Projects, a characteristic feature of IAMAS’ education, are positioned as an independent curriculum that allows students to learn technical and comprehensive knowledge, and technologies through the team teaching of professors from various disciplines. Through this interview, we will speak to each professor about the setting of the theme for the project in addition to the background for that research area and context, alongside how collaboration is conducted between professors and students who have different specialties and what results can be expected from those efforts.

Professor Nobuya Suzuki, Professor Kyo Akabane

Research trip in Hida-shi

Please tell me about the theme and background for this project.

Nobuya Suzuki (hereafter Suzuki) – In the past, the term “design” was often narrowly defined to include fields like graphic design, product design, and other visual disciplines. However, the scope of design has since expanded to encompass not only grand designs and design processes but also concepts like design thinking. Today, design is understood in much broader terms.
“Design Thinking”, which focuses on applying specific processes and methods to solve business challenges, was first introduced in the early 2000s by the American design firm IDEO. It quickly gained popularity, becoming a trend in Japan as well. However, in recent years, fewer Japanese companies seem to be adopting “Design Thinking” as part of their business practices.
In the present, two decades after the proposition of Design Thinking, we thought to examine the past once again and assess the current state of affairs. To that end, last year, Mr. Akabane and I initiated a project called “Critical Approach for Design Research Methodology Project.” As an extension to that project, from this fiscal year, we also included the students and started the Collaborative Design Research Project which aims to further investigate the field of design.

Kyo Akabane (hereafter Akabane) – In the pilot project that we conducted last year, we interviewed four experts and practitioners of design thinking to assess its track record over the past 20 years. Our hypothesis was that design projects based on “Design Thinking” may no longer be as viable.
Through these discussions, we confirmed several key insights. For example, the approach of hiring an external design consultant to identify and solve a company’s problems does not align well with Japanese corporate culture. Additionally, we found that there is no fixed methodology for the problem-solving process; instead, a flexible, case-by-case approach is required to address each unique issue. In this project, we moved beyond traditional design methodologies for problem resolution. Through various trial runs, our main goal has been to explore alternative design methodologies that IAMAS should engage with in the future and to identify areas where design can have a positive impact.

Suzuki – In this project, I would like to shift the focus of our collaborations and design efforts. As IAMAS is a prefectural graduate school, we have the unique advantage of being able to easily partner with local government entities. I want to leverage this advantage by approaching communities and businesses in a new way—one that differs from our past design collaborations.

Akabane – I want to explore areas where design can intersect with fields that are not traditionally seen as requiring design. My goal is to identify areas where design can be applied in ways that other universities have not yet set their hands on. Naturally, the approach and mindset needed will vary depending on the field and the target. By running multiple broad projects simultaneously, I hope to identify commonalities and overarching patterns across them. While some projects may not go as smoothly in practice, I believe it would still be valuable to academically analyze why the design approach did not succeed.

In what way are students involved?

“The Children’s University IAMAS”

Suzuki – This fiscal year we are running three projects concurrently, and the students are involved in all of them.

The first project is a collaborative research initiative with Ogaki City called “The Children’s University IAMAS,” a design project focused on creating a workshop for children. We designed the workshop itself, and the students took the lead in running the event. This was their first experience facilitating a workshop, and they found it particularly interesting to adapt the flow of the event in response to the participant’s needs.

The second project explores new ways to utilize hardwoods in the Hida region. While the region has more hardwood trees than conifers, most of the hardwood is currently used only for fuel, as chips or pulp, leaving a significant underutilization of the resource. In June, we took a research trip to Hida, where we visited various stakeholders involved in the harvesting, distribution, and use of hardwoods. Our goal was to understand the current situation and explore future possibilities for more sustainable utilization. The students are now working on creating prototypes to address specific issues that we identified.

The third project is a collaboration with an advertising agency in Osaka aimed at addressing issues faced by foreigners living in Gifu. The foreign community in Gifu is diverse, including technical intern trainees and immigrants working in various industries. However, many face challenges in accessing important administrative and daily life information. Initially, we had difficulty identifying the specific issues troubling them. However, through student-led interviews, we hope to uncover these issues more clearly and design solutions that can address their needs.

Akabane –　This fiscal year, four students from diverse backgrounds are participating in the projects. One student has studied product design, while the other three have essentially no experience in design. However, I believe all of them will benefit from learning design thinking methods as they apply them to their individual research. Most of the students were new to workshops and digital fabrication, so it was also a valuable experience for them to articulate their insights from the research trip in a written report. We’re not aiming to rush to conclusions at this stage, but we do hope to hold an exhibition or create a space to showcase the results of our research in the next fiscal year.

Date of interview: 02/2024
English translation: Eric Lupea

 
※ This is a reproduction of the contents from the project interviews “IAMAS Interviews 04” published in 2023.