“Aiming for Design in Collaboration with Citizens and Professionals” — Thoughts and Views upon Participating at the Design Declaration Takikawa Conference on July 7, 2007
It was a very rare and happy experience for me being able to participate in such a hot discussion with other design specialists. I became aware and repent that by being busy with the daily teaching and practice, I have been putting away thinking about these important matters. During the discussion, Ms. Sue’s comment: “ what we have in common is … that to design is to ascertain the essence,” pointed to the common foundation uniting us all.
“Form” is what designers are concerned about, which in fact, reflects the “essence” of the object’s existence. In what form, and how do these designed objects interact with people, and/or support communication among people? These questions raised when designing an object, simultaneously question about the “essence” of design.
Moreover, I would like to supplement my comment on Mr. Igarashi’s theme: “Regional Differences in Design — The Lack of Design in the Provinces”. The aim of this comment is that the people of Takikawa should themselves become aware and grasp what exists and what is missing in terms of design. Just by experiencing “good” design alone does not give us a chance to really understand design. By experiencing both the presence and the lack of design, one is able to become aware and to start to think about the value of design. It is like obtaining a road map to the “essence” of life.
Once the citizens of Takikawa actively work to obtain what they are missing, they will start to create design. I am sure that the aesthetic activity of the next generation will not come from Tokyo but from the provinces like Takikawa, where people take the initiative to think and work together with design specialists. For this reason, I would like to think about what each of us can do in order to enhance collaboration.
