As a promotor of digitalizing trade to all sectors of ALL JAPAN, TradeWaltz Inc. has started a contest for design students, starting with the Tokyo University of the Arts, to collaborate on the creation of company introduction material.

TradeWaltz Inc., who operate TradeWaltz®, a trading-related information-sharing platform, is seeking visual design students from around the world to apply for the “TradeWaltz Student Design Contest” (hereafter referred to as Contest) to create a digital company introduction pamphlet. This is one action in an effort to get young people who will carry society from now on involved in a ten-to-twenty-year plan involving industries of Japan and not let the digital transformation of trading become a temporary trend.

■ Digital Transformation of Trading in all sectors of ALL JAPAN.

The food that we buy at the supermarket and the wrapping it comes in, masks and medical supplies, the building material of the houses we live in, the fuel used to charge our electronic devices, and more. So many of the things that support our daily lives are being supplied through oversees trade. If this trading, which goes on far away from our lives, were to stop, it would create large effects on the life of the people. We experienced this last year during the COVID-19 pandemic when masks disappeared from store shelfs after imports from China were put on hold.

So that kind of thing doesn’t happen again, TradeWaltz Inc. is aiming for the digital transformation of trade. Using digital technology, the conditions of commodities around the globe can be visualized and even substituted. This style can optimize efficiency more than 44% and can even be done at home no matter how much an infection is spreading. We continuously strive for a “society where things needed get to where they are needed.”

In order to create a world view like this, the business entity, TradeWaltz Inc. (*1), involving all sectors of Japan, is a global forerunner in developing this kind of service, but it is a plan that will take ten to twenty years. That is why it is important to get students, the future leaders of our society, involved now.

*1 TradeWaltz Inc. is a joint investment operated by 10 large corporations such as NTT DATA Corporation, UTokyo Innovation Platform Co., Ltd., and Mitsubishi Corporation. While receiving support from government sectors such as the Ministry of Economy, Trade, and Industry, we continue moving forward by doing things such as demonstrating a connection to one of the standard project finances of Japan to project finances of foreign governments at the international conference APEC. (Picture taken while presenting at the APEC conference.)

■ We want to create together a company pamphlet that even young students can understand

After a year since establishment, TradeWaltz Inc. has decided to recreate our company pamphlet as one that can connect with more people. We think the content and language should “be presented in a way that future leaders of our society can understand now as students,” and thus should be created together with students. This was the start of the Contest. Digital transformation of trading is not a familiar concept to most, so while talking with students, we thought we wanted something that can be explained to anyone in society.

                 In 2011, when the Tokyo Olympics were decided and all Japan was surging, the cherry blossom logo was requested to the public. Ai shimamine, a 4^th year student at Joshibi University of Art and Design, created the logo under the direction of Kunio Hisada and Kenji Ekuan. TradeWaltz Inc. would also like to use the ideas and strength of students to create something together.

■ Benefits for the Students

1. Provides an opportunity for a job that utilizes design skills

                 In a previous interview with an art student from the University of Tsukuba, we learned that there are many students that desire to work somewhere they can use their design skills. However, there aren’t many opportunities for work that require those skills, so many part-time jobs end up being at a restaurant. We think this plan will provide a starting point for design students that want to utilize their skills at work. Winners will be offered opportunities such as internships and design work requests.

2. It’s an opportunity to get feedback from people on the frontline in companies or students from other schools.

                 The invited judges of the Contest will include faculty from 4 universities, starting with the Tokyo University of the Arts, as well as account directors and PR directors of private companies. This is an opportunity for students to get feedback on their own work directly from the pros. The second round of examinations will also include a presentation with real-time feedback.

3. Total prize money of ¥600,000 and each artist can include their work in their portfolio regardless of the results.

                 The plan for the Contest is to award 8 designs totaling ¥600,000 with half of that going to the grand prize winner. This is quite a large amount for a student competition. While we want to create a great company pamphlet, the more important goal is to get many of the younger generation interested in the digital transformation of trading.

                 In addition, regardless of the results, with the approval of the participant, designs may be included in press releases and other media. They can also be used freely in the students’ portfolios when seeking out job opportunities.

■ Registration Outline

                 The Contest, from registration to operations, should involve students, so students of the University of Tsukuba and their “unitX platform to connect student designers and companies” have been hired to help with operations.

 Please see below for more details
Contest Website: https://unitx.jp/compe/tradewaltz-pamphlet

【Comments from people involved】

Tokyo University of the Arts, Professor, Kei Matsushita

Now a days, it’s not about how creators express their requests, but how they handle it. Get out of your comfort zone and aim for a new place and new friends to start something new.

University of Tsukuba, Associate Professor, Tadanobu Hara

I’d really like the system and concept of trading digital transformation to by conveyed to the audience. I think I want them to really understand and imagine what the world will be like with digital trading. I’m excited for the challenging proposals

Nagaoka Institute of Design, Associate Professor, Takeshi Mizukawa

Trading is a sign of peace in the world. Digital transformation is something that will change trading now and continue to change it in the future. With a future that demands digital trading, I’d really like the students to learn it, teach it, and feel it. It’s not easy to imagine the world of trade that exceeds the value and speed that already exists, but I want the people that will shape our future to visualize those ideas and designs. I’m very excited to see what will be proposed.

Digital Hollywood Co., Ltd., University Department Executive, Kazuhiro Iketani

The future is uncertain and unpredictable, but in a society of digital communication, a designer that can find a problem and propose a solution will display great power. This project, that includes actually receiving a request and doing work, will show the students what life will be like and how to they can live their life their way, which I empathize with. I’d like to think that we are creatively contributing to the digitalization of trade through industry-university cooperation.

ADK Marketing Solutions Inc., Hiroaki Sasamoto

I think what TradeWaltz Inc. is trying to do by collaborating with the young generation that will carry on digitalization from now on is a great idea. I am very excited to see the novel ideas that the students will get to experience. I think they will get a chance to be active in the design world while also feeling the pioneer spirit of TradeWaltz Inc.

Unit X, Representative, Mirai Okamura

By working with the ALL JAPAN project, I’m grateful to be able to contribute to the digital transformation of trading through the novel proposals that only a student can make. By learning about the business and topics of trading, a world they may not be used to, I think the Contest will allow the students to be able to expand their alternative options beyond being active in the design world.

TradeWaltz Inc. Managing Director and Head of CEO’s Office: Satoru Someya

In August, TradeWaltz Inc. received investment from UTokyo Innovation Platform Co., Ltd. and also hired 3 interns for October and November to bring us even closer to the art education world. However, the digital transformation of trading is a plan that will take ten to twenty years, so we thought to use our company profile creation as a way to create an opportunity to collaborations with young people that will span long term.

■About unit X (the Contest’s operations office)

Unit X, a platform to connect student designers and companies, is a service that supports and makes jobs available for students from corporations or individuals. For students it is not a part-time job or an internship, but another way to work and utilize their skills and personality while also expanding their options for the future. The students of the University of Tsukuba have started and operate the system. As of December 2021, there are 56 students registered.

                 Corporations or individuals can post jobs for students, give support through cloud funding, and more. Through jobs like creating flyers or mascot characters, students are able to directly learn useful business skills like accounting and communication with the client, something that cannot learn at in a classroom. Anyone that would like to connect with a student designer, please visit their website.
https://unitx.jp/

■About TradeWaltz Inc.

 （*1）「TradeWaltz」 is a registered trade mark in Japan of TradeWaltz Inc. Any other names of products, companies, groups, etc., are names and registered trademarks of their own.

（*2）SaaS stands for Software as a Service. It is a model that makes software available for use over the Internet.

Please direct all inquiries regarding this announcement to
TradeWaltz Inc. Managing Director and Head of CEO’s Office: Satoru Someya
Email：info@tradewaltz.com