Design Philosophy and Social Formation in “Learning from Design Maestros”
“Learning from Design Maestro” is now on at 21_21 DESIGN SIGHT, in Tokyo Midtown Garden.
The exhibition investigates six Design Maestros. These are Otl Aicher (1922-1991), Dieter Rams (1932-) from Germany, Max Bill (1908-1994) from Switzerland who served as the first rector of Ulm School of Design Germany, Achille Castiglioni (1918-2002), Enzo Mari (1932-2020) and Bruno Munari (1907-1998) from Italy.
They changed society with surprises that crossed 20-Century national boundaries, and still remain shining presences for us today. What emerges from this exhibition are essential insights for exploration of future possibilities in design.
The talk will focus on the philosophies lying behind the Maestros’ projects, and how these fascinating ideas continue to be cogent. It will also consider how their design activities and ideas have influenced social formation from Post-war to the present.
The talk will introduce the important figure of Shutaro Mukai. After studying at the Ulm School of Design, he advocated establishment of a “science of design” and devoted himself to educating new generation of creative people who went into many fields. Unraveled will be the way in which Western and Japanese design interfaced via exchange between Mukai and the overseas creators.
In sum, the talk will look back on the trajectories of these unforgettable personalities in order to generate an opportunity for guests to re-think and digest their teachings. The talk will also touch on future possibilities in design.
Speakers:
Naoto Fukasawa, Originator of the Exhibition Concept
Noriko Kawakami, Kaoru Tashiro, Exhibition Directors
Tomoko Mukai, Planning Cooperation
※ The event will be in Japanese only
Dates:
Monday February 23 (Please note that this is a public holiday)
14:00-16:00
Venue:
International Design Liaison Center, Tokyo Midtown Design Hub
9-7-1 Akasaka, Minato-ku,Tokyo
https://www.designhub.jp/en/access
Admission Free (Booking necessary via Peatix)
Capacity: 60 people
Organized by: Japan Institute of Design Promotion, Roppongi Future Talks at TOKYO MIDTOWN
Supported by: Goethe-Institut Tokyo
Cooperation: 21_21 DESIGN SIGHT
Schedule：
13:30 Reception Opens
14:00 Melanie Bono, Institute Director, Goethe-Institut Tokyo, Greetings
14:05 -15:35 Presentations
15:45 Q&A
16:00 Close of Proceedings
Speakers’ Biographies
Naoto Fukasawa
Product Designer, 21_21 DESIGN SIGHT Director. Fukasawa graduated from Tama Art University in 1980. After working for IDEO's San Francisco office, he established IDEO Tokyo in 1996 and Naoto Fukasawa Design in 2003. He has acted as a designer and consultant for businesses, both domestic and overseas. He founded the Department of Integrated Design at Tama Art University in 2014 and was appointed vice president of the university in 2024. Since 2012, he has also served as the fifth director of the Japan Folk Crafts Museum.
Photo: Kenichi Yamaguchi
Noriko Kawakami
Jaournalist, 21_21 DESIGN SIGHT Associate Director. After being an editor for the design magazine "AXIS," Kawakami began her career as a design journalist in 1994. A member of the Board of Directors of Tama Art University. She also has been engaged in design exhibitions including "WA: The Spirit of Harmony and Japanese Design Today" (2008) and "Japanese Design Today 100" (2014) (both by Japan Foundation) acting as a co-curator. She also served as a guest curator for "Japon-Japonismes. Objets inspirés, 1867-2018" (Musée des Arts Décoratifs, Paris) and as a curatorial supervisor for "Visionaries: Making Another Perspective" (Kyoto City KYOCERA Museum of Art) (2023). She is a guest professor at Musashino Art University.
Photo: Keizo Kioku
Kaoru Tashiro
Writer and independent curator. Studied at Accademia di Belle Arti di Firenze as Italian government scholarship recipient, before becoming design and architecture writer based in Milan. Major interests include design philosophy, formulated in dialogue with Enzo Mari. Published translations include Mari, "Progetto e passione (project and passion)" (Misuzu shobo, 2009). Moved to Japan, 2018, and until 2022 engaged in curation of design exhibitions at ATELIER MUJI GINZA Gallery1. Recent exhibitions include "Progettazione," Tokyo Midtown Design Hub (co-planning) and "The Eye of Gio Ponti: Crossing Boundaries with Lightness," 21_21 DESIGN SIGHT Gallery 3. Part-time lecturer at Tama Art University.
Photo: Taisuke Yajima
Tomoko Mukai
Spatial Designer and Artist; Design Researcher; Academic Collaborator for the exhibition “Learning from Design Maestros”. BA, Musashino Art University, Tokyo (1991); MA, Academy of Media Arts Cologne (KHM), Germany (1996, DAAD Scholarship). Focus on spatial projects in urban and historical contexts, cultural heritage exhibitions, and interdisciplinary performances. Presentations in Germany at Trinitatiskirche (Cologne), Bonner Kunstverein, and St. Gertrud Church (Cologne). Residency at Museum Insel Hombroich (Neuss, 2024), followed by a reconstructed exhibition and performance at the OAG House (2025). Former appointments include The University Museum, Tokyo University of the Arts; Nihon University College of Art; and Visiting Researcher at the Cologne International School of Design (KISD, TH Köln). Co-editor and co-translator of Max Bill: Collected Writings (Misuzu Verlag, 2025).