GOOD DESIGN AWARD

Kaori Akiyama

Product Designer | STUDIO BYCOLOR

UNIT 02 : Personal Care

She founded STUDIO BYCOLOR, a design office that effectively utilizes the attractiveness of colors and materials. She graduated from the Department of Design Science, Faculty of Engineering, Chiba University in 2002, and after working for an office furniture manufacture in Japan, until present. She has won the German Design Award, DFA Asian Design Award, DIA Top100, GOOD DESIGN AWARD, and was selected for LEXUS NEW TAKUMI PJ 2016. She is a part-time lecturer at the Department of Design Science, Faculty of Engineering, Chiba University and the Department of Engineering and Design, Faculty of Engineering and Design, Hosei University.

Shigenori Asakura

Industrial Designer | President, GK Industrial Design Inc.

UNIT 07 : Equipment and Facilities for Manufacturing and Medical Care / Uniit Leader

After graduating from the Department of Mechanical Engineering, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Waseda University, he left for the US and after graduating from the Art Center College of Design, he entered GK Inc. With the principle "Designing for Authentic Ideas, Aesthetic Forms and Empathic Relations", he is active in the areas of industrial equipment, products for the public transit, and consumer products. He has received many awards including the GOOD DESIGN GRAND AWARD, iF Award, Red Dot Award, and IDEA Award.

Keiji Ashizawa

Architect / Designer | CEO, Keiji Ashizawa Design / Ishinomaki Laboratory

UNIT 13 : Construction (Industry and Commercial Facility)

After graduating from Yokohama National University in 1996, Keiji started his career as an architect and sharpened his craft at cabinet and lighting makers’ design collective called super robot. In 2005 he founded his eponymous practice, Keiji Ashizawa Design.
In 2011 to support local communities’ recovery efforts in the aftermath of the Great East Japan Earthquake, he founded a public DIY workshop, Ishinomaki Laboratory. Keiji’s guiding philosophy of “Honest Design” for architecture, interior, lighting, and furniture design projects has led to the development of his broad work today.

Takashi Ashitomi

Product Designer | President, SAAT DESIGN Inc. / Professor, Department of Product Design, Tama Art University

Chair :

After working at Sony Design Center, Takashi Ashitomi established SAAT DESIGN INC. in 1991. He has been a Professor of Product Design at Tama Art University in the Department of Product and Textile Design since 2008. He is involved in comprehensive design approaches including design development of electronic products such as information technology devices and home electronic appliances, local industry development, and design education.

Shin Azumi

Product Designer | Professor, Faculty of Engineering and Design, Department of Engineering and Design, Hosei University / CEO, A Studio Design Limited

UNIT 08 : Housing Fixtures

After graduating Kyoto City University of Arts and working at NEC Corporation's Design Center, he completed a master's degree at the Royal College of Art (UK). Then, after basing himself in London as AZUMI, he established A Studio Design Ltd. He carries out activities internationally over a wide area, centered on product design. He has won domestic and international awards and served as a judge, and many of his collections have been displayed in art museums. In 2016, he moved his base to Japan and became a professor in the Department of Engineering and Design, Faculty of Engineering and Design, Hosei University.

Yoshiaki Amino

Architect / Architectural Researcher | Professor, Faculty of Engineering and Design, Hosei University

UNIT 11 : Housing (Detached House and Small Sized Housing Complex & Cohousing)

Building conception based on a deep understanding of regional forestry cultures. Amino works on the design and study of wood architecture with a focus on the realization of sustainable symbiosis between forest and human society. In 2010, he moved his base to Japan and became a professor in Hosei University, after the teaching career in EPF Lausanne and TU Vienna. Winner of Schweighofer Prize, GOOD DESIGN AWARD BEST100 and others.

Yoko Ando

Textile Designer and Coordinator | Representative, Yoko Ando Design

UNIT 01 : Accessories and Wearable

After working at NUNO Corporation, established Yoko Ando Design in 2011. Provides textiles for public facilities, private residences, etc. designed by various architects. Recent main works include “Minna no Mori Gifu Media Cosmos” (Toyo Ito & Associates, Architects), “Kyoto City KYOCERA Museum of Art” (Jun Aoki and Tezzo Nishizawa’s collaboration on design) and “Shiroiya Hotel” (Sou Fujimoto Architects). Visiting Professor at Nagoya Zokei University of Art & Design and Tama Art University. Wrote “The Textiles of Yoko Ando: Weaving Spaces and Structures” (published by LIXIL).

Ai Iishi

Urban Designer | Coordinator, Real Public Estate / Director, nest.inc

UNIT 17 : Initiative and Activity for Regional

As a member of " Real Public Estate", a media that makes public space interesting, she is involved in process design for creative use of public space, research, promotion of projects with local governments, and direction of "Public Space Reverse Proposal", a new matching event. She is also promoting a project to enhance the value of the area through the use of public space at Green Boulevard and Minami Ikebukuro Park (Toshima Ward). She is the author of "Project Study of Real Public Estate - Mechanism and Design of Public-Private Partnership - (Gakugei Shuppansha).

Taro Igarashi

Architectural Critic | Professor, Graduate School of Engineering, Tohoku University

UNIT 14 : Public Facility, Civil Structure and Landscape

Artistic Director of international exhibition “AICHI TRIENNALE 2013”, Commissioner of Japanese pavilion VENICE ARCHITECTURE BIENNALE 2008, Supervisor of touring exhibition “LEGENDARY HOUSES IN POSTWAR JAPAN” 2014-2015, Supervisor of touring exhibition "Impossible Architecture" and "Windowology". Minister of Education Award for Arts. Author of "Tokyo of Architecture", "Introduction of "Japan-ness" in Architecture", "Contemporary Japanese Architects: Profiles in Design "(JPIC).

Hisae Igarashi

Interior Designer | President, Igarashi Design Studio, Professor at Musashino Art University

UNIT 09 : Furniture / Equipment and Facilities for Office and Public Space / Uniit Leader

Born in Tokyo. After working at Kuramata Design Office, she established Igarashi Design Studio in 1993. She plans space, considering relations between the environment, things and events. With a focus on spatial design, she has engaged in a wide range of development projects for furniture, products and children’s play equipment for commercial and education facilities. Awards received include CS Design Award, GOOD DESIGN AWARD, JID Award (Design category), Kukan Design Award, and Kids Design Award.

Shunsuke Ishikawa

Design Innovation | Partner, KESIKI INC.

UNIT 02 : Personal Care / Uniit Leader

Graduated from Central St. Martins, University of the Arts London. After working at Panasonic Design Company and PDD Innovations UK, he was engaged in the launch of IDEO Tokyo as a design director. Then, after working as Head of Design at BCG Digital Ventures, he assumed his present post. He has been involved in numerous innovation projects. He successively served as judge of D&AD, GOOD DESIGN AWARD, and design selections all over the country. He recently authored "HELLO, DESIGN" (published by Gentosha), among others. Also served as Program Director/Project Associate Professor at TCL-Creative Leadership Program of Tama Art University.

Yoshiki Ishikawa

Public Health Researcher | Well-being for Planet Earth Foundation

UNIT 02 : Personal Care

Yoshiki earned a bachelor’s degree in Health Science from the University of Tokyo, a Master of Science in Health Policy and Management from Harvard School of Public Health, and a PhD in Medicine from Jichi Medical School. As a public health researcher, entrepreneur, and science journalist, Yoshiki is working at the intersection of science, business, and government as a catalyst with the aim of advancing the well-being of society.

Kaori Ito

Researcher in Urbanism | Professor, Department of Architecture, Faculty of Science and Technology, Tokyo University of Science

UNIT 14 : Public Facility, Civil Structure and Landscape / Uniit Leader

Born in Tokyo. Graduated from the University of Tokyo and received PhD in engineering. After working at Center for Spatial Information Science, the University of Tokyo, she has worked at Tokyo University of Science. Her areas of specialization are urban space analysis and design. Her research interest includes the relationships between public space and public life. She leads the artist group Tokyo Picnic Club and is involved in creative projects for urban public space both internationally and domestically. She also leads Civic Pride Research Group. Her major publications include "Civic Pride" and "Civic Pride 2."

Yuta Inoue

Project Manager | Partner, KESIKI INC. / CorpDev Director, Whatever Inc.

UNIT 18 : Initiative and Activity for the General Public

After working at McKinsey and as a North American correspondent for WIRED, he founded quantum, where he was responsible for joint business development and investment as CSO and CIO. He was involved in the establishment of KESIKI, a culture design firm, and is currently leading organizational transformation and business development projects. He also has a wealth of experience in industry-academia-government-private partnerships, including the establishment of a foundation to support education for young people affected by the disaster, the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology's "Tobitate Study Abroad Japan" program, and as a visiting associate professor at Kyushu University's GIC.

Jun Inokuma

Architect | Associate Professor, Shibaura Institute of Technology / President, NARUSE+INOKUMA ARCHITECTS

UNIT 12 : Housing (Medium to Large Sized Housing Complex & Cohousing) / Uniit Leader

Graduated from the University of Tokyo with a master's degree in 2004, worked at Manabu Chiba Architects until 2006, and co-founded Naruse & Inokuma Architects in 2007. Assistant Professor at Tokyo Metropolitan University since 2008, and in his current position since 2021. His representative works include "LT Josai", "Kashiwanoha Open Innovation Lab (31VENTURES KOIL)", and "Teshima 8 Million Lab". Major awards include the Architectural Institute of Japan Newcomer's Prize, JID AWARDS 2015 Grand Prize, and Special Recognition Award at the 15th International Architecture Exhibition, Venice Biennale.

Yoshiaki Irobe

Graphic Designer / Art Director | Member of the Board, Irobe Design Institute, Nippon Design Center, Inc.

UNIT 03 : Stationery and Hobby

Born in Chiba in 1974. Master's degree from Tokyo University of the Arts. Has worked on branding for Osaka Metro, national parks, etc., as well as numerous VI and signage plans for facilities such as the Ichihara Lakeside Art Museum, Museum of Contemporary Art Tokyo, Sukagawa Citizen's Exchange Center tette, Cofufun in front of Tenri Station, Tokyo Yard Project, etc. He has won several domestic and international design awards, including the Yusaku Kamekura Award, ADC Award, SDA Grand Prize, CS Design Award Grand Prix, JAGDA New Designer Award, and One Show Design Gold Pencil. He is a member of AGI, Tokyo ADC, JAGDA, and Japan Design Committee.

Toru Iwasa

Creative Director | CEO, Jiyujin inc.

UNIT 17 : Initiative and Activity for Regional

Born in Tokyo. In 1989 while a student at Musashino Art University,he founded a design company, and later, he became an editor. In 2000, the first magazine ""JIYUJIN"" was published. In 2004, he moved his office to Minami Uonuma (Niigata) from Tokyo. His lifestyle is focused on by the mass media. In 2004, He created a new style of hotel named SATOYAMA JUJO in Niigata, and he directs all space, furniture, interior design, and cuisine. SATOYAMA JUJO won Singapore GOOD DESIGN AWARD, and his work get a high reputation as one of the GOOD DESIGN BEST100.

Maholo Uchida

Curator | Curatorial Advisor, National Museum of Emerging Science and Innovation (Miraikan)

UNIT 10 : Mobility

Worked at the Miraikan National Museum of Emerging Science and Innovation from 2002 to 2020, and works at the New York Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) as an overseas trainee for the Japanese Agency for Cultural Affairs in 2005. Specializes in the combined field of art, technology, and design, and promotes art & science projects. Actively involved with introducing Japanese culture through technological innovation, robots, and organizing permanent exhibits for the fields of robots and information. Has participated in the Barbican Center (London), Milano Triennale, and Paris Cultural Center as a guest curator and commissioner. Serves as a planner and advisor for museums outside of Japan.

Yuki Uchida

Urban Designer / Collective Designer | Senior Director, Re:public Inc.

UNIT 16 : System and Service / Uniit Leader

She graduated from Waseda University with bachelor degree in Architecture. She majored in Sustainable City Design at Ferrara University graduate school in Italy. She was involved in regional planning projects in Italy, Brazil, Chile, Vietnam etc. Yuki was involved in the establishment of Re:public in 2013. She is a founding director of “Innovation Studio Fukuoka” which program to promotes citizen innovation in Fukuoka, “make.fukui” including XSCHOOL, a design school and project incubation program for young innovators and local industries commissioned by Fukui city. She has also managed foresight programs with a R&D department in several companies, universities and so on. She appointed as a regional revitalization evangelist by the Cabinet Office in 2017.

Gaku Otomo

Designer / Brand Director | CEO, stagio inc.

UNIT 04 : Household Goods

Born in 1978. Through participation in numerous design competitions, self-taught designing and became independent at age 22. Incorporated stagio inc. in 2008. Mainly through product design, engages in a wide range of brand-defining creations in 2D and 3D formats. Major exhibitions include “Chocolate” (the 1st 21_21 DESIGN SIGHT Special Exhibition) and guest participation of an original accessory brand in Tendence-Messe Frankfurt. Winner of GOOD DESIGN AWARD and other design competitions.

Hisato Ogata

Design Engineer | Director, Takram

UNIT 16 : System and Service

With takram since 2012, Hisato is an award-winning design engineer whose multidisciplinary abilities span from hardware to software and from art to science. A recipient of the GOOD DESIGN AWARD in 2004 and the iF Product Design Award in 2005, his work has most recently received acclaim at the Media Arts Festival held by the Japanese National Agency of Cultural Affairs in 2012.

Ken Okamoto

Graphic Designer | Representative, Ken Okamoto Design Office Inc.

UNIT 01 : Accessories and Wearable

Born in 1983 in Ota City, Gunma. Majoring in psychology in the Department of Behavioral Science, Faculty of Letters, Chiba University, he became interested in graphic design while studying it as part of his research, and changed direction. After graduating, he gained experience at several design studios, worked at VOL and Taku Sato Design Office, and became independent in 2013. He established the Ken Okamoto Design Office Inc. in 2015. From 2016 to 2019, he also worked as part-time lecturer for the Course of Integrated Design, Tama Art University.

Mamoru Kano

Art Director | Professor, Tohoku University of Art and Design / Advisor, WOW

UNIT 15 : Media and Contents

As a founding member of the visual design studio WOW, he worked on designs in various fields, from commercial videos to software development. He has presented many interactive video works at exhibitions and museums domestically and internationally. He has also been involved in many design projects with businesses and municipalities. In recent years, he has put much effort into the research of design education at Tohoku University of Art and Design, and proactively developed business collaborations focused on media expression that lead to finding next generation talent and community contribution.

Shogo Kishino

Art Director / Graphic Designer | President, 6D-K co.,Ltd.

UNIT 15 : Media and Contents

He hails from Tokyo. He established the graphic design office 6D in 2007. With a focus on VI, he has been involved in a wide variety of design activities, from logos and packaging to spatial information. His work in recent years includes art direction for Shinjyuku Kitamura Co., Ltd., the KIRIN Home Tap, and Kashiyama; logo and signage planning for Kyoto ShinPuhKan, the head office for Azusa Sekkei Co., Ltd.; signage planning for Shibuya Parco, Odakyu Line route maps, and the Doraemon sign for Noborito Station, among others. Domestic and global design awards received include Tokyo ADC, JAGDA, SDA, D&AD, Cannes Lions and DFAA.

Jin Kuramoto

Product Designer | Representative Director, JIN KURAMOTO STUDIO Inc.

UNIT 03 : Stationery and Hobby

Born in 1976. After working at a home appliance manufacturer, he established JIN KURAMOTO STUDIO in 2008. With the approach of communicating the project concept and story through a clear formative expression, he has been involved in the design development of various genres, like furniture, home appliances, eyewear, and automobiles. He is also a part-time lecturer at Kanazawa College of Art and Musashino Art University.

Shu-chang Kung

Architect / Interior Designer | Professor, Graduate Institute of Architecture, NYCU / Vice-President, Taiwan Design Alliance (TDA)

Taiwan UNIT

After he received M.Arch (1992) and M.Des. (1993) from GSD, Harvard University,USA, in 1997 he established AURA Architects & Associates in Taipei. Currently he is the professor at the Graduate Institute of Architecture, NYCU, Taiwan, and vice-president, Taiwan Design Alliance (TDA). His recent works received many awards - The Special Jury Award of TID Award (2007/ 2008/ 2009), iF Communication Design Award (2007), Far Eastern Architectural Design Award (2003/2005), Taiwan Architecture Award (2004/2006/2008), JCD Design Award, Japan (2004/2006).

Shigeru Kobayashi

Innovation Management Researcher | Professor, Department of Media Creation, Institute of Advanced Media Arts and Sciences [IAMAS]

UNIT 06 : Audio, Video and ICT Equipment

PhD in Media Design (Graduate School of Media Design, Keio University). He worked for a digital musical instrument company and has been working at IAMAS since 2004. He is exploring methods to create innovation through the collaboration of people with diverse skills, perspectives and experiences utilizing open source hardware and digital fabrication, and is seeking appropriate rules for handling intellectual property born in the process. He has written books on physical computing and prototyping.

Yuka Komada

Architect | Director, Komada Architects’ Office

UNIT 12 : Housing (Medium to Large Sized Housing Complex & Cohousing)

Yuka Komada established Komada Architects’ office with Takeshi Komada in 2000. She works mainly on apartment building and private residences such as “NISHIKASAI APARTMENTS 2”, “ROROOF”, “TRANS”, “SLIDE” while teaching as a part-time lecturer of Tokyo University of the Arts and Meiji University and received GOOD DESIGN AWARD BEST100, LOCAL REPUBLIC AWARD, Residencial Architecture Prize, ARCASIA AWARD. She is now particularly focusing on the potential of apartments to create communities.

Seiichi Saito

Creative Director | Director, Panoramatiks

Vice Chair :

Born in Kanagawa in 1975, Mr. Saito began his career in New York in 2000 after graduating from Columbia University with a Master of Science degree in Advanced Architectural Design (MSAAD). Since then, he has been active in creative work at the ArnellGroup, and returned to Japan upon being selected for the Echigo-Tsumari Art Triennial 2003. Launched Rhizomatiks Co.,Ltd. in 2006. Since 2016, he serves as director of Rhizomatiks Architecture. Vice chair of GOOD DESIGN AWARD 2018-2021. Creative Adviser of 2020 Dubai Expo Japan pavilion. An expert for the Peoples's Living Lab Promotion Council for Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, Japan.

Chiho Sasaki

User Experience Designer | Director, infield design inc.

UNIT 03 : Stationery and Hobby / Uniit Leader

She has been performing consulting for UX design based on ethnographic research over a wide area, including healthcare, nursing, community, mobility, resource protection, and urban planning fields both domestically and internationally. She is author of "The 1st step of product planning" (Sekigakusha, joint authorship) and a part-time lecturer at Aichi Prefectural University of Fine Arts and Music. She also worked at IDEO and GK Graphics. She holds a master's degree from the Institute of Design, Illinois Institute of Technology.

Yasuharu Sasaki

Creative Director | Executive Officer, Dentsu Inc., Dentsu Inc.

UNIT 15 : Media and Contents / Uniit Leader

He joined Dentsu in 1995. After gaining experience as copywriter, interactive director, and ECD of Dentsu America, he assumed his present post. Utilizing a hybrid of his digital and creative knowledge, he works as leader of a new area of creativity, while also carrying out global client relations in cooperation with overseas group bases. He has won many domestic and international advertisement awards, including Cannes Loins, One Show, and D&AD. He also has experience in judging for domestic and international awards, as well as in international keynote lectures.

Hiroki Sato

Design Researcher / Educator | Professor, Department of Design, Chiba Institute of Technology

UNIT 09 : Furniture / Equipment and Facilities for Office and Public Space

Doctorate (in Design) obtained at Graduate School of the University of Tsukuba. Specializes in studies of kansei (sensitivity) evaluation on design. Worked in design development of automobiles at Honda R&D Co., Ltd. and served as a full-time lecturer at Nagoya Zokei University of Art & Design prior to taking up his current position at Chiba Institute of Technology in 2007. Director, the Japanese Society for the Science of Design. Member, the Japan Society of Kansei Engineering. Member, the Education Committee, the Japan Industrial Designers’ Association. Director, Street Design Research Organization. Co-author of “Product Design - For Those Who Are Involved in Product Development.”

Xiaoxi Shi

Industrial Designer | 2-LA LLC

China UNIT

Xiaoxi is founder and Creative Director of 2-LA Design. Multiple award winning and highly recognized designer, TEDx speaker and Tsinghua X-lab EiR. Xiaoxi’s work has been widely published, respected and exhibited in museums and competitions. His award winning work ranges from product design, fashion design to furniture design. He is awarded by IDEA gold, Red dot Design, IF Design and G-marl BEST100. he also won top10 Chinese designer in year of 2016.

Gen Suzuki

Product Designer | Director, GEN SUZUKI STUDIO

UNIT 05 : Home Appliances

He is a graduate of the Design Products Program at the Royal College of Art in the UK. After working at Panasonic Corporation and the London and Boston offices of IDEO, he established GEN SUZUKI STUDIO. He collaborates with domestic and international firms, including Herman Miller, Casper and OMRON with a seamless approach between living and design at a studio set up in his house. He has won prizes including IDEA Gold Award, GERMAN DESIGN AWARD Gold Award, and his works are part of the permanent Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum collection. He is a part-time lecturer at Tama Art University and Musashino Art University. Chair of Product Design of British D&AD Awards 2021

Manabu Tago

Art Director / Designer | Representative, MTDO Inc.

UNIT 09 : Furniture / Equipment and Facilities for Office and Public Space

After being involved in household appliances and information equipment at Toshiba, then taking part in the startup period of REAL FLEET (current: amadana), a household appliances venture company, and being responsible for design management, he established MTDO Inc. Through research of corporate and organizational design and innovation, his specialty is "design management", overall design from concept creation to product development, across a wide range of industrial fields. A designer that carries our new value creation completely from start to finish, including branding, UX, product design, etc. Many works have received awards domestically and from overseas.

Eisuke Tachikawa

Design Strategist | Founder, NOSIGNER

UNIT 16 : System and Service

Eisuke Tachikawa is a design strategist, an Associate Professor at Keio University, and the founder of NOSIGNER. In implementing social context—to create a beautiful future with social design, and structure design knowledge—to clarify different ways of thinking and increase innovators, we have continued design from a social perspective to realize various design projects related to social issues. Tachikawa promotes "Evolution Thinking," a method that helps generate ideas and inventions by comparing innovation with the evolution of living things to foster game-changers.

Shizuka Tatsuno

Creative Director / Product Designer | CEO, Shizuka Tatsuno Studio inc.

UNIT 04 : Household Goods / Uniit Leader

After receiving Bachelor’s degree in Product and Furniture from Kingston University London, Shizuka has started her own design studio in 2011, and established her design office “Shizuka Tatsuno Studio Inc.” in 2017. With a focus on designing furniture, interior and fashion accessories, she provides various services in planning, direction and graphic designs among other areas. Shizuka is currently engaged in making-of-things with local industries while applying her principles of “refining quality, conveying the story and passing it on”. Shizuka was awarded a number of prizes including ELLE DECOR Japan Young Japanese Design Talent Prize in 2016.

Miyuki Tanaka

Curator / Producer |

UNIT 18 : Initiative and Activity for the General Public

After working at art institutions, she started working on projects that defy categorization under the theme of “disability/barrier is a perspective that redefines the world.” Through projects dealing with expressions that have yet to be valued, she realizes the ways we view and perceive expressions together with diverse audiences. Recent projects include Dance Work in Progress with Creative Audio Descriptions (KAAT Kanagawa Arts Theatre, 2017-2019), the film NIGHT CRUISING (2019), and Audio Game Center (2017-present). She has been a Part-time lecturer at the Tokyo Institute of Technology since 2018. In 2020, she was appointed as a creator for the Basic Concepts for the Japan Pavilion at World Expo 2025. She will be an exhibition director of the exhibition Rules? at 21_21 DESIGN SIGHT.

Miyuki Tamai

CMF Designer | CEO, FEEL GOOD CREATION Inc.

UNIT 05 : Home Appliances

After working at the Honda R&D Design Center, she established Feel Good Creation Inc., the only company in Japan specializing in CMF design. The company provides designs and consulting for a wide range of industries, including automobiles, home appliances, and interiors. She sponsors CMF Tokyo - Sense, an activity aimed at revitalizing manufacturing in Japan while adding CMF design perspectives to material and processing technology, and was also awarded the GOOD DESIGN AWARD in 2019. She is a part-time lecturer at the Musashino Art University.

Manabu Chiba

Architect | Professor, Department of Architecture, Graduate School of Engineering, The University of Tokyo

UNIT 11 : Housing (Detached House and Small Sized Housing Complex & Cohousing)

After graduating from the University of Tokyo's Department of Architecture, he completed a master's program at the same university. After working at Nihon Sekkei and Factor N Associates, he established Chiba Manabu Architects in 2001. He took up his present post in 2013. In 2016, he became Vice President of the University of Tokyo (until 2018). His main work includes the Japan Guide Dog Center (Prizes of AIJ (Architectural Institute of Japan)), Otaki Town Hall (UNESCO Asia-Pacific Heritage Awards for Cultural Heritage Conservation), and the Kogakuin University 125th Anniversary Education Building (the Murano Togo Prize). He is also author of "Rules of the Site- Sokoni Shikanai Keishiki" (Toto Publishing), "Jpeak Manabu Chiba" (Equal Books) and "hito no atsumarikata wo design suru" (Ohkokusha), among others.

Gary Chang

Architectural / Interior Designer | Managing Director, EDGE Design Institute Ltd.

China UNIT

Born in Hong Kong, he graduated from The University of Hong Kong in 1987 and founded his company EDGE in 1994. Since then, he has demonstrated his keen artistic visions through his numerous award-winning designs, keynote lectures and literary works. These include such notable works as the Suitcase House in Beijing, his Kung-fu tea-set for ALESSI, his book "Hotel as Home".

Chi mei Chang

Graphic Designer | Honorary President, Taiwan Graphic Design Association

Taiwan UNIT

-Graduated from Pratt Institute Brooklyn, NY (Communications Design)
-Creative Director of Optima Integrated Design
-Committee member of the XXIX Summer Universiade
-Judge of iF Design Award, JAGDA International Student Poster Award 2020, Golden Pin Design Award, Young Pin Design Award, Times Advertising Awards, Times Asia-Pacific Awards, Times Young Creative Awards, Taiwan Golden Print Awards, etc.
-Red dot Award: Packaging Design, Communication Design, Best Packaging Design Award of Taiwan External Trade Development Council, Golden Award of Golden Pin Design Award, Golden Award of Taiwan Visual Design Award (Visual Communication, Poster, Packaging, Publication), etc.

Byung-wook Chin

Industrial Designer | Professor, Dept. of Convergence and Integration, Hansung University

Korea UNIT

Training future designers in University based on experience of working as a corporate background. A bachelor’s degree in Industrial Design of Dong-A University in 1988. A master’s degree in Industrial Design of Hongik University Graduate School in 2012. A doctor’s degree in Industrial Design of Hongik University Graduate School in 2016. The study of emotional design was mainly conducted. From 1987 to 2009, worked as Managing Director of Samsung camera Industrial design team. And Worked as Vice President for Samsung Digital Imaging Company from 2009 to 2010. And From 2010 to 2014, worked as Vice President of Samsung Electronics Mobile Division. From 2015 to present, work as professor at Hansung University. Also, from2012 to 2013, worked as Vice chair of Industrila Design Society. From 2014 to 2017, work as Vice chair of KAID (Korea Association of Industrial Designers). And From 2015 to 2017, act as Design managing consulting for various kinds of company. From March, 2018 to present, Vice chair of Korea Federation of Design Associations.

Yui Tezuka

Architect | President, TEZUKA ARCHITECTS

UNIT 11 : Housing (Detached House and Small Sized Housing Complex & Cohousing)

Born in Kanagawa in 1969. Graduated from Musashi Institute of Technology in 1992. Studied at University College of London, Bartlett School of Architecture from 1992 to 1993. In 1994 Yui Tezuka established TEZUKA ARCHITECTS with Takaharu Tezuka. Part-time Lecturer at Toyo University since 1999. Visiting Professor at the University of California, Berkeley in 2006. Her major works include "Roof House" (18th Yoshioka Award), "Fuji Kindergarten" (Prize of AIJ)(Moriyama RAIC International Prize 2017), "Asahi Kindergarten" (GOOD DESIGN GOLD AWARD), "SORA no MORI CLINIC" (JIA Award), Author of "Takaharu + Yui Tezuka: Architecture Catalog (1 to 3)."

Ricca Tezuchi

Product Designer | Director, PROPELLER DESIGN

UNIT 06 : Audio, Video and ICT Equipment

Born in Chiba in 1971. After graduating from Kuwasawa Design School and working at Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. (now Panasonic Corporation) and IDEO Japan, Ricca Tezuchi established PROPELLER DESIGN in 2003. Part-time Lecturer of Kuwasawa Design School.

Huiming Tong

Industrial Designer | Professor, School of Innovation Design, Guangzhou Academy of Fine Arts

China UNIT

Born in 1955. He is also the vice-chair of Guangdong Industrial Design Association (GDIDA), and a member of Industrial design Council, Chinese Fine Arts Association (CFAA). He has served as chair of jury council of Guangdong Governor Cup Industrial Design Award, jury member of China Red Star Award, and chair of KAPAK Design Award in Guangzhou International Design Week. As first-generation industrial designer in China, he began his career in 1977 working as a tableware designer at a porcelain company in Shandong, China. He founded INTEONE, a new BDD brand in Guangzhou in 2015.

Hidetomo Nagata

Strategist | Managing Officer, Home Business, Airbnb Japan K.K.

UNIT 16 : System and Service

Visiting Professor at Kyoto University of the Arts. Graduated from the University of Tokyo Faculty of Law. As a strategic consultant of IBM Business Consulting Services KK and PwC Advisory LLC, he was involved in new business strategy and service design through cities and areas, including smart cities, infrastructure export, and MICE strategy. He joined Airbnb Japan in September 2016 and has been in his current position since 2017. He is the author of "Professional Meeting" (Discover 21), etc.

Sosuke Nakabo

Product Designer | Representative, Sosuke Nakabo Design Office

UNIT 02 : Personal Care

Graduated from the Product Design course of Kyoto City University of Arts. After working at Matsushita Refrigeration Company (Panasonic) Design Center, he went to the UK and finished his master’s degree program in Design Products at the Royal College of Art. He worked at Ryonin Keikaku (MUJI) Planning and Design Department and Jasper Morrison’s London Office, before establishing Sosuke Nakabo Design Office. He got awarded many international design awards such as GOOD DESIGN AWARD, iF Design Award, IDEA and Red Dot Design Award. Lecturer (part-time) at Kyoto City University of Arts.

Kenta Nakamura

Businessman / Editor | CEO, Shigotohito Inc.

UNIT 18 : Initiative and Activity for the General Public / Uniit Leader

Born in 1979 in Tokyo. He is Representative Director of Shigotohito Inc., which operates Nihon Shigoto Hyakka. After working in architecture and real estate, he realized that people were indispensable to comfortable places and established “Nihon Shigoto Hyakka,” a recruitment website for people who work in the way that they live. He produced a service called “popcorn” that allows anyone to show movies; business succession project “Bizionary”; “Shigotohito Bunko,” a book label that show ways of living and working; and Koya (cabins) project “san maru san.” He opened “Little Tokyo” in Toranomon, Tokyo, in July 2013. Currently, he has moved to Kiyosumi-Shirakawa, Tokyo, and plans and operates the “Shigoto Bar,” where people can encounter various different ways of living and working. He wrote “Ikiru youni hataraku” (Mishimasha Publishing Co.).

Yuko Nagayama

Architect | Executive Director, YUKO NAGAYAMA & ASSOCIATES

UNIT 13 : Construction (Industry and Commercial Facility)

Born in 1975 in Tokyo. Completed studies at Showa Women’s University in 1998. 1998–2002, worked at Jun Aoki & Associates. Established Yuko Nagayama & Associates in 2002. Representative works: “Louis Vuitton Kyoto Daimaru,” “A Hill on a House,” “ANTEPRIMA,” “Kayaba Coffee,” “SISII,” “Kiya Ryokan,” “Teshima Yokoo House,” “SEIBU SHIBUYA A・B bld. 5th floor,” “Central Garden – Goddess of The Forest.” Awards received include L’Oreal Encouragement Award, JCD Design Award (2005), AR Award (2006) “A Hill on a House,” ARCHITECTURAL RECORD Award, Design Vanguard (2012), JIA Young Architect Award (2014) “Teshima Yokoo House,” Yamanashi Cultural Prize of Architecture, JCD Design Award (2017) Silver Award, Tokyo Architecture Award (2018) Excellent Award “Central Garden - Goddess of The Forest,” etc. Currently working on the Japanese pavilion for Dubai Expo 2021, a high-rise building in Kabukicho, Shinjuku (2022), and Tokyo Tokiwabashi Project “TOKYO TORCH.”

Osamu Nishida

Architect | CEO, ondesign / Associate Professor, Tokyo University of Science

UNIT 18 : Initiative and Activity for the General Public

Born in 1976. He is the principal architect of ondesign co., ltd., which designs "open and impartial" architecture in various type of buildings, using their unique method to communicate with users to enhance the creativity. His representative work includes "Yokohama Apartment" (JIA rookie of the year award and the special jury mention at Venice Biennale (special entry at Japan Pavilion)), "ISHINOMAKI 2.0" (Good Design Special Award - Disaster Recovery Design and Community Recovery Award - Special Award) and "TOKYO MIDORI LABO." (GOOD DESIGN BEST100) He is the author of "Kenchiku o hiraku (Open the architecture)", "Experiment from OnDesign".

Hiroshi Nishimura

Architect / Creative Director | Executive Director, WORKVISIONS Inc.

UNIT 14 : Public Facility, Civil Structure and Landscape

Graduated from the Department of Civil Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, the University of Tokyo, and completed the master’s program at the Graduate School of Engineering. In 1999, Established WORKVISIONS Architects Office. In addition to architecture, renovation, civil engineering and landscape design, also works on urban regeneration strategies throughout the country. Received the AIJ Prize(work), the Civil Engineering Society Design Award, the BCS Prize, the Brunel Award, the ARCASIA Architecture Award, the Public Building Award, and many others.
Received the Grand Prize of 2009th GOOD DESIGN AWARD at the Iwamizawa complex station building.

Kota Nezu

Creative Communicator | CEO, znug design,inc.

UNIT 10 : Mobility / Uniit Leader

Graduated from the Department of Design, Faculty of Engineering, Chiba University. He joined Toyota Motor Corporation and served as the concept development leader for the "i-unit," which was exhibited at EXPO 2005 AICHI, etc., He established znug design, inc. in 2005, and has been involved in the concept planning and design for many industrial products and contributed to the vitalization of corporate creative activities. While promoting projects including the electric motorcycle "zecOO" upholding the slogan 'from small town factory to the world' and the soft, small fabric mobility "rimOnO," he is also engaged in the development of GROOVE X "LOVOT," Toyota Motor Corporation's concept vehicle "Camatte," and others. Awards he has received include the GOOD DESIGN GOLD AWARD, the iF Design Award, the Japan Society of Kansei Engineering Kawaii Kansei design top prize, the JAPAN WOOD DESIGN AWARD top prize, and others.

Jongrae Park

Designer | Associate Professor, College of Transdisciplinary Studies, DGIST (Daegu Gyeongbuk Institute of Science and Technology)

Korea UNIT

An Associate Professor at Daegu Gyeongbuk Institute of Science and Technology (DGIST), Jongrae Park, who is also the Director of the Korean Institute of Culture Architecture, graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Product Design at Hongik University, Korea, in 1995. In 2006 he got his Masters Degree and PhD in the Design of Comprehensive Human Sciences at Tsukuba University. In that same year until 2007 he served as the Exhibition Director of Chiba City Science Museum Project at TOTAL MEDIA and until quite recently was a Project Conductor at UCHIDA YOKO handling building and designs of office environments in Korea and Asia.

Makoto Hashikura

Product Designer | CEO, MAKOTO HASHIKURA DESIGN

UNIT 03 : Stationery and Hobby

He received his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in science and technology from Keio University. After having worked at a home appliance manufacturer, he joined NAOTO FUKASAWA DESIGN as a senior designer, where he was involved in the design of products across diverse fields including consumer electronics, cars, household goods, furniture and public equipment. In 2018, he established MAKOTO HASHIKURA DESIGN. Basing its activities on product design, the studio carries out integrated creative pursuits transcending the barriers of design across a number of fields including interior design, art direction and corporate design consulting. He is a part-time lecturer at Tama Art University.

Noriko Hashida

Product Designer | Professor, Dept. Engineering and Design , Shibaura Institute of Technology

UNIT 08 : Housing Fixtures / Uniit Leader

After graduating from the Department of Design, Tokyo University of the Arts, joined the TOTO Ltd. Design Center where she designed toilets, faucets, kitchen, and system baths, and became Design Director in 2005. Assumed the post of Professor at Shibaura Institute of Technology in 2008. In addition to household equipment, she has designed office furniture and living ware, and also promoted local industries, making proposals for new uses which fit with the times. She obtained her Doctor of Engineering in 2013.

Shigeki Hattori

Designer / Creative Director | Representative Director of graf / Professor at Department of Infomation Design, Kyoto university of Art

UNIT 01 : Accessories and Wearable

Representative of the creative unit graf.creative director and designer. We extract concepts from design research, consider the local area and social infrastructure as part of the domain, and design communication that reconstructs mechanisms and creates abundance interrelationships through the creation of things.

Atsumi Hayashi

Producer | Co-Representative, SPEAC, inc. / Director, RealTokyoEstate

UNIT 12 : Housing (Medium to Large Sized Housing Complex & Cohousing)

Born in Tokyo in 1971. Aside from managing the real estate specialty website “REALTOKYOESTATE” and a maker and an EC site of materials and tools for a spatial creation “toolbox,” he also carries out business revitalization planning and production for architecture and real estate, strategic planning for community management, and project management of accommodations, restaurants and event spaces, etc. He studied in the Department of Architecture, Faculty of Engineering, the University of Tokyo and completed a Master of Science in Real Estate Development in the Columbia University Graduate School of Architecture, Planning and Preservation. After working at McKinsey & Company and domestic developers, he assumed his present post.

Chiaki Hayashi

Project Manager | Chairperson, Loftwork, Inc.

UNIT 07 : Equipment and Facilities for Manufacturing and Medical Care

Loftwork is a new style of creative company that boasts a network of over 30,000 creators. Each year Loftwork rolls out over 200 projects including web, community, and spatial design initiatives. Loftwork also operates the digital fabrication cafe, FabCafe. Hayashi pioneered the adoption of Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK) guidelines in the creative industries in Japan, and has penned the book Web Project Management Standards. Hayashi is a chair of Hidakuma that aims to up-cycle the resources into a form of regional value through the utilization of digital fabrication and technology.

Nobuyuki Hayashi

Journalist / Consultant |

UNIT 06 : Audio, Video and ICT Equipment

A freelance journalist focusing on social impact of information technology and reporting them on various Japanese media outlets; also known for actively reporting Japanese tech culture on various foreign media. Served as a consultant to several communication companies. Have been serving as judge for James Dyson Award since 2013. Author of "iPad Shock" and more than a dozen other books.

Masahiro Harada

Architect / Professor | Founder/Architect, MOUNT FUJI ARCHITECTS STUDIO / Professor, Shibaura Institute of Technology

UNIT 13 : Construction (Industry and Commercial Facility) / Uniit Leader

Born in Shizuoka in 1973. Graduated from Shibaura Institute of Technology in 1997. He established MOUNT FUJI ARCHITECTS STUDIO with Mao Harada in 2004 after working at Kengo Kuma & Associates, Jose Antonio Martinez Lapena and Elias Torres (Barcelona) as National Fellowship for Artist, and Arata Isozaki and associates. He has been a professor at the faculty of architecture at Shibaura Institute of Technology since 2016. His recent works include Seto(company housing), Chiryu Afterschool (Afterschool+local community center), Roadside Station Mashiko, Sengyo-ji(charnel house), Riamfuji, ROOFLAG, etc. He won many awards such as the Leaf Awards 2010 and 2014, Young Architect Award of the Japan Institute of Architects 2015, JIA Awards Grand Prix and BCS Awards 2018, Prize of AIJ 2020.

Yuma Harada

Art Director / Designer | Representative, UMA /design farm

UNIT 04 : Household Goods

Born in Osaka in 1979. Graduated from studies as an architecture major in the design program of Kyoto Seika University’s Faculty of Art. Representative, UMA/design farm. Special Visiting Professor at Nagoya University of the Arts. Based in Osaka, at the center of projects related to culture, welfare and community, he aims to visualize philosophy and to create new experiences through graphics, space, exhibitions and planning and development. He also works on design through continued dialogues and experiments focusing on “Think Together, Make Together.” He is the author of “One Day Esquisse: Design class for finding ‘a point of view’ in thinking.”

Tatsuya Hiraga

Landscape Architect | CEO, Landscape Plus Ltd.,

UNIT 14 : Public Facility, Civil Structure and Landscape

Born in Tokushima in 1969. After graduating from the Department of Landscape Architecture, West Virginia University in 1993, joined Nikken Sekkei. Established Landscape Plus in 2008. Currently, the company's CEO and Vice President of the Landscape Architects Union. Received the City Planning Society Award at Toshima Ecomusee Town, the Landscaping Society Award at Minami Ikebukuro Park, and the Cultural Honor Award from Toshima Ward in 2020 for its past activities. Based in Tokyo, keep practicing the creation of local value that is globally evaluated.

Naoko Hirota

Design Director | Managing Director, Hirota Design Studio

UNIT 18 : Initiative and Activity for the General Public

Graduated from the Department of Design, Tokyo University of the Arts. After working at GK Planning and Design, she established the Hirota Design Studio. She directs total solutions from designing business models to developing products. Received the Red Dot Award 2015, Red Dot Award 2016, iF Design Award, etc.

Shigeki Fujishiro

Industrial Designer | CEO, shigeki fujishiro design Co.,Ltd

UNIT 09 : Furniture / Equipment and Facilities for Office and Public Space

He left the acclaimed IDÉE Co., Ltd. in 2005 to found his own studio: shigeki fujishiro design. He has been active with interior products as the main axis. He has recently collaborated with Hermès, adidas, CAMPER and Arita ware “2016/.” He also engages in planning, producing and selling products on his own. He recently joined the project “Knit!” by textile brand Kvadrat in Denmark.

Teppei Fujiwara

Architect | Associate Professor, Y-GSA, Yokohama National University

UNIT 11 : Housing (Detached House and Small Sized Housing Complex & Cohousing) / Uniit Leader

Born in 1975 in Yokohama. He has been working not only as an architect, but has also been engaged in design for community and industrial revitalization, crossing boundaries into various domains, such as art and the performing arts. His main works include “KURKKU FIELDS,” “Inamura House and Gardens,” “Yoyogi Terrace,” Nasu-Shiobara-shi machinaka interchange center “kururu,” and “Reborn-Art Festival 2017.” He has won the Culture and Arts Encouragement Award of the Yokohama Cultural Award, the Encouragement Award of the Japan Federation of Architects and Building Engineers Associations Award, etc. He was also a member of the steering, selection and exhibition committees of the UBE Biennale (International Sculpture Competition).

Koichi Futatsumata

Space & Product Designer | Representative Director, CASE-REAL Co.,Ltd. / KOICHI FUTATSUMATA STUDIO

UNIT 08 : Housing Fixtures

Born in Kagoshima in 1975. Futatsumata presides over CASE-REAL and KOICHI FUTATSUMATA STUDIO with offices in Fukuoka and Tokyo. He works with a wide variety of designs domestically and internationally, from interior and architecture to furniture and products. His work has been added to the permanent collection at the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art and he has received the JCD Design Award, FRAME Awards, Wallpaper* Design Awards, Design for Asia Awards, and others.

Miles Pennington

Educational Innovator | Professor, Institute of Industrial Science / Design Led X Platform, The University of Tokyo

UNIT 06 : Audio, Video and ICT Equipment

He is professor of Design Led Innovation and helps direct a unique international innovation lab at The University of Tokyo – the DLX Design Lab. Previously he was at the Royal College of Art in London and was Head of Programme of the Innovation Design Engineering (IDE) joint Masters programme with Imperial College - he is an alumnus of the IDE programme and graduated in 1992. He was also founder and head of the international exchange programme Global Innovation Design (GID). In the past in parallel to his academic work he was a Director of the London office of the innovation consultancy Takram. He moved to Japan in September 2017 to join The University of Tokyo.

Mitsunobu Hozumi

Product Designer | President, Hozmi Design

UNIT 08 : Housing Fixtures

Completed Graduate School at Kyoto City University of Arts. After working at the Head Office Design Department of Misawa Homes Co., Ltd., he established Hozmi Design. Involved with developing common products, industrial equipment, housing equipment, building components, furniture for public spaces, and local industry. Awards received include the iF Design Gold Award, IDEA Gold Award, Red Dot Design Award, German Design Award Special Award, Good Design Special Award, etc.

Takashi Honda

Product Designer | Associate Professor, Faculty of Art, Department of Design and Craft, Aichi University of the Arts / Representative, Design Studio CRAC

UNIT 01 : Accessories and Wearable / Uniit Leader

After graduating Aichi University of the Arts and working at YAMAHA Corporation's Design Laboratory, he established Design Studio CRAC in 2000. He has been involved in product design for things such as audio products, furniture, household equipment and commodities. He received Red Dot Design Award, IF Design Award, GOOD DESIGN AWARD, etc. He completed a master's degree at IAMAS (Institute of Advanced Media Arts and Sciences). He has been an Associate Professor in the Department of Design and Craft, Faculty of Art, Aichi University of the Arts since 2015.

Kazushige Miyake

Designer | CEO, miyake design co., ltd.

UNIT 05 : Home Appliances / Uniit Leader

Born in Hyogo Prefecture in 1973. Established miyake design in 2005. Designs a wide range of products, from consumer electronics and furniture to household goods and bicycles for companies both domestically and overseas.

Kaie Murakami

Designer / Creative Director | Founder, CEO, SIMONE Inc.

UNIT 15 : Media and Contents

After working at Miyake Design Studio, he established SIMONE INC. in 2003. He performs practical creative consulting and business development that integrates design, business and technology for both domestic and international businesses. His main work includes the following: Louis Vuitton, Lexus, Undercover (campaigns); Parfums Christian Dior, adidas, Shiseido, Isetan Mitsukoshi (product development, packaging and advertising); GSIX, The Park-Ing, United Arrows, and others (Web and app development). Awards: Cannes Lions (Gold), NY ADC and others.

Tamotsu Murakami

Design Engineering Researcher | Professor, Department of Mechanical Engineering, The University of Tokyo

UNIT 07 : Equipment and Facilities for Manufacturing and Medical Care

Graduated from the Department of Mechanical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, the University of Tokyo in 1984, and the Department of Industrial Mechanical Engineering, Graduate School of Engineering, the University of Tokyo in 1989. Doctor of Engineering. In English, the term, “design” is used for both engineering design and industrial design. Murakami’s areas of expertise are research and education on the mathematical methods and software/hardware technology that assist designers and give full scope to their originality and diversity to design (design by human) and create products that can provide new values to meet the users' needs, sensibilities and diversity (design for human).

Chiaki Murata

Product Designer, Design Producer | Representative Director, hers design inc. / Visiting Professor, Research Center for the 21st Century, Osaka Prefecture University

UNIT 07 : Equipment and Facilities for Manufacturing and Medical Care

He won over 170 international awards and was chosen as one of Newsweek's "100 globally recognized small and medium Japanese businesses". Operates a design think tank that supports planning and development from design thinking. Advocated S.S.FB method and Kansei value hexagon graph. In 2020, He established the "Hers Design Fund" to support startups that solve social issues through design investment. He is author of "Textbook for Social Design", "Design Thinking for Behavior", “The Potential of Sensibility Thinking”, and "Bugtori Design".

Takayuki Morikawa

Mobility Designer | Professor, Global Research Institute for Mobility in Society, Nagoya University

UNIT 10 : Mobility

Researching on advanced mobility and transportation systems. As the research leader of Nagoya University Center of Innovation, developing autonomous vehicles and mobility service systems fitted to transportation poor areas.

Masayuki Moriguchi

Mobility Journalist | CEO, MOBILICITY Co., Ltd.

UNIT 10 : Mobility

Gathers information on traffic conditions at home and abroad for magazine, radio and Internet presentations, and lectures. Also works as a researcher and consultant to provide solutions to mobility-related problems. Selection committee member of Car of the Year Japan. Publications include “How will be our Society - Autonomous Driving will Start?” and “MaaS Nyumon MACHI Zukuri No Tame No Smart Mobility Senryaku” (Maas Introduction Smart Mobility Strategy for Community Planning).

Shigeya Yasui

UI Design Researcher | Associate Professor, Faculty of Systems Information Science, Department of Media Architecture, Future University Hakodate

UNIT 05 : Home Appliances

Completed master program at University of Tsukuba in Design. After working as UI Designer at Sony Corporation's Creative Center, he has been a professor at Future University Hakodate since 2012. His research theme is UI Design. Award: Haptic Design Award 2016 Grand Prize.

Jun’ya Yamaide

Artist | Executive Director, NPO BEPPU PROJECT

UNIT 17 : Initiative and Activity for Regional / Uniit Leader

Born in 1970 in Oita, Japan. General producer of the "Mixed Bathing World" (2009, 2012, 2015), "in BEPPU" (2016-), General director of the "Kunisaki Art Festival" (2014). Board member of the Council for Cultural Affairs, Cultural Policy Section (2016-2018).

Yoshihiko Yamasaka

Creative Director | Executive Vice President, Tokyo Office, MAQ inc.

UNIT 17 : Initiative and Activity for Regional

He is involved in design for problem-solving, branding, public relations, content development and promotion of corporations, communities and government. He is Executive Vice President, Chief of Tokyo Office, MAQ inc.; a representative of the environment improvement organization GARBAGE BAG ART WORK; and a director of the domestic violence prevention group Purple Eyes. A member of the Tokyo Copywriters Club. He was also Creative Director of Kobe City (2015–2018) and Publicity Director of Art Project Kobe 2019: Trans- (2019).

Kentaro Yamazaki

Architect | Representative Director, YAMAZAKI KENTARO DESIGN WORKSHOP Co.,Ltd.

UNIT 12 : Housing (Medium to Large Sized Housing Complex & Cohousing)

He won many awards in Japan and overseas: Itoman Gyomin Shokudo (2013) constructed by piling Ryukyu limestone with residents in Okinawa, Hakusui Nursery School (2015) stair-like building by making the most of the slope, Vision Park (2018) as the supporting facility for people with visual impairments. Aiming to design buildings that are not so sensational but accepted by people from children to the elderly as a part of the ir lives. Lecturer at Kogakuin University, Tokyo University of Science, Waseda University and Hosei University.

Nobuyoshi Yamazaki

Product Designer | Associate Professor, Faculty of Fine Arts Department of Design, Tokyo University of the Arts

UNIT 06 : Audio, Video and ICT Equipment

Graduated from Tokyo University of the Arts, 1995. Engaged in design consulting at Hirano Design Co., Ltd. from the same year. Transferred to NEC Design Co., Ltd. in 2005, and performs product, UI solutions and design management of information terminals and public systems. He then served as director of NEC’s design center. Incumbent from 2016. On the axis of UX, UI/product solutions and value renovation, he conducts industry–university joint research and provides design consultation for firms and organizations.

Ryo Yamazaki

Community Designer | CEO, studio-L, Inc.

UNIT 17 : Initiative and Activity for Regional

Born in Aichi in 1973. Graduated from the graduate school of Osaka Prefectural University and the graduate school of the University of Tokyo. Received PhD in engineering. After working at Architecture and Landscape Design Office, Ryo Yamazaki established studio-L in 2005. He is involved in community design helping local people to solve local problems. He has a number of projects related to community development workshops, including general planning creation with resident participation and grass-roots park management. He has won awards including the Kids Design Award for "Parent-and-Baby Notebook." Author of "Community Design" (awarded by the Real Estate Companies Association).

Yu Yamada

Buyer | President, method inc.

UNIT 04 : Household Goods

Born in Tokyo.After working as a buyer for Idée Shop in Minami-Aoyama, Yamada founded Method in 2007 and began working as a freelance buyer. He is currently the representative of Method Inc. In 2013, he was featured in a special issue of the popular Japanese magazine Discover Japan, titled “Kurashi no Senmonten: Yu Yamada’s Tokyo Shopping Guide” (Ei Publishing). In 2014, he published The Method of Shop Success (Seibundo Shinkosha).

Ai Yoshida

Architect | CEO, SUPPOSE DESIGN OFFICE Co.,Ltd.

UNIT 13 : Construction (Industry and Commercial Facility)

Born in 1974. Worked at SUPPOSE DESIGN OFFICE since 2001, then co-founded since 2014. Based in two locations in Hiroshima and Tokyo, work on a number of projects in Japan and overseas, from interiors to residences and complex facilities. Received many awards including the JCD Design Award 2016 Grand Prize. Recently, have been working in various fields centering on architecture, including directing and managing of new business, such like Sha-shokudo, Vantage point Properties and so on.

Carl Liu

Design Director | Design VP, Niu Technologies Inc.

China UNIT

He is the founder of brand CARLLIU which is dedicated on creating quality sustainable lifestyle objects for everyday usage. He is currently working as the Design VP of Niu Technologies in Shanghai China. His signature designs included Compaq iPaq PDA, Nike running watch Triax 300 and Triax 50. These products had won international awards like G-Mark, IDSA and I.D Magazine. He has published two design books Carl Liu Design Book and Innovative Product Design Practice since 2005. Prior to that, he worked at BMW Designworks, Ideadao Design, Walt Disney, Intel, Motorola and Astro Studios.

Jian Liu

Urban Planner / Designer | Associate Professor / Vice Dean, School of Architecture, Tsinghua University

China UNIT

She received her Bachelor degree in Architecture and Master and Doctor degrees in Urban Planning & Design from Tsinghua University. She is Registered City Planner in China, Vice Dean and Tenured Associate Professor of Urban Planning & Design at Tsinghua University School of Architecture, and Managing Chief-Editor of China City Planning Review. She was Fulbright Visiting Scholar at Graduate School of Design Harvard University in 2016, visiting scholar at l’Oservatoir d’Architecture de la Chine Contemporaine in 2000 and 2003, and visiting scholar at UBC Center for Human Settlements in 1995. She works as professor, researcher and city planner and designer, with particular interests on town and rural planning, urban design, urban regeneration, and international comparative studies. She publishes both domestically and overseas and is active in both national and international academic circles. She either chairs or participates both research and practical projects of urban planning and design which cover a number of Chinese cities such as Beijing, Hangzhou, Shaoxing, Nantong, Jining, Qufu, and so on, and have been rewarded with either national or ministerial prizes.

Hiroaki Watanabe

Industrial Designer | President, Plane Co., Ltd.

UNIT 06 : Audio, Video and ICT Equipment / Uniit Leader

After graduating from Kuwasawa Design School and working at a business machine manufacturer, he moved to the U.S. He worked at Frog Design and Ziba Design before returning to Japan and establishing Plane Co., Ltd. He has been involved in manufacturing in various areas and scopes, both in Japan and internationally. He is also a part-time lecturer at Tama Art University.

Manfred Wang

Product Designer | Professor, Department of Design, National Taiwan Normal University

Taiwan UNIT

Professor of design at National Taiwan Normal University and Principal Creative Advisor for Qisda Corporation. Prior to 2013, Wang was the Vice President & Chief Design Officer of BenQ & Qisda Group and the General Manager of QisDESIGN Lifestyle Products Business Unit. Under his guidance, BenQ and Qisda have won more than 375 international design awards. Manfred Wang graduated with a Master of Industrial Design from Stuttgart State Academy of Art and Design Germany in 1994.

GOOD DESIGN AWARD Judges