DESIGN TALKS plus Season 6, Episode 11: Urban Life

Design Hunting in Hyogo

On Design Hunting, Andy and Shaula search for designs rooted in regional history and climates. This time they visit Hyogo Prefecture, bounded to the north by the Sea of Japan, and with Awaji Island and the Pacific Ocean to the south. That diverse climate has led to a wide range of traditions. Hyogo's development has long been supported by locally-manufactured products, which are exported worldwide via the international trading port of Kobe. Since enduring the Great Hanshin Earthquake in 1995, many new designs have utilized limited resources and traditional technologies to preserve the prefecture's cultural heritage for a new generation. Join us on a design hunt in Hyogo!

30 min

Musical Instruments

The musical instruments we're familiar with have often had the same design for centuries. The beautiful tones of a violin come from an elegant yet functional form that hasn't changed for 500 years. But some people are reexamining these apparently perfect designs and rebuilding them from scratch. Explore this extraordinary world with instrument designer Manabu Kawada.

30 min

Harmony

Many Japanese designs are now creating harmony in everyday lives across the world. And international designs have been welcomed in Japan. Explore some of the designs that have transcended borders to make daily life simpler and happier. Studio guest and designer Teruhiro Yanagihara discusses Japanese design and its relationship with shaping a more mindful lifestyle.

30 min

Mourning

30 min

Synergy

30 min

Regional Landscapes

30 min

Texture

Photographer Miyako Ishiuchi is our special guest. She captures the scars on a woman's body, the cracks in an apartment wall and the clothes worn by those who have died. Her work creates visual images for the concept of time and memories. Visit her hometown of Kiryu in Gunma Prefecture and explore the extraordinary world of her photography!

30 min

The Future

Since the beginning of time itself, humans have been captivated by the future, visualizing the different ways it could play out. Meanwhile, designers and artists have provided their own interpretations of the future through the creation of products and artwork. On this episode, we welcome Ochiai Yoichi, a media artist who envisions a new world that combines nature with digital technology. What kind of future can we build for ourselves in this age of uncertainty?

30 min

Adaptation

How do we as individuals and as a society consider, learn and adapt to the coronavirus? What changes do we need to make? Designers and creators talk the issues out, including guests Shumyo Masuno, a monk and garden designer, and Eisuke Tachikawa, a design strategist. Explore new lifestyles and approaches for surviving a pandemic.

30 min

Everyday Beauty

The coronavirus pandemic has led to massive changes around the world as many of us have been told to stay home. Yet these long, enforced stays are also an opportunity to discover new aspects of our lives. Our topic of Everyday Beauty explores the richness of our daily experiences, and reveals the secret to discovering small joys through design.

30 min

Sense of Distance

The coronavirus pandemic has left us all very aware of our distance from others. As restrictions ease we're slowly returning to shared public spaces. How do we communicate and foster a new sense of emotional and physical distance in this new normal? Architects Takaharu and Yui Tezuka explore the topic further through the medium of architecture!

30 min

Locality

The current pandemic has led many of us to reevaluate the economic and social aspects of locality: the places where we live. Lockdowns and restrictions mean that neighborhood communities are more important than ever. Fermentation designer Hiraku Ogura and context designer Kotaro Watanabe discuss the significance and qualitative changes in locality during this pandemic.

30 min

Childhood

The lifelong foundation stones of our personalities are laid during our earliest years. New and astonishingly varied designs for those childhood years are being created. The current pandemic has spurred a new appraisal of the relationships between children, families and society. The head of Fuji Kindergarten, Kato Sekiichi, guides us through a world of new designs for the children who will shape our future.

30 min

Fermentation & Gifts

The coronavirus has led to a reevaluation of global capitalism and the way people and products move around the planet. Fermentation and gifts have become new lenses through which to examine our society. Fermentation designer Hiraku Ogura and context designer Kotaro Watanabe explore the ways design might shape our future.

30 min

Organic

As the coronavirus pandemic continues to spread, we're all more aware of the uncontrollable power of nature. Designer Haruka Misawa visits an exhibition by modern artist Tomoko Konoike. Both women create work inspired by their perspectives on the natural world. Explore a world of new designs, unique creations and the primal sensations they provoke.

30 min

Ancient Design

30 min

Design Hunting in Gunma

On Design Hunts Andy and Shaula search for designs rooted in regional history and climates. This time they visit Gunma Prefecture, which has been making silk for 1,300 years. It's home to countless historic buildings connected to a culture of silk, including the Tomioka Silk Mill, a World Heritage Site. Gunma still has Japan's highest number of silkworm farms, and is its biggest producer of cocoons and raw silk. Today cutting-edge technology and traditional techniques have merged to create new textiles of extraordinary beauty. Discover how meticulous handiwork and artistic sensibilities have influenced the prefecture's designs. Join us on a design hunt in Gunma!

30 min

Designing Emergence: Part 1

A special two-part series of discussions between leading Japanese product designer Naoto Fukasawa and top interface designer Yugo Nakamura. In part 1, Nakamura dives into the extraordinary forms and simple beauty of Fukasawa's designs. 2 cutting-edge designers outline their thoughts on the future of creativity.

30 min

Designing Emergence: Part 2

A special two-part series of discussions between leading Japanese product designer Naoto Fukasawa and top interface designer Yugo Nakamura. In part 2, Fukasawa explores Nakamura's intriguing interfaces which connect the virtual and physical worlds. 2 cutting-edge designers outline their thoughts on the future of creativity.

30 min

Design Hunting in Kanazawa, Ishikawa Prefecture

On Design Hunts Andy and Shaula search for designs rooted in regional history and climates. This time they visit Ishikawa Prefecture. In the first episode, they explore the historic city of Kanazawa and its many traditions. A castle town and stronghold of the Kaga domain, it flourished under the Maeda family as the home of traditional arts, crafts and foods. Today structures such as the glass dome and Noh drum gate of Kanazawa station, and the 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art have also put it on the map for cutting-edge design. Discover how the city is still creating arts and crafts while shaping a future for regional culture. Join us on a design hunt in Kanazawa!

30 min

Design Hunting in Noto, Ishikawa Prefecture

On Design Hunts Andy and Shaula search for designs rooted in regional history and climates. This time they visit Ishikawa Prefecture. In the second episode, they explore the Noto peninsula and its stunning vistas of land and sea. Its isolated location led to unbroken traditions such as Wajima-nuri and other handicrafts and natural materials. New designs showcase the beauty of Noto, its unique time scale, and the sustainable creativity that comes from living alongside nature. Join us on a design hunt in Noto!

30 min

The Future II

Humanity has always dreamed of the future and the many forms it might take. Designers and artists have been inspired by its possibilities and used their imaginations to create artworks and products. What kind of future can we create during the coronavirus pandemic? Architect Toyoda Keisuke explores a world of new designs.

30 min

Design Hunting in Chiba

On Design Hunts Andy and Shaula search for designs rooted in regional history and climates. This time they visit Chiba Prefecture. Surrounded by the sea on 3 sides, warm currents keep the local climate mild enough for spring flowers to bloom in December, drawing visitors from all over Japan. As Tokyo's neighbor Chiba is also popular among people looking for a new home, and those establishing a second base. Chiba is also a hub for new design projects. Join us on a design hunt for creative and imaginative designs shaped by this region's welcoming and laidback atmosphere!

30 min