Five entries from Sharp, including products and business concepts, have received the “2026 iF Design Award” (organized by the iF Design Foundation, a certified NPO).

The iF Design Award is one of the most prestigious design awards in the world, and has been held since 1953. This year, there were approximately 10,000 entries from 68 countries across nine disciplines*1, and judging was based on evaluation criteria including not only form but also idea, function, differentiation, and sustainability.

Of the five award-winning entries, four of Sharp’s products won awards in the Product Design discipline, which covers a wide range of tangible products such as home appliances and furniture, and one of Sharp’s entries won an award in the Concepts discipline, which focuses on ideas not yet released to the market or designs at the prototype stage.

Going forward, under its corporate slogan “In step with your future.”, Sharp aims to become a company that creates “New Cultures” through unique products and services that go beyond aesthetic beauty to deliver total design, including usability and functionality.

■ Highlights of award-winning entries

　・Conversational AI Character “Poketomo”

Poketomo is a pocket-sized companion that makes everyday life more enjoyable when spent together. It comes equipped with CE-LLM*2, Sharp’s proprietary AI technology powered by a large language model (LLM). By remembering conversations, places visited, and sights seen, Poketomo grows into a partner that understands and accompanies the real you. Being palm-sized at approximately 12cm tall, it can be taken anywhere, any time. The head and arms move in sync with conversations, and its LEDs light up to express emotions dynamically, with a flock coating on the body that radiates a warm texture upon touch.

iF Design Award page:https://ifdesign.com/en/winner-ranking/project/sharp-poketomo-series/740311

　・Vision Concept for Container Laundry Business which “contributes to social resilience”

This portable container laundry system is equipped with a drainless recirculating washing system currently being developed, pursuing cleaning and water-saving technologies cultivated in household washing machines. Its vision concept for a new social contribution laundry business that supports clothes washing in situations where water supply is limited, such as evacuation shelters during disasters, was highly regarded. The special feature of this system is that it uses no synthetic detergent during the washing process and produces no wastewater. It achieves clothes washing with extremely high water-saving by filtering and recirculating washing water*3 in real time, balancing cleaning power and cleanliness, while repeatedly reusing limited water resources. It also features low environmental impact, as it produces no wastewater containing microplastics. Beyond use in evacuation shelters, Sharp envisions global market expansion by selling products to water-scarce regions like the Middle East and Africa, as well as regions with fragile water infrastructure.

iF Design Award page:https://ifdesign.com/en/winner-ranking/project/off-grid-laundry-base-for-disaster-resilience/752787

　・Plasmacluster Air Purifier <FU-90KK>

This air purifier was designed under the supervision of Kengo Kuma & Associates. It has a furniture-like appearance using real wood for its exterior, allowing it to blend seamlessly into various premium spaces. Air purifiers are widely used in homes, public facilities, accommodations, offices, and other places where many people gather. However, there was a demand for creating an air purifier which harmonizes with premium spaces featuring natural materials like wood. This air purifier features a fine vertical wooden lattice exterior inspired by traditional Japanese designs like Sumushiko blinds and Shoji screens. These elements produce a high-quality design which blends seamlessly into various high-end spaces as if it were a piece of furniture. The exterior, carefully assembled by the hands of woodworkers, has a different expression for each piece. The more time passes, more apparent the wood grain becomes, creating a sense of affection. Sharp aims to create a new type of home appliance which can be used like furniture for a long time with affection.

iF Design Award page:https://ifdesign.com/en/winner-ranking/project/sharp-fu-90kk/743757

　・Plasmacluster Air Purifier＜FX-S82/FX-S80/FP-S70/FP-S72/FP-U70＞

The latest model in the Purefit series of Plasmacluster air purifiers which combine operating noise, size, and air purification performance to “fit” various scenes, it expresses premium quality with horizontal and vertical silhouette lines inspired by a furniture. It was designed to harmonize with room interiors while functioning as a home appliance. From a functional perspective, this product incorporates a W-Filter structure which achieves high airflow with low noise and compact installation. It also features Sharp’s proprietary high-concentration Plasmacluster 25000 technology. With a focus on sound, size, and purification performance, it offers an environment where everyone can relax and enjoy their time at home.

iF Design Award page:https://ifdesign.com/en/winner-ranking/project/sharp-plasmacluster-air-purifier/742536

About Sharp:

Sharp has developed numerous world-first and industry-first innovative products and technologies over more than 110 years, primarily in electronics. It has established the corporate slogan “In step with your future.” based on its business creed of dedication to two principal ideals, “Sincerity and Creativity.” Sharp aims to become a company that creates “New Cultures” through unique products and services that support people in every aspect of their lives, both living and working.