It has not been though if it is possible to do so. Recently, design world is taking a new development beyond existing categories. We believe that design has a power to change the country.
Design Association NPO is the maneuvering vehicle that contributes to society with the design in life beyond genres and across borders by connecting the related companies, designers, schools, embassies and media.
DESIGN ASSOCIATION
DA Symbol: two overlapping trianges, by design
This symbol represents the meeting of different design disciplines, where architecture meets graphic design, or fashion meets interior design. We will discover new perspectives through collaboration between different genres, generating new value.
Design which connects three dots
Three sides of a triangle represent the people who use design: people who buy design; consumers, people that provide design; companies and people who create design, that is designers. These three dots are connected with heavy and rich lines, that support people, companies, schools and even the world.
Design as a ruler of new life
We, "Design Association", as catalysts of design are trying to create the DNA of a new innovation culture.
Aims of Design Association
Members
Member designers, manufacturers, shop membership, members, media arts university/college membership, embassies
| President | Katsumi Asaba Katsumi Asaba Design Room, Inc. / Art Director | |
|---|---|---|
| Chairman | Kenji Kawasaki Design Association NPO | |
| Vice President | Hiroo Mori Mori Building Co. / Executive director Shigeru Sato Able CHINTAIHoldings / Chairman |
|
| Director | Toyo Ito Toyo Ito Architects / Architect Motomi Kawakami Design Room Kawakami / Designer Kengo Kuma Kengo Kuma Architecture and urban design firm / Professor, University of Tokyo / Architect Satoshi Tabuchi Professor, Tama Art University / Architect Kimitaka Kato FUJITSU LIMITED / SVP（Design strategy）Marketing Transformation Project Office Marketing Business Unit Maiko Kawakami Actress /Glass artist |
Mika Ikenobo Ikenobo art flower arrangement representative flower of youth group / flower artist Hiroshi Tsuruta Real Style / President |
| Auditor | Professor Oki Kenji interior designer |
Abe Youichi tax accountant |
| TDW Sponsor | Ministry of Economy 2005-2009 | |
Kenji Kawsaki, Profile
Kenji Kawasaki
Association President, a nonprofit design
Producer
Founder of Tokyo Designers Week and Design Association NPO
Biography produced by Isao Makoto
| 1948 | 1948 Born in Takaoka, Toyama Prefecture |
|---|---|
| 1986 | Graduated from Aoyama Gakuin University, 1986 Founded INTER PLANETS Co., Ltd. Produced and directed many communication design projects. |
| 1997 | 1997 Launched design event "Tokyo Designers Week". |
| 2002 | 2002 Turned the event organization into nonprofit organization. Expanded the event to Osaka, Kyoto, Nagoya and Sapporo in Japan and to Milan and London worldwide. |
| 2005 | 2005 Renamed the organization DESIGN ASSOCIATION NPO and became its chairperson. Launched student exhibition and containers exhibition. Co-organized contemporary interior trade show "100% Design Tokyo" with REED EXHIBITIONS(UK). Assumed its represent Japan. |
| 2007 | Co-organized "TOKYO DESIGN PREMIO" with JETRO during Milano Salone which attracted 80,000 visitors. |
| 2008 | Produced "kansei-Japan Design Exhibition-"(organized by Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry / JETRO) at Musée des Arts décoratifs in Paris. The exhibition traveled to New York following year. |
|---|---|
| 2007-2009 | 2007-2009 Founded Japanese edition of "designboom", Europe's trendy design ezine. |
| 2007-2009 | Co-organized Japanese version of "Blickfang", Europian design trade show. |
| 2007-2009 | Organized "JAPAN BRAND" exhibition |
| 2005-2008 | 2005-2008 Produced Japan's first design information TV program "DESIGN CHANNEL" |
| 2009 | 2009 Produced Ministry of the Environment's campaign of 25 percent reduction of CO2 emission. |
| 2009 | Established Japanese edition of "Dezeen", the world's most influential online architecture and design magazine from UK. |
| 2010 | Organized "Cool Japan Tokyo Conference". |
| 2010- | Started design & art opinion TV program "TOKYO AWARD" |
Member Organizations
| Member | ABLE.INC / CHINTAI Corporation / LIXIL Corporation / Living Design Center OZONE / Tobu Department Store / MORI ART MUSEUM / Sogo & Seibu Co., Ltd. / SIMMONS CO., LTD. / SHADDY CO.,LTD / Mitsui Fudosan Residential Co.,Ltd. |
|---|---|
| Supporting Members | Nikkei Business Publications, Inc.（Nikkei Design）/ MAGAZINE HOUSE, Ltd.（Casa BRUTUS）/ Embajada del Japón en España / TAMA ART UNIVERSITY /Embaixada do Japão／Machida Hiroko Interior Co-ordinator Academy |
| Member Schools |
Osaka University of Arts / Kyushu Sangyo University / Kyushu University / Kyoto University of Art and Design / Kyoto Institute of Technology / Kyoto Seika University / Kyoto University of Art / Kogakuin University / Kokushikan University/ Shizuoka University of Art and Culture /Shibaura Institute of Technology / Tokyo Metropolitan University / Joshibi University of Art and Design/ Tama Art University / Chiba University / TokaiUniversity /Tohoku University of Art and Design/ Tokyo Polytechnic University / Tokyo Zokei University/ Tokyo Design Academy / Toyo University/ Toyo Institute of Art and design/ Nihon Kogakuin College / Human AcademyTokyo / Mukogawa Women's University / Musashino University / Musashino Art University / Institute of Technologists / Waseda University /Daegu University / Ewha Womans University / Sejong University |
|---|
History of the Tokyo Designer's Week
| 1986-96 | Tokyo version of designers day held in New York |
|---|---|
| 1997 | Tokyo Designers Week Theme; Interiors |
| 1998 | TDW Theme; Live Together |
| 1999 | TDW Theme; Scenic Interior |
| 2000 | TDW Theme; Thousands of styles |
| 2001 | DW Theme; Inspire, Professional Exhibition, inaugural Student Exhibition |
| 2002 | TDW NPO Theme Osaka inaugural design week |
| 2003 | TDW Theme; Exhibition design and party. 100 lectures took place. |
| 2003 | Recycled container gallery event, makes the front cover of the Asahi newspaper |
| 2004 | Theme Design Messe, special event held in Kyoto |
|---|---|
| 2005 | Event held in Milan |
| 2005-09 | TDW teams up with 100% Design, at Meiji Jingu ground |
| 2007 | Tokyo Design Premio held at Milano Salone |
| 2010 | TDW Design x Environment exhibition held. WWF Red list stamp rally held |
| 2010 | Tokyo Design x Art environmental awards held |
