DESIGN TALKS plus Season 4
What is good design? And what is its power? From traditional to cutting edge, we explore Japanese designs that are literally shaping our lives.
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DESIGN TALKS plus
2015
What is good design? And what is its power? From traditional to cutting edge, we explore Japanese designs that are literally shaping our lives.
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DESIGN TALKS plus Season 4 Full Episode Guide
Personal memories, collective memories shared by nations and ethnic groups, even the memories that reside in a region or in objects: These intangible ideas inspire designers and creators from a variety of different fields. Andy and Shaula contemplate the concept of memory with architect Tsuyoshi Tane at his exhibition in Tokyo. Learn about kintsugi, the art of repairing broken pottery with decorative lacquer and gold dust, and examine the work of Miyako Ishiuchi, photographs of items left behind by victims of the atomic bomb in Hiroshima. Explore a world of designs that use memory to connect us to the future.
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Personal memories, the collective memories of a nation or people, and the memories that live in a physical region or in objects. Despite its lack of a physical form, memory has inspired designers and creators in a wide variety of ways. Our guest is young architect Tsuyoshi Tane who uses memory to design new buildings. At a 2018 Tokyo exhibition, visitors can view the Estonian National Museum, and other projects Tane has worked on. Andy and Shaula visit the exhibition to discuss this world of new designs.
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Human beings are born with instinct, a reflection of our most fundamental desires. As digital technology becomes ubiquitous through smartphones and digital tools, our instinctive perceptions are also beginning to change. So which designs truly appeal to our human instincts? Art director Hirotaka Tako explores the instincts that lie within us, and the designs which stimulate them.
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For millennia people have spun thread from plant fibers, then woven these threads into textiles for clothing and protection. Over the centuries this has given rise to a culture of beautiful designs and a wide variety of fashions. 12th-generation Nishijin-ori weaver and textile producer Masataka Hosoo explores the extraordinary world of weaving designs.
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Gifts are an indispensable part of life all over the world. They are used to say "thank you" or "congratulations", or given to people that we care about. A range of emotions can be held inside a gift. Traditional Japanese designs convey some of these special feelings. Wrapping gifts in a particular way or adding a special knot can increase their value. Context designer Kotaro Watanabe explores how gifting designs have evolved over the centuries.
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Pairing completely different ideas can create new value, and designs that do just that are currently in the spotlight. Examples range from an office space that houses a public eatery, to products that combine functionality with art, to a graphic design that combines Braille with fonts. Architect Ai Yoshida explores the extraordinary world of fusion design.
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International art group teamLab uses cutting-edge digital art to create new worlds. In June 2018, they opened a new museum showcasing their extraordinary work. Andy and Shaula pay the museum a visit, where they are joined by teamLab's Toshiyuki Inoko. Together, they discover art that explores the relationships between humans and nature, finding new connections between individuals and the larger world.
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Time is a universal constant that never ceases. What exactly is time? The desire to find an answer to this question has been a source of inspiration throughout the ages. The Japanese custom of seeking beauty in the passage of time and the changing seasons continues to thrive as designers and artists look to give physical form to this invisible concept. This week, we explore new frontiers of design with our guests Hokuto Ando and Toshiya Hayashi of the contemporary design studio we+.
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On Design Hunting episodes, our presenters head off to discover designs that are deeply rooted in local history and customs. This time Andy and Shaula explore Tokushima Prefecture in the east of Shikoku island. Many traditional industries flourished here because of the region's rich natural resources. It has especially deep ties to an indigo dye also known as "Japan blue". A group of young people are now growing the plant, making dyes, dyeing, designing and producing new products! Another project is using cedar forest thinnings to regenerate water resources. And a washi manufacturer is exploring new potential by collaborating with artists. Discover how Tokushima is using its local resources to create unique designs that are adapting traditions for a new generation!
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Stone has played a role in human history for millennia. Japan has many traditional stone designs. From kare-sansui gardens which replicate natural scenes through rocks and no water, to ancient techniques for drystone walls that combine strength with beauty. Explore a world of new stone designs with art gardener Takeshi Nagasaki.
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As computers and smartphones become ubiquitous, digital technology is now part of our everyday lives. Yet some yearn for the analog appeal of records, camera films and handwriting. A major home-appliance manufacturer is collaborating with traditional artisans to create new products with an analog twist. Join graphic designer Yui Takada as he explores the new designs that draw on old, analog techniques.
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Kimonos were once everyday items yet today people wear Western clothing, saving kimonos for weddings and other special occasions. Designs change with the times, and so do our ideas about the ordinary and extraordinary. Designer Kunihiko Morinaga explores how the clothes we wear can offer insight into what lies beyond the ordinary.
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Kengo Kuma is one of Japan's top architects, handling many projects around the world. In 2018 a new exhibition looks back on the last 30 years of his career, taking "materials" as a key theme. We revisit his previous appearances on the show and explore his use of materials such as wood, stone, paper and clay. Discover the versatility and beauty of Kengo Kuma's designs.
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On Design Hunting episodes, our presenters head off to discover designs that are deeply rooted in local history and customs. This time Andy and Shaula explore Shizuoka Prefecture, home to Japan's highest peak, Mt. Fuji. A wide region, Shizuoka brings together diverse cultures and industries, which have given rise to deeply individual designs. From dyeing designs that use Shizuoka's famous tea to the everyday items born from Minami-izu's natural environment and lifestyle. The industrial city of Hamamatsu has created an astonishing design for a musical instrument. Explore Shizuoka's designs and discover its readiness to tackle a challenge, and its free, creative spirit!
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They're on roads, restrooms and a range of buildings. Every city is home to a myriad of signs and designs. The key to all is that people can understand them at a single glance. Signs inevitably evolve over time, and signage that foreigners find easy to recognize is high on the agenda as Japan prepares for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics. Join graphic designer Masaaki Hiromura as we explore the world of signage design.
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Modern society leaves many of us short of time and under all kinds of stress. People are searching for diverse healing spaces that provide a mental and physical release. Explore designs that focus on calm: from medical facilities with dimmed lighting and warm timber finishes to wristwatches that incorporate the gentle sound of wind chimes. Lighting designer Hiroyasu Shoji joins us to look at how design can create spaces that soothe.
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Automobile makers in Japan and overseas are currently designing and developing the future of mobility. From autonomous vehicles to car sharing, next-generation technology and services continue to evolve, and the automobile industry is on the cusp of big change. Our guest is designer Kota Nezu, who helps us explore the design ideas that will reshape how we move around.
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Today's theme: Osaka Cityscapes. Overlapping neon signs: this bustling city's packed with unique designs. Prof. Shinya Hashizume explores how its cityscapes combine trade, tourism, and town planning.
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As ideas like work-life balance and work-style reform take hold of the Japanese public consciousness, the cold, sterile office -- with rows of desks and workers packed together -- is undergoing a makeover. For the many who will spend the majority of their adult lives at work, interior design considerations make all the difference when it comes to the comfort and coziness of their office environment. Our guest is interior designer Taiju Yamashita, who helps us explore how workspaces are being reshaped.
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Today's theme: Stories. In Japan, where anime likenesses roam the streets, the power of design is bringing fictional narratives to life. Event director Takao Kato helps us explore these worlds.
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Long ago people made homes from wood and clay, and huddled around fires in the dark. Designs and artwork that use these primitive shapes and techniques are currently in the spotlight. Explore designs that speak to our emotions and instincts: from earthenware that brings millennia-old Jomon pottery into the modern age, to artwork that examines the captivating beauty of fire. Explore the world of primitive design with architect and architectural Historian Terunobu Fujimori.
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Ease the stress of a long day with a long soak in the bath. Japanese have been fans of baths for centuries; the custom arrived with Buddhism in the 6th century. Ever since bathing has been a way to cleanse body and spirit, and also a form of pleasure. Sento, or public baths, were a gathering place and social space for working people during the Edo period. Studio guest Kundo Koyama, a scriptwriter, explores the designs associated with Japan's bathing customs.
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Design Hunting in Gifu. Andy and Shaula visit the historic manufacturing hub of Gifu prefecture in central Japan. Explore the creative spirit and local industries of Gifu prefecture!
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We currently live our lives immersed in a digital world. Advances in digital tech have brought about changes not only in our daily lives but also in the way we create, design and manufacture: the evolution of AI, the development of 3D printing technology and more. Moving past an analog-versus-digital dichotomy, we are exploring the designs and new modes of expression that are possible in a landscape where digital has become the norm. Our guest is architect Keisuke Toyoda. Together we consider this new design age and speculate about what the future holds.
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