Goodpatch and Ritsumeikan University's Institute of Design Science Conclude Industry-Academia Collaboration Agreement

Goodpatch Inc. (Headquarters: Shibuya-ku, Tokyo; CEO: Naofumi Tsuchiya; Securities Code: 7351; hereinafter 'Goodpatch') and Ritsumeikan University's Institute of Design Science (Location: Ibaraki City, Osaka Prefecture; Director: Satoshi Goto) concluded an industry-academia collaboration agreement on March 25, 2026, with the aim of advancing education and research through design and fostering human resources. This partnership will involve joint research using data from 'ReDesigner for Student,' a job-hunting platform specialized for designers developed by Goodpatch, and the development of educational programs directly linked to social implementation.

Going forward, in addition to projects with the Institute of Design Science, this collaboration will also extend to the education and research of Ritsumeikan University's College of Design and Arts and the Graduate School of Design and Arts, which are scheduled to open in April 2026.

■Summary

• Goodpatch and Ritsumeikan University's Institute of Design Science concluded an industry-academia collaboration agreement on March 25, 2026.

• The purpose is to advance education and research through design and foster human resources.

• Academic surveys and joint research on the job-hunting and recruitment market for designers and creators will be conducted, utilizing data and insights from 'ReDesigner for Student,' a job-hunting platform specialized for designers developed by Goodpatch.

• By providing practical design talent education and career support, the aim is to bridge the gap between industry and academia and build a next-generation design ecosystem.

■Background: Discrepancy between 'Education' and 'Industry' surrounding Design
Since the 'Design Management' declaration announced by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry and the Japan Patent Office in 2018, design has been positioned as the core of brand building and innovation creation, becoming one of the most important assets for Japan's industrial competitiveness. The 'Intellectual Property Promotion Plan 2024' (※) published by the Cabinet Office also calls for the reconstruction of an 'intellectual property ecosystem' to accelerate innovation investment, making the strategic development of highly skilled design professionals an urgent national issue.

However, while the importance of design is increasing, a deep divide still exists between the educational field and the industrial sector.

Goodpatch has supported over 39,000 students through 'ReDesigner for Student,' a job-hunting support platform for aspiring designers, which it launched in 2018. What has become clear through this initiative is the mismatch between the recruitment market for new graduate creators, which has not significantly changed since the 2000s, and the qualities demanded by modern business environments.

In current job hunting, students face a significant hurdle in translating 'what they learned in school' into 'value provided to society.' For example, portfolios, which compile their creative works, often remain mere 'collections of works,' failing to articulate the 'why' behind their creations—the thought process and logical approach to problem-solving that companies truly seek. Furthermore, there is a lack of opportunities for 'independent projects' undertaken by students out of their own volition, beyond university assignments. As a result, many students are forced to enter job hunting with a low resolution of how to apply their expertise in society.

To resolve this 'fragmentation of evaluation mechanisms' and 'absence of practical opportunities,' Goodpatch, which has continuously supported various companies with design approaches, will collaborate with Ritsumeikan University's Institute of Design Science, which has a track record of advanced industry-academia collaborations. By integrating their resources, they aim to promote the construction of a next-generation design education and human resource development model where students can naturally discover 'working' beyond 'creating.'

※Cabinet Office, Intellectual Property Strategy Headquarters 'Intellectual Property Promotion Plan 2024'

■Main Initiatives

1. Academic Research and Joint Study of the Creator Job-Hunting and Recruitment Market

Utilizing one of Japan's largest datasets on designer and creator job-hunting trends held by ReDesigner for Student, joint research will be conducted from a sociological perspective on the job-hunting and recruitment market for modern creative professions. This aims to visualize the often-intuitive 'evaluation of creativity' and establish a common language for discussion between industry and academia.

2. Provision of Educational Programs that Integrate Theory and Practice

Leveraging the insights and corporate relationships cultivated by ReDesigner for Student, guidance, lectures, and workshops necessary for designer and creator job hunting will be provided at appropriate times. This will offer practical opportunities for students to self-assess and acquire the 'verbalization of thought' skills essential for the professional world.

3. Career Formation Support for Next-Generation Design Talent

Utilizing the expertise of ReDesigner for Student's career designers, who conduct over 300 student interviews annually, seamless support from learning to job hunting will be provided to students from an early stage. Diverse feedback and matching opportunities will be offered to help students objectively assess their strengths and choose a career path they are satisfied with.

4. Regional Collaboration and Innovation Creation

Goodpatch will participate in social co-creation projects promoted by Ritsumeikan University, based at its 'Kansai Branch (within Grand Green Osaka JAM BASE)' which opened in September 2025. By combining Goodpatch's expertise, the company will work on the social implementation of design to solve regional issues.

■Comments from Stakeholders on this Collaboration

■Related Information

【About Ritsumeikan University's Institute of Design Science】

This research institution aims to create spaces and times where people can experience a 'rich life' and addresses social issues through a design science approach. It collaborates with industry, local communities, and government to accumulate practical design knowledge in the real world and contribute to building a sustainable society.

Website: https://www.ritsumei.ac.jp/research/rcds/

【About Ritsumeikan University's College of Design and Arts and Graduate School of Design and Arts】

A new college and graduate school opening in April 2026. Located at the Kinugasa Campus in Kyoto, a city rich in history and culture, it will pursue a future-oriented new field of design studies and develop education and research that transcends natural sciences, humanities, and social sciences, based on art technology and sensibility. It plans to establish a more flexible and advanced learning environment suitable for a diverse society, utilizing not only real spaces but also online, on-demand, and virtual spaces. It aims to cultivate creative and flexible thinking, comprehensively equipping students with 'problem-solving skills,' 're-questioning skills,' 'co-creation skills,' 'problem-finding skills,' and 'creative thinking skills,' all underpinned by aesthetic sensibility. 
 Website: https://www.ritsumei.ac.jp/da/

【About ReDesigner for Student】

ReDesigner for Student is a job-hunting support service specializing in new graduate designers, operated by Goodpatch. With the mission of "increasing the number of designers in the world," it operates a platform that matches all students aspiring to be designers and creators with companies that believe in the power of design.

The number of registered users exceeds 39,000, and it is widely used by students from comprehensive universities to art universities and vocational schools. In addition to recruiters being able to scout students by viewing their portfolios, it also provides learning opportunities through a system where students can view and give feedback on each other's work.

ReDesigner for Student https://student.redesigner.jp/

ReDesigner for Student Official X (formerly Twitter)@ReDesigner_St

■About Goodpatch Inc.

Goodpatch is a design company with the mission of "proving the power of design" and the vision of "advancing the world with heart-stirring design."

Established in September 2011, it became the first Japanese design company to be listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange Mothers (now Growth) in June 2020.

It operates two main businesses: the "Design Partner Business," which supports various companies in corporate transformation, UI/UX design, business model design, brand experience design, and organizational design; and the "Design Platform Business," which provides specialized career support services for design professionals, online whiteboards, and SaaS-based AI design tools. The company is committed to problem-solving based on customer experience and value creation through "Design x AI."

・Goodpatch Inc.

・Design Partner Business

・Fully remote design organization 'Goodpatch Anywhere'

・Designer-specialized career support service 'ReDesigner'

・Job-hunting platform for aspiring designers 'ReDesigner for Student'

・Online whiteboard 'Strap'

・AI design tool 'Layermate'

・Recruitment AI agent 'HRmony AI'

<Group Companies>

・Studio Details Inc.

・Muture Inc.

・People & Design Inc.

・Layermate Inc.