Studio-L
01. Introduction
We design for the public realm. To put it concretely, we often engage in projects such as the developments of parks, hospitals, and newspaper publishers; also, community developments in city centres and the like, as well as integrated town planning. There is one common feature among all these projects: they are facilitated by the participation of residents.
02. Community Design Step by Step
“Design created by everyone” is mostly carried out in the following sequence.
1. Research
- Researching case studies and good practices for each project request. (approx. 100 cases)
- Collecting data about the region of request. (e.g. population, aging rate, economic structure, etc.)
- Conducting interviews with organizers of civil activities in the region of request. (one hour each, approx. 100 interviewees)
2. Workshop
- Holding workshops to exchange opinions with the participants regarding the time and trends, the region, the project, and the design. (approx. 100 participants)
- Creating tools to facilitate and encourage the participation in workshops. (Card game, card game, case sheet, etc.)
- Creating tools to facilitate and encourage participants to talk about the content of workshop (newsletter, booklet, karuta cards, website, animation, etc.)
3. Team Building
- Organizing by division of participants into groups of several people (approx. 10 groups)
- Meeting repeatedly for each group to decide the concrete details of activities
4. Support
- Providing support for each team’s activities
- Sharing the ways of creating promotion tools (methods of making pamphlets and websites)
- Providing support for fundraising and base-establishing for the continuation of activities
03. 8 points to keep in mind throughout the project
The 8 points we always keep in mind are:
To make the design of public facilities more beautiful than before.
To create occasion for local residents to participate in the project.
To let the residents who have participated learn about design.
To let the residents who have learned about design share with the others easily. Booklets, etc., made during the project
To form ties among fellow residents who have participated
To let connected residents initiate civil activities.
To let engaged residents support each other, and enjoy in their daily lives.
To disseminate about the importance of “participatory design” such as those above
Book publications Komyunitidezain no genryu (“The Origin of Community Design”; Left), Shukujū suru nihon (“Fulling Japan”; Right)
04. The goal of “relationship design”: club activities of grown-ups!
The community design mentioned above aims to build relationships among people of the region, and to solve regional problems in enjoyable ways. To solve problems while having fun, it is an ideal to have these regional activities become “club activities of grown-ups.” We provide support for new organizations to let them continue these seven items independently, so the “club activities of grown-ups” can sustain
05. We create the system for local people to solve the problems of their own localities.
Not only in the urban areas, recently the relations among people have been weakened even in mountain and island regions. People who have a lack of connection tend to be isolated in everyday lives; it become more often that they would need governmental service individually. Whereas people lack the sense of participation in the public realm, such region would tend to be dependent on the government, and the cost borne by the government will escalate. On the other hand, as the working age population is shrinking and the tax revenue dropping, it could become the case that “design for the public realm is a luxury.”
Now, the time has come for fellow residents to connect with each other, and start solving public issues of the regions by their own hands; it is the time when people have proper understandings about design, and aim for the betterment of the regions without increasing the government’s burden (or even lessen it.)
By doing so, everyone connected with each other would turn into a smiling face. They would repeat the process of trial and error, claim their roles, and discover the new meanings of life. This is very important to a severely aging society of incredible life expectancy. It is said that, when a person is being with the others, the time of her/him bearing a smiling face is 30 times longer than one’s being alone. The evidence also shows that a person who smiles every day, in average, would live 7 years longer. While the annual social welfare spending amounts to 110 trillion yen, the major portion of it is related to senior citizens. Enriching the daily lives of senior citizens would mean to enrich the regions, relate to the reduction of social welfare spending, and create opportunities for the next generation to shine.
“What could design do for the Japanese society from now on?” Having endeavoured while keeping this question in mind, we come up with the notion of participatory design and relationship design. In the future, we shall continue to seek for the ways of design that fulfil the requirement of the time.
Creating the mechanism of attracting people to the shopping street through citizen’s effort
Kanonji Downtown Revitalization Project
Design plan that changes regional issues into “my business”
Problems such as the loss of customers, the decline of shops, and the lack of successors for these shops, are plaguing many station-front shopping areas. The one in Kanonji is not an exception. To tackle the situation, people from the shopping street have worked together with those from neighboring areas. They held workshops, and initiated activities to live up the region.
Problems such as the loss of customers, the decline of shops, and the lack of successors for these shops, are plaguing many station-front shopping areas. The one in Kanonji is not an exception. To tackle the situation, people from the shopping street have worked together with those from neighboring areas. They held workshops, and initiated activities to live up the region.
After that, there are many other ways invented to bring in people utilizing the shopping street, making the street somewhere people can feel free to gather.
Process
Workshop on considering the shopping street’s strategie
1. Workshop on strategy planning
At the beginning, a workshop was held to consider what is possible for the shopping street. Apart from shop owners, civil organizations active in neighboring areas also came and joined. Plans were examined from multiple perspectives.
Support from studio-L: Research, workshop planning and management, team building
Webcasting (Udtream) at an outdoor event
2. Creating the mechanism of disseminating information
Beginning from the line – “Tonight it has started too,” the news dissemination on Facebook has started. This has drawn participants on Facebook from all around the country, and developed into on-line video programme. Through all these media, plans from the region are being promoted.
Support from studio-L: Support in activities
Shop in Shop Project
3. Project Implementation
“Shop in Shop Project” aims to utilize existing shop’s sales floors for the others to open another shop. As of now, 11 shops covering 16 types of business have been actualized on the shopping street, such as “Kimono Shop X Manipulative Therapy,” and “Lingerie Shop X Bagel.”
Support from studio-L: Support in activities
Training programme of community building for high school students
4. Activity Leadership Training
To keep the project moving on, it is important to have people trained and let them bear responsibilities. There, training programme on regional development is regularly held, covering topics such as planning for community building or information dissemination. Since last year, training programme on regional development for high school students has started, cultivating human resources of the next generation.
Support from studio-L: Support in activities
Ending Community in the Era of 90-Year Lifespan
Nemuro Betsuin Temple Project
Relationship Design for Living in the Era of 90-Year Lifespan
In the new era, the role of temple is not simply to open the door, but also to watch over the actual situation of the region. It must endeavor at community building for the people of the land. The Jōdo Shinshū Ōtani sect, based in Higashi-Hongan-ji Temple in Kyoto, has put this into practice. To create practice opportunities, the sect has held discussion on the topic of “the way of life in the era of 90-year lifespan” at Nemuro Betsuin Temple.
In the new era, the role of temple is not simply to open the door, but also to watch over the actual situation of the region. It must endeavor at community building for the people of the land. The Jōdo Shinshū Ōtani sect, based in Higashi-Hongan-ji Temple in Kyoto, has put this into practice. To create practice opportunities, the sect has held discussion on the topic of “the way of life in the era of 90-year lifespan” at Nemuro Betsuin Temple.
Now, Temple Café is holding events for the era of 90-year lifespan while preparing for a formal launch.
Process
Workshop on considering the ways of living in the era of 90-year lifespan
1. Considering the ways of living in the era of 90-year lifespan
The workshop, named “Ways of Living Laboratory,” is continuing as a place for learning the ways of living in the era of 90-year lifespan (society of longevity). In “Ways of Living Laboratory,” meetings have been held to discuss important issues for leading a health and enriched life, a s well as the role of the temple in the society.
Support from studio-L: Research, workshop planning and management, team building
Planning and presenting activities for the era of 90-year lifespan in groups
2. Enjoyment X Keywords for the era of 90-year lifespan
Activities planning session has been held with the combination of keywords for the era of 90-year lifespan and enjoyment. These keywords include the prevention of dining alone, heath planning, friends making, bereavement care, and spiritual pain.
Support from studio-L: Research, workshop planning and management, team building
Holding café events at the temple to announce the activities
3. Activity test-running as a café event
Events were held at the temple to test the activity plan. To make it more accommodative for local people to gather, these events were organized in café format. Participants were able to enjoy lunch and coffee at the temple while joining activities about the era of 90-year lifespan.
Support from studio-L: Support in activities
Materializing the Temple Café plan by thinking about the logo design, etc.
4. Making the Temple Café that brings the region and the temple together
Working together with the participants of Ways of Living Laboratory, preparation for the formal launch of the café is in progress after the successful events at Temple Café. The plan is being materialized as the café’s theme colours, logo design, uniform, etc., have been considered.
Support from studio-L: Support in activities
Connecting with the region under the theme of manga
Tachikawa City Children’s Future Center
Design for Local People Taking the Responsibility of Public Facility Management
Tachikawa City Children’s Future Center (“the Center”) is a public complex facility that supports parenting, education, civil activities, and arts and cultural activities; it brings vibrancy to the region. Restored from the former municipal office, the Center was open in December 2012, and run by 9 different companies. studio-L is in charge of providing support for civil activities, and we have three coordinators permanently staffed. At the Center, various programmes are presented by the civil groups.
Tachikawa City Children’s Future Center (“the Center”) is a public complex facility that supports parenting, education, civil activities, and arts and cultural activities; it brings vibrancy to the region. Restored from the former municipal office, the Center was open in December 2012, and run by 9 different companies. studio-L is in charge of providing support for civil activities, and we have three coordinators permanently staffed. At the Center, various programmes are presented by the civil groups.
We organize workshops on programme planning with the use of manga, and held a festival comprising of manga programmes from civil groups. After that, we further utilize many opportunities to run various programmes that make use of manga. Through manga, it is possible to create the occasion of connecting with those who are usually uninterested in citizen activities.
Process
Workshop tools stating elements of manga
1. Examining programme with the use of tools
When planning the programme that utilizes tools during a workshop, cards with titles, illustrations, and genres written on would be used. Flipping the cards, participants would be able to make use of the various elements of manga, such as dialogues, costumes, cuisines, and share their interesting ideas with each other.
Support from studio-L: Research, workshop planning and management, team building
Implementing manga-themed programme
2. Manga X Citizen Activitie
During the opening event of the Center, manga-themed programmes were presented. In these programmes, participants could post their favourite dialogues on the wall, or drawing four-panel comics with other fellow participants. Through the combination of manga and citizen activities, high vibrancy was achieved.
Support from studio-L: Support in activities
“Concierge,” a programme held in the Manga Park
3. Exchanges prompted by manga
There are also programmes held in Tachikawa Manga Park. In the “Manga Concierge” programme, the manga-fan organization staff members would pick and introduce the manga that fits individual needs. From kids to adults, it is very popular among all walks of life. Manga has become a tool creating new interaction.
Support from studio-L: Support in activities
Outing Programme at the venue full of public art
4. Activities by cooperation with other regional sectors
The programmes are not limited within the Center; some are held in the city centre with the cooperation of other facilities or business of the region. In these programmes, those who have never visited the Center can also participate, and get to know about the citizen activities held by the Center. This is an occasion to strengthen the relationship with the region.
Support from studio-L: Networking with other regional sectors, support in activities
Creating the place for learning “ hometown-vitalizing design”
Department of Community Design, Tohoku University of Art and Design
Nurturing new community designers
The Department of Community Design was newly established in 2014, and we help with its operation and management. This Department, in short, is a place to learn together “hometown-vitalizing design.” College education hitherto has prompted young people to leave their hometowns for the cities. On the other hand, this Department aims to develop special skills to support the region, and to let the graduates work for the betterment of the hometowns. The characteristic of this Department is that students can learn from the teacher staff formed by professional community designers; it adopts practical education through the small-class “studio system.” Centered in the Tohoku region, students can experience the process of community design in site; they are able to be equipped with the required thinking methods and skills as community designers.
One of the factors prompting the establishment of this Department was the Great East Japan Earthquake in 2011. Regions struck by the disaster are seeking for young people who can provide support. From now on, the demand for community designers is to be seen beyond the Tohoku region, echoing around the country. In this era, it is very meaningful to create a suitable learning environment for young people – who aim for bringing vitality to hometowns all around the county – to work hard and study together.
Process
Presenting the summary of research and interview results
1. First Year: Listening
Community building begins from listening to local residents. Students are to develop their sensitivity of hearing resident’s voices, and to cultivate the basics of community designers for hearing voices in silence. Moreover, they study about what design is through both the visible and the invisible.
Support from studio-L: Giving instruction and support as teaching faculty
Implementing community design by the small-class “studio system”
2. Second Year: Entering the Region
Tackling concrete issues, students learn about community design by practices through the “studio system.” By conducting fieldwork, interviews, and regional analysis, students can get hold of the nature of issues, and find out solutions. It is a practical education to think together with various people of the region in workshops.
Support from studio-L: Giving instruction and support as teaching faculty
Experiencing in community building at internship destinations
3. Third Year: Taking Action in the Region
On this stage, students would make use of what they have studied, and take actions. Joining a one-month internship programme in non-profit organizations of the region, local governments, local business, etc., students can experience working for community building. There are courses for students to prepare, practically and mentally, for working in the region after graduation.
Support from studio-L: Giving instruction and support as teaching faculty
Planning and running workshops based on project goal
4. Fourth Year: Community Design in Practice
Students actualize the community design projects in the region on their own initiatives, and conduct their graduation research. Under the supervision of teaching staff, they carry out problem analysis as well as activities with the region, from which they would access to problem solving. This aims to nurture community designers who can contribute to the actual society.