Talk: Japan/Design: Extraordinary Design from Ordinary Life

Speaker: Prof. Hiroshi Kashiwagi, Musashino Art University

Venue:  The Japan Foundation, Russell Square House, 10-12 Russell Square, London WC1B 5EH

Date:   7 March 2012 from 6.30pm

From fashion to cars, Japanese design has continued to inspire worldwide with its distinctively innovative and creative features. Though its appeal is global, its origins and inspiration are deeply rooted in Japanese everyday life, and its culture. In this illustrated talk, Prof. Hiroshi Kashiwagi at Musashino Art University, a distinguished historian and critic in the field of modern design, will re-evaluate the nature of Japanese contemporary design, defining the culture to which it belongs. Showcasing actual products that have been created recently, he will demonstrate characteristics of Japanese contemporary design with keywords, such as “minimal” and “kawaii (cute)”, exploring how various seemingly advanced designs are closely associated with things that Japanese people have loved from long ago, and how they are inseparable from its heritage. This lecture will be followed by a brief conversation with Dr Sarah Teasley, of the Royal College of Art. This will be an interesting opportunity to map current Japanese design ideas, reviewing their roots, also providing scope to consider the place of Japanese design and its future in an increasingly global market.

This event is free to attend but booking is essential. To reserve a place, please email your name and the title of the event you would like to attend to [log in to unmask]

Dr Grace Lees-Maffei, MA RCA PhD FHEA

Reader in Design History

School of Creative Arts, University of Hertfordshire, Hatfield AL10 9AB, UK.

Direct Line: 0 44 (0)1707 285369 * Fax: 0 44 (0)1707 285350 * [log in to unmask]

www.go.herts.ac.uk/gracelees-maffei

http://herts.academia.edu/GraceLeesMaffei

Coordinator, TVAD Research Group http://tvad-uh.blogspot.com/

Managing Editor, Journal of Design History

Editor, Writing Design: Words and Objects

Co-Editor, The Design History Reader

Advisory Board Member, The Poster

Twitter: twitter.com/graceleesmaffei