What GLOBAL DESIGN does

GLOBAL DESIGN Co., Ltd. (グローバルデザイン株式会社) is a Shizuoka-headquartered, privately held Japanese IT services company founded on January 20, 1997, with 51–100 employees and five regional offices across Japan (Shizuoka, Tokyo, Yamanashi, Kobe, Okinawa). The firm specializes in web system development, hosting, graphic design, and network content production, with a deliberate vertical focus on local government and municipal clients (自治体) that it has served for over 25 years. Its flagship product is CMS-8341/やさしい (CMS-8341/Easy), a proprietary content management system purpose-built for Japanese municipalities with built-in JIS X 8341-3 web accessibility validation (alt-text and text-length checks), browser-based visual editing, drag-and-drop reuse of Word/Excel content, four-level approval workflows, and integrations with digital signage and multilingual emergency information systems. Around the core CMS, the company offers modular solutions: on-demand and live video streaming, XML-based cross-media publishing (one-source multi-use to web/print/mobile), web manga advertising, entertainment/interactive Flash content, accessibility consulting, and disaster communication templates (災害時広報の予定稿集) priced by municipality tier.

Name

GLOBAL DESIGN

Legal name

グローバルデザイン株式会社

Website

https://glode.co.jp

Company type

Private

Founded year

1997

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

GLOBAL DESIGN is a Shizuoka, Japan-based IT services firm (founded 1997, 51–100 staff) that builds and operates proprietary CMS-8341, accessibility, and digital transformation solutions for local government and municipal clients across Japan.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Government Content Management Systems

NAICS

Custom Computer Programming Services (541511), Computer Systems Design and Related Services (54151), Graphic Design Services (54143)

SIC

Services-Prepackaged Software (7372), Services-Computer Programming Services (7371)

akta.pro primary industry

Web Content Management (WCM) & Experience Platforms (Content Services) (HDAEAGAK)

akta.pro secondary industries

Enterprise Application UX, Portals & Low-Code Extensions (BPAEAGAM), Localization Technology & Workflow Services (TMS, CMS, Automation) (MPAAANAI), Special Education & Accessibility-Optimized Media (UDL, AAC, Captioning) (EDAGALAH)

Keywords

• Government content management
• Municipal web development
• Web accessibility compliance
• Disaster communication templates
• Administrative AI translation

Headquarters

HQ city

Shizuoka

HQ country

Japan

HQ region

Asia

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Software

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Software Licensing and Subscriptions: Revenue from licensing the proprietary CMS-8341/やさしい content management system to municipal government clients. The company sells software products with associated implementation and support services to public sector organizations.
2. Professional Services and Consulting: Web system development, website construction and rebuilding consulting, and web accessibility consulting services. Includes system design, development, hosting services, and ongoing operational support for government clients.
3. Product Sales (Disaster Press Release Templates): Sale of pre-written disaster communication templates (災害時広報の予定稿集) priced by municipality classification. One-time license/sale model with tiered pricing based on municipality type (prefectures, designated cities, core cities, general cities, towns).
4. Web Manga Solutions: Custom web manga advertising content creation services. The company produces web-optimized advertising manga with options including animation, BGM, multilingual translation, and interactive elements. Billed as project-based creative services.
5. AI-powered Solutions: Development and deployment of AI translation systems for government administrative use, following the proof-of-concept demonstration phase with Microsoft and Toyohashi University of Technology.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

GLOBAL DESIGN develops and sells the proprietary government-focused content management system CMS-8341/やさしい (CMS-8341/Yasashii), which enables Japanese municipal staff to create JIS X 8341-3 accessibility-compliant web pages without specialized technical knowledge. The company also provides modular solutions including on-demand and live video streaming, XML-based cross-media publishing, web manga advertising, window DX digital transformation tools, and disaster communication template products for local governments. Implementation, accessibility consulting, and hosting services accompany the software products.

Product overview

GLOBAL DESIGN operates as a communication design company specializing in web design, publishing, and digital solutions for government and enterprise clients. The product portfolio is structured around a core CMS platform — CMS-8341/やさしい — augmented by a suite of modular solutions that address adjacent needs. CMS-8341/やさしい is the flagship government-focused content management system, which serves as the central platform; all other solutions (video streaming, cross-media publishing, entertainment, G-style design, Web manga, window DX, disaster communication templates, and accessibility services) function as complementary modules and service offerings that integrate with or extend the core CMS. The architecture is unified by a common commitment to web accessibility (JIS X 8341-3 compliance) and one-source multi-use content strategies.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• CMS-8341/やさしい: A content management system specialized for local government organizations, designed to help create accessible web pages without specialized technical knowledge.
• Webマンガソリューション

Products and services

• CMS-8341/やさしい (CMS-8341/Yasashii) A government (municipal) specialized content management system with built-in JIS X 8341-3 web content accessibility compliance. Enables browser-based page creation and editing without HTML knowledge, supports drag-and-drop reuse of Word/Excel files, includes accessibility checking tools (alt-text verification, text length checks), automated generation of news feeds and menus, 4-level approval workflows, scheduled publishing, template management, and user/organization management.
• On-Demand Video Streaming Solution (動画配信ソリューション[オンデマンド配信]) On-demand video delivery solution enabling non-technical staff to publish video content easily. Uses Flash-based player with cross-version operability without requiring a streaming server. Supports closed captions, Japanese-language controls, and PowerPoint synchronization.
• Live Streaming Solution (動画配信ソリューション[ライブ配信]) Live streaming solution allowing non-expert users to broadcast with simple button operations. Supports synchronized PowerPoint delivery alongside video, using consumer cameras and standard PCs. Designed for low-cost lectures and presentations.
• Cross-Media Solution (クロスメディアソリューション) One-source multi-use content distribution solution enabling publishing from a single XML-structured data source to websites, mobile sites, and print media simultaneously. Automates print layout from website content, converts website data to mobile format, and enables search functionality for large catalog databases.
• Window DX Solution (窓口DXソリューション - 手のひら市役所) Resident-facing administrative service reform solution combining pre-visit information provision via website, FAQ publishing, 24/7/365 chatbot for resident services, staff knowledge sharing systems, and electronic manuals for window and call center staff to reduce workload.
• Disaster Press Release Templates - Earthquake Edition (災害時広報の予定稿集〜地震編〜) Pre-written emergency disaster communication templates (earthquake edition) for local governments, systematically organized from past disaster information released by municipalities. Sold as a priced publication tiered by municipality type (prefectures ¥540,000; designated cities ¥324,000; core cities/special cities/special wards ¥216,000; other cities ¥108,000; towns/villages ¥54,000 — all tax included), with optional disaster communication training workshops.
• Web Manga Solution (Webマンガソリューション) Web-specialized advertising manga solution combining traditional print manga benefits with web interactivity. Offers static and animated manga with optional BGM, effect sounds, embedded video, multi-path storytelling, quiz/game elements, survey forms, and multilingual support (English, Chinese, Korean). Applied to recruitment sites, company introductions, product/service guides, and government sites.
• Accessibility Services (アクセシビリティ関連サービス) Accessibility consulting covering site assessment, guideline creation, training, and accessibility-compliant website renewal and update management systems. Services include accessibility audits, improvement proposals, guideline creation with training, and CMS tools with built-in accessibility checking.
• Government Administrative AI Translation System (行政向けAI翻訳システム) An AI-powered translation system specifically developed for Japanese government administrative language. Developed in partnership with Microsoft Japan and Toyohashi University of Technology to improve translation accuracy for administrative terminology, place names, and facility names specific to local governments. Supports Japanese, English, Simplified Chinese, and Korean.
• Entertainment Solution (エンタテイメントソリューション) Entertainment solution combining Flash and database integration to produce interactive, real-time content. Enables video and music-enhanced content, dynamically generated content from databases, and web-based interactive content with game-like features. Applicable to e-learning, interactive promotional content, and network-based customer presentations.

Quantifiable outcome

• CMS-8341 enables page creation compliant with JIS X 8341-3 accessibility standards without specialist knowledge
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature7 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• Japan Microsoft Corporation (日本microsoft株式会社)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 August 2018Four-party partnership with Tokyo Minato Ward, Microsoft Japan, and Toyohashi University of Technology to develop Japan's first AI translation system specifically for government administrative use. Microsoft provides AI translation services platform. The goal is to improve translation accuracy for administrative terminology, place names, and facility names through AI technology.
• Toyohashi University of Technology (国立大学法人豊橋技術科学大学)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 August 2018Four-party partnership for AI translation system development. The university contributes advanced AI translation research expertise to improve accuracy for government-specific Japanese administrative language in the AI translation system.
• Tokyo Minato Ward (東京都港区)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 August 2018Four-party partnership for AI translation system development. Minato Ward serves as the practical application site, applying the developed AI translation system to parts of its official website to verify translation accuracy. The ward also provides historical bilingual Japanese-English documents for training the AI system.
• NPO Tokyo Life Portal Site (NPO法人東京いのちのポータルサイト)supportingStrategic or Co-development Partner · 14 April 2014Provided professional and practical expertise in reviewing and systematically organizing disaster communication content for the disaster press release template product (予定稿集). Contributed to ensuring the quality and practicality of emergency communication materials.
• Kotonoha Honpo (株式会社ことのは本舘)supportingStrategic or Co-development Partner · 14 April 2014Collaborated to improve the disaster communication templates to use citizen-friendly language, making emergency information more accessible and understandable for general residents during disaster situations.
• Microsoft Japan Corporation (日本microsoft株式会社)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2010Microsoft Japan selected Global Design as a target company in its IT venture support program in 2010, providing technology support and ecosystem access. This recognition supported the company's development of government-specific technology solutions.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• NEC Corporation: Major Japanese IT and network solutions provider with deep government, public safety, and biometric identity contracts. Comparable customer set (Japanese government) but vastly larger portfolio and R&D footprint.
• Fujitsu Limited: Global Japanese IT services giant with one of the largest shares of Japanese central and local government IT contracts, including municipality-wide system integration. Competes with GLOBAL DESIGN indirectly as the default prime contractor for large municipal digital projects.
• JBCC Holdings Inc. Japanese IT services group with enterprise software, system integration, and managed services across government, manufacturing, and finance. Overlaps with GLOBAL DESIGN in government system integration but operates at significantly larger scale across multiple verticals.
• Otsuka Corporation (大塚商会): Large Japanese office-IT and SaaS distributor serving SMEs and local governments with document management, web, and digital workflow solutions. Comparable in product breadth (CMS-adjacent) but operates as a broad portfolio vendor across all of Japan.
• NTT Data Corporation: Top-tier Japanese system integrator with extensive local-government digital transformation engagements and the intra-mart workflow platform. Overlaps with GLOBAL DESIGN on municipal digital communication and workflow modernization.
• Nihon Unisys, Ltd. (日本ユニシス): Major Japanese IT services provider with a dedicated public-sector business covering central and local government. Comparable in customer base (Japanese municipalities) but far broader in scope and scale than GLOBAL DESIGN's CMS focus.

Direct peers

• Granicus: US-based (now US/UK/global) government experience cloud vendor specializing in government websites, public meeting streaming, digital communications, and citizen engagement. The closest international analog to GLOBAL DESIGN's CMS-8341 + video streaming + multilingual communication stack for government.
• Cybozu, Inc. (サイボウズ): Japanese SaaS vendor of Kintone, Garoon, and other workflow/collaboration platforms, with explicit local-government go-to-market and an LGWAN-ASP listing. Competes with GLOBAL DESIGN for the same municipal digital transformation wallet, especially on workflow and citizen-engagement tools.
• Densan Co., Ltd. (電算): Japanese IT services firm headquartered in Nagano with deep local-government and municipal IT system expertise, including tax, resident, and welfare systems. Most directly comparable to GLOBAL DESIGN on Japanese municipal government focus and regional operating model.

Regional players

• Tyler Technologies, Inc. Large US public-sector software company providing ERP, citizen services, and digital workflow platforms to US state and local governments. Functionally similar to GLOBAL DESIGN's municipal-government focus but serves a different geography.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about GLOBAL DESIGN