INSIGHTS

2019.10.29

R&D DISCUSSION Vol. 18

Pioneering the future with the power of design
Discovering Young Artists [Part 1]

Toshiki Kiriyama Director

R&D DISCUSSION TOP

Q: In 2015, you were appointed deputy director of the Toyama Prefectural Museum of Modern Art (now the Toyama Prefectural Museum of Art) [Photo 1], and in 2017 you also served as director of the Toyama Prefectural Design Center. You have been involved in promoting design in Toyama Prefecture for the past 27 years.

A: The Toyama Prefectural Design Center is a prefectural testing and research institute that provides support for product development, workshops, and information dissemination for industrial workers in the prefecture, with "design" as the keyword. In 1993, I was called in for a three-year term as planning manager of the predecessor, the Toyama Industrial Design Center. Governor Nakaoki Yutaka at the time believed that design would be necessary for future industries, and established the design center within the Toyama Prefectural Technology Development Foundation in 1989.

However, when they actually went there, the local industry had an atmosphere of "stay away from the design center." In fact, there was a negative legacy from the past that "design costs money but doesn't sell." They felt that this was not unique to Toyama, and came up with a solution: a system to attract people from outside. They visited and reached out to about 70 major companies from all over Japan that were well-known in the design industry at the time, and in the fall of 1993, they held a design conference in Toyama, where they all came together. An amazing 35 managers from Japan's leading companies, such as Mitsubishi Electric and Sony, came at their own expense.

We set the theme of "inheritance and creation" and after much discussion, I declared that the conference would be turned into a design competition from the following year as a place to educate in-house designers. This was the "Toyama Product Design Competition (now the Toyama Design Competition)" [Photo 2], which started in 1994 and continues to this day. This year marks the 26th time it has been held, and it is the first design competition in the country to be based on "commercialization," with the theme of local industries in Toyama Prefecture. Initially, it was mainly targeted at in-house designers at companies, with nine companies in the prefecture, including aluminum and brass casting manufacturers, setting the agenda. It was an open competition from the beginning, and is now a themed competition. For example, this year's theme is "reweaving" [Photo 3]. We solicited products and project plans that create new value by "reweaving" materials, technology, culture, etc. By making the judging process public, the audience and the participating designers can hear directly what is good and what is bad about the design, and what is being evaluated, in a very immersive environment. The judges were well-known people in the industry, and initially we received around 700 applications, including not only in-house designers from companies but also young freelance designers who had become independent.

[Photo 1] The 2017 exhibition "Art and Design in Dialogue with Materials" at the Toyama Prefectural Museum of Art
[Photo 2] Toyama Design Competition 2019 Exhibition Venue
[Photo 3] Toyama Design Competition 2019 Poster

Q: How much of it has actually been commercialized?

A: So far, we have had a total of 8,000 applicants. Over 50 winners were given the opportunity to work closely with local companies on development, and ultimately 36 items were commercialized (as of April 2019) [Photo 4]. The Design Center is able to see things from the designers' perspective, and understands the situation that local companies find themselves in, so it can navigate both sides well. Matching with local companies is the main job of the Design Center.

For example, one of the hits from the casting manufacturer "NOUSAKU" (founded in 1916) is a product called "KAGO" [Photo 5] made of tin. It was designed by Rina Ono [Photo 6], who was an assistant professor at Tohoku University of Art and Design at the time and won the grand prize in a competition in 2004. The top winners of the competition are eligible to participate in workshops organized by the design center, and she proposed the design at that time. So, NOUSAKU and Ono were matched, and the product was commercialized in 2008. Also, in 2007, NOUSAKU was introduced at "Maison & Objet," a spatial design trade fair held annually in Paris. At the time, I was working for JETRO (Japan External Trade Organization), which supports Japanese companies in exhibiting at trade fairs, so in addition to NOUSAKU, I also contacted "BUNACO," a woodworking manufacturer in Aomori, and "Fujiki Denshiro Shoten," a birch craftsmanship company in Akita. In 2009, Okayama masking tape manufacturer "Kamoi Kakoshi" also exhibited at the show, attracting the interest of buyers from various countries and providing an opportunity to expand sales overseas. Now, "KAGO" is said to be in the top five best-sellers at the MoMA Design Store in New York.

This system allows freelance designers to earn a stable royalty income to run their offices, and allows local companies to sell in quantities they have never sold before, and even overseas. Traditional industries usually only sell less than a thousand units, even if they work hard, but we have created a system that allows them to sell in the tens or tens of thousands. Now, in addition to Nousaku, several companies, such as the die-casting manufacturer Nagae (founded in 1954), are expanding their sales channels. It is meaningless if only one company wins. The design center is also setting up various things, and multiple companies are competing with each other, creating a synergy effect that boosts the local industry as a whole. If you can get this to a scale of about 10 companies, the potential will naturally increase. However, in reality, it is difficult to get that far. It's a development story, but it usually takes 10 years to get people who are not familiar with it to take it seriously and invest in it. It took about seven years from the start of matching in 2000 for Nousaku and others to start moving. My job is to create a template for revitalizing such regions and improve its accuracy. In the future, I hope to be able to expand the template created in Toyama to all 46 other prefectures.

[Photo 4] One of the winning entries that was actually commercialized was the free-standing ladle "TATE OTAMA" by Mikinya Kobayashi (Toyama Design Award 2008).
[Photo 5] "KAGO" was born from a collaboration between Rina Ono and Nousaku. Made from 100% tin casting, it is soft and can be freely shaped from a plate (flat) to a basket (three-dimensional).
[Photo 6] Rina Ono, who won the 2004 Grand Prix (Toyama Design Award) for her mirrored coat stand "DAVIDSON."
Continued in Part 2

PROFILE

Design Director

Toshiki Kiriyama

Toshiki Kiriyama

Born in Nagano Prefecture in 1952. After working as a researcher in technology development, advertising marketing, and design/architecture editor, he founded the design planning and production company TRUNK Co., Ltd. in 1988. He has been involved in producing exhibitions both in Japan and overseas, and in launching the design information site/web magazine Japan Design Net (JDN). Since 1993, he has been working towards the establishment of the Toyama Prefectural Design Center. He is currently based in Tokyo, Toyama, and Milan, and is involved in direction, brand production, exhibition curation, etc. He is the director of TRUNK Co., Ltd., director of the Toyama Prefectural Design Center, and deputy director of the Toyama Prefectural Museum of Art.

OTHER DISCUSSIONS

R&D DISCUSSION Vol.56

Mind change――
Aiming for a company that will develop into the future [Part 2]

Hidehito Kawahara, President and CEO of ALFA PMC

R&D DISCUSSION Vol.55

Mind change――
Aiming for a company that will develop into the future [Part 2]

Hidehito Kawahara, President and CEO of ALFA PMC

R&D DISCUSSION Vol.54

Mind change――
Aiming to become a company that will develop into the future [Part 1]

Hidehito Kawahara, President and CEO of ALFA PMC

R&D DISCUSSION Vol.53

Next-generation transportation and future urban planning [Part 2]

Professor Akinori Morimoto, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Waseda University; President, City Planning Institute of Japan

R&D DISCUSSION Vol.52

Next-generation transportation and future urban planning [Part 2]

Professor Akinori Morimoto, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Waseda University; President, City Planning Institute of Japan

R&D DISCUSSION Vol.51

Next-generation transportation and future urban planning [Part 1]

Professor Akinori Morimoto, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Waseda University; President, City Planning Institute of Japan

R&D DISCUSSION Vol.50

The world is full of possibilities
--Perceive playfully and take action! [Part 2]

Nobuyuki Ueda Professor Emeritus of Doshisha Women's College of Liberal Arts, Director of Neo Museum

R&D DISCUSSION Vol.49

The world is full of possibilities
--Perceive playfully and take action! [Part 2]

Nobuyuki Ueda Professor Emeritus of Doshisha Women's College of Liberal Arts, Director of Neo Museum

R&D DISCUSSION Vol.48

The world is full of possibilities
--Perceive playfully and take action! [Part 1]

Nobuyuki Ueda Professor Emeritus of Doshisha Women's College of Liberal Arts, Director of Neo Museum

R&D DISCUSSION Vol.47

Light is Life: Humans on the Solar Earth [Part 2]

Hiroyasu Shouji ShojiLighting Designer

R&D DISCUSSION Vol.46

Light is Life: Humans on the Solar Earth [Part 1]

Hiroyasu Shouji ShojiLighting Designer

R&D DISCUSSION Vol45

Building fire-resistant wooden buildings [Part 2]

Noboru Yasui, Architect and Chairman of NPO team Timberize

R&D DISCUSSION Vol.44

Building fire-resistant wooden buildings [Part 1]

Noboru Yasui, Architect and Chairman of NPO team Timberize

R&D DISCUSSION Vol.43

What is a sign? What is sign design?
What? [Part 2]

Toshiaki Yashima Information Designer

R&D DISCUSSION Vol.42

What is a sign? What is sign design?
What? [Part 2]

Toshiaki Yashima Information Designer

R&D DISCUSSION Vol.41

What is a sign? What is sign design?
What? [Part 1]

Toshiaki Yashima Information Designer

R&D DISCUSSION Vol.40

Data-driven urban development that makes people happy [Part 2]

Taro Hitokoto Director of Neural Pocket Co., Ltd.

R&D DISCUSSION Vol.39

Data-driven urban development that makes people happy [Part 1]

Taro Hitokoto Director of Neural Pocket Co., Ltd.

R&D DISCUSSION Vol.38

Japan's Strategy for Achieving Carbon Neutrality by 2050 [Part 2]

Takuzo Saito Director of the Evaluation and Assessment Department, Housing and Construction Center, Better Living Foundation

R&D DISCUSSION Vol.37

Japan's strategy for achieving carbon neutrality by 2050 [Part 1]

Takuzo Saito Director of the Evaluation and Assessment Department, Housing and Construction Center, Better Living Foundation

R&D DISCUSSION Vol.36

The "extra" required for architecture revealed through regional projects [Part 2]

Yasushi Takeuchi Professor, Tohoku Institute of Technology (-2021), President and CEO, Abisei Planning Co., Ltd. (2022-)

R&D DISCUSSION Vol.35

The "extra" required for architecture revealed through regional projects [Part 1]

Yasushi Takeuchi, Professor, Tohoku Institute of Technology (-2021), President and CEO, Abisei Planning Co., Ltd.

R&D DISCUSSION Vol.34

Before-Before Architecture Theory
Design techniques that unravel history [Part 2]

Toru Ajisaka, Professor, Kagoshima University

R&D DISCUSSION Vol.33

Before-Before Architecture Theory
Design techniques that unravel history [Part 1]

Toru Ajisaka, Professor, Kagoshima University

R&D DISCUSSION Vol.32

How to create a "water mass" that attracts adults
Turning aquariums into "media" through a customer-centric approach

Gen Nakamura Aquarium Producer

R&D DISCUSSION Vol.31

How to create a "water mass" that attracts adults
Sunshine Aquarium "Oasis in the Sky" [Part 2]

Gen Nakamura Aquarium Producer

R&D DISCUSSION Vol.30

How to create a "water mass" that attracts adults
Sunshine Aquarium "Oasis in the Sky" [Part 1]

Gen Nakamura Aquarium Producer

R&D DISCUSSION Vol.29

Wellness and Performance Management
How to Live in a New Era Vol.2 [Part 2]

Takayuki Hirai
Deputy Director of the CHO Office at DeNA Co., Ltd.; Representative of Ibuki LLC

R&D DISCUSSION Vol.28

Wellness and Performance Management
How to Live in a New Era vol.2 [Part 1]

Takayuki Hirai
Deputy Director of the CHO Office at DeNA Co., Ltd.; Representative of Ibuki LLC

R&D DISCUSSION Vol.27

A work style that brings about innovation
How to Live in a New Era Vol.1 [Part 2]

Takahiro Sakamoto
Representative of SSIN LLC, Advisor of KOKUYO Co., Ltd.'s Work Style Reform Project

R&D DISCUSSION Vol.26

A work style that brings about innovation
How to Live in a New Era Vol.1 [Part 1]

Takahiro Sakamoto
Representative of SSIN LLC, Advisor of KOKUYO Co., Ltd.'s Work Style Reform Project

R&D DISCUSSION Vol.25

Looking at the future design process through "Renovation" [Part 2]

Masataka Baba Architect

R&D DISCUSSION Vol.24

Looking at the future design process through "Renovation" [Part 2]

Masataka Baba Architect

R&D DISCUSSION Vol.23

Looking at the future design process through "Renovation" [Part 1]

Masataka Baba Architect

R&D DISCUSSION Vol.22

Architecture in Film: Special Effects TV and Comedy Films of the 1960s [Part 2]

Tatsuo Iso IsoArchitectural Journalist

R&D DISCUSSION Vol.21

Architecture in Film: Special Effects TV and Comedy Films of the 1960s [Part 1]

Tatsuo Iso IsoArchitectural Journalist

R&D DISCUSSION Vol.20

Pioneering the future with the power of design
Discovering Young Artists [Part 2]

Toshiki Kiriyama Director

R&D DISCUSSION Vol.19

Pioneering the future with the power of design
Discovering Young Artists [Part 2]

Toshiki Kiriyama Director

R&D DISCUSSION Vol.18

Pioneering the future with the power of design
Discovering Young Artists [Part 1]

Toshiki Kiriyama Director

R&D DISCUSSION Vol.17

The present and future of theater space
Research on Plaza Spaces Vol.3 [Part 2]

Masaji Ito + Kenji Maruyama Theater Workshop Co., Ltd.

R&D DISCUSSION Vol.16

The present and future of theater space
Research on Plaza Spaces Vol.3 [Part 1]

Masaji Ito + Kenji Maruyama Theater Workshop Co., Ltd.

R&D DISCUSSION Vol.15

How to create public spaces with 100% occupancy rate
Research on Plaza Spaces Vol.2 [Part 2]

Yuko Yamashita Yamashita, Network creator, Hiroba-nist

R&D DISCUSSION Vol.14

How to create public spaces with 100% occupancy rate
Research on Plaza Spaces Vol.2 [Part 1]

Yuko Yamashita Yamashita, Network creator, Hiroba-nist

R&D DISCUSSION Vol.13

Designing "social fluctuations"
Research on Plaza Spaces Vol.1 [Part 2]

Shoji Okabe
Evangelist at Snow Peak Business Solutions Co., Ltd., and co-representative of the nonprofit organization "Hama no Toudai"

R&D DISCUSSION Vol.12

Designing "social fluctuations"
Research on Plaza Spaces Vol.1 [Part 1]

Shoji Okabe
Evangelist at Snow Peak Business Solutions Co., Ltd., and co-representative of the nonprofit organization "Hama no Toudai"

R&D DISCUSSION Vol.11

A workplace that fosters innovation
Changing the environment changes the way you work [Part 2]

Tetsuo Kobori Architect

R&D DISCUSSION Vol.10

A workplace that fosters innovation
If the environment changes, the way you work will change [Part 2]

Tetsuo Kobori Architect

R&D DISCUSSION Vol.09

A workplace that fosters innovation
Changing the environment changes the way you work [Part 1]

Tetsuo Kobori Architect

R&D DISCUSSION Vol.08

Environmentally friendly architecture and healthy spaces drive the economy
ESG Investment and Wellness Offices [Part 2]

Shinichi Tanabe Professor, Department of Architecture, School of Creative Science and Engineering, Waseda University

R&D DISCUSSION Vol.07

Environmentally friendly architecture and healthy spaces drive the economy
ESG Investment and Wellness Offices [Part 1]

Shinichi Tanabe Professor, Department of Architecture, School of Creative Science and Engineering, Waseda University

R&D DISCUSSION Vol.06

The centripetal force of a single sketch that depicts a scene from the future [Part 2]

Tetsuo Fukuda Industrial Designer

R&D DISCUSSION Vol.05

The centripetal force of a single sketch that depicts a scene from the future [Part 1]

Tetsuo Fukuda Industrial Designer

R&D DISCUSSION Vol.04

Thinking about future redevelopment from postwar "buildings" [Part 2]

Shunsuke Kurakata historian

R&D DISCUSSION Vol.03

Thinking about future redevelopment from postwar "buildings" [Part 1]

Shunsuke Kurakata historian

R&D DISCUSSION Vol.02

Architecture: Perspectives from Industrial Design [Part 2]

Kozo Yamada, Director and Advisor, GK Design Corporation

R&D DISCUSSION Vol.01

Architecture: Perspectives from Industrial Design [Part 1]

Kozo Yamada, Director and Advisor, GK Design Corporation
R&D TOP

Update : 2018.09.21

Tags

PAGE TOP