NEC recently won the Red Dot: Best of the Best 2026, the highest distinction in the Red Dot Award, one of the world’s most prestigious design awards and a globally recognized mark of excellence in design and innovation.

Red Dot Design Award is presented to only around 1% of all entries and is reserved exclusively for those recognized as having set new global standards. This year, NEC received the Best of the Best award for its Face Recognition Walkthrough Gate used in a Pilot Project on the Joetsu bullet train line. Here, we will delve into why NEC's design received such high accolades.

Three approaches unique to NEC

The Red Dot Award Ceremony was held in the German city of Essen on July 7. Among the designers from across the globe who came together for this event were Toshiko Midorikawa and Tomomasa Sano of NEC's Corporate Design Department. It was Midorikawa who stepped up to the stage to accept the trophy on NEC's behalf.

Reflecting on this accomplishment, Midorikawa says, "Being named Red Dot: Best of the Best 2026takes more than just a beautifully designed product. Ultimately, we received high acclaim for our design philosophy and the product's practical implementation. In particular, we were praised for three approaches unique to NEC."

The first is how NEC maximized the value of its Face Recognition technology. "Rather than simply equipping the product with high-precision Face Recognition technology, we sought to create a pleasant transit experience that incorporated light, sound, and other elements, enabling all users to move through the station environment naturally and without stress," explains Midorikawa.

The second is the implementation of Human-Centered Design. According to Midorikawa, "Designers should be their users' greatest allies. With that in mind, we involved users in the process from the earliest phases of development, basing our design on their experience."

The third is sustainability. Aiming to reduce both waste and time spent on construction,Team NEC decided to cover existing ticket gates with a housing unit equipped with Face Recognition technology.

Sano, who worked together with Midorikawa on design, commented on NEC's specific involvement: "A key factor was that designers were brought in very early on in the process. In addition to addressing requests to alleviate congestion and improve the processing capacity at ticket gates, we were able to explore the value and significance of Face Recognition Walkthrough Gate in depth with the customer."

Hiroki Ide, General Manager of the Corporate Design Department, said with pride, "This project is steeped in what defines NEC. We primarily focused on how it could be integrated into society. This is where you can really see what it is that defines NEC, a company that has declared social value creation as its Purpose."

Even when our role changes, our true nature remains the same

As NEC works to define its true identity, the role of design has evolved alongside changes in the company's business structure. Ide, who has over 20 years of design experience, shared insights on how this role has evolved.

"When I first joined the company, it was a time when personal computers, mobile phones, and other products were competitive in and of themselves. Back then, the role of design was to make our products more appealing than those of our competitors." However, as NEC's business shifted from products to services, the role of design also began to change. According to Ide, "Our role evolved from merely designing products to designing new businesses and value."

Since 2020, that role has gone a step further. "We are now at the point where what we are designing is NEC itself," says Ide. One example of this is NEC's value creation model, NEC BluStellar, which was unveiled in 2024. NEC BluStellar, which combines AI, cybersecurity, biometrics, and other state-of-the-art technologies to support customers and society in their AI transformation (AX) efforts, is the brand at the heart of NEC's growth strategy. The Corporate Design Department has been involved from the beginning, helping to clearly define NEC BluStellar and communicate the value it delivers. Moreover, it has actively participated in event preparation and the creation of sales materials.

It is important to note that NEC contributes to domains such as IT services and social infrastructure, which sustain our lives yet often go unnoticed. What changes will these offerings bring to society?Who will benefit from the technology? Being able to communicate the value that NEC brings to society effectively, says Ide, is what design is all about.

NEC and its efforts to create social value through design

The NEC design team has evolved into a diverse group that includes not only product and service designers but also specialists in communication, promotion, and other fields.

According to Sano, who works alongside Midorikawa, "We have the opportunity to work on design projects that are too large in scale for one person to accomplish alone. This is one of the appeals of working as a designer for NEC. We can build a career that allows us to change society while taking on new challenges across various domains." This recent award exemplifies the social value creation made possible through design at NEC.

NEC and design have always been, and forever will be, connected by a shared commitment to creating social value.

Midorikawa says, "The role of a designer is to thoroughly consider what purpose something will serve and what value it will offer. While there are times when designs that support our lives go unnoticed, I believe one of the ideal forms of design is creating something as essential as air."


Finally, Ide added, "At NEC, we view design as a means to design society." Beyond that, there will undoubtedly emerge designs that set new global standards.

Recommended Articles

NEC Stories Top