Bowan, Genta Ono, Siyu Yao, Tsubasa Yoshida, and Wencheng Wang for "The You You Are - A Public Phone to Converse with Another Self".

Additional Honorees:

Vertical Center received the Finalist Club Award for their work "RED SPACE", while the Sony Award was presented to Fushi Sano for the "Moving Auricle Device - direct model", showcasing the intersection of technology and creativity.

Looking Forward

The Creative Hack Award not only celebrates existing talents but also fosters an environment for emerging creators to express their innovative ideas. At its core, the award challenges the creatives of today to consider their actions, to question why they create, and to share their processes widely.

For those interested in exploring this year’s remarkable projects, additional details can be found on the official website of the award: Creative Hack Award 2025.

About WIRED Japan

WIRED has transcended boundaries since its inception in 1993 in the United States. As a leading media outlet, it provides insights into the core of innovation, technology, and culture. WIRED Japan continues to empower creators and thought leaders by being a vital source for forward-thinking ideas that shape our understanding of the present and future. With a commitment to delivering transformative content, WIRED encourages its audience to reimagine possibilities in various realms such as business, culture, science, and design.

Stay tuned for the next call for entries for the Creative Hack Award, and join in the celebration of creativity and innovation as it continues to push boundaries and inspire the future.