DESIGN WEEK KYOTO 2018 – OPEN YOUR SI’GH’TE will be happening in Japan from the 18th to the 25th February 2018. This is something for the design community, businesses, and the general public. This event will provide boundless of opportunities for interaction between local manufacturing and creative industries with international visitors. There will be a great variety of factories, workshops, and stores, where creation is born every day. Since 2016, the events have aimed to offer an experience that produces new “insights” triggering synergetic innovation in and out of Kyoto beyond industry, culture, and country. It is an open house set to welcome people, and designers from all over the world, giving them the chance to discuss innovative ideas and many raw insights about the works of the industry.
This is the third time this is taking place. The theme and emphasis of this year’s event are on the “Open Factory”. This is a great chance to meet many private manufacturers with highest technologies in Kyoto, Japan. It also opens the doors of sites to realize innovative actions through new connections. There will be roughly 25 sites opening and other interactive sessions. This is a good avenue for collaborations, new business opportunities as well as knowledge exchange.
Visitors will be able to see how things are being produced by craftspeople and artists as well as engaging conversations there. It is valuable, as most importantly, these experiences are believed to encourage formations of new ideas and products through insights and connections during the event.
“Open Factory” events have been the talk of the town both domestically and internationally. For example, “Tsubame-Sanjo Factory Festival” held in Niigata prefecture, renowned for metal works, had 30, 000 visitors from all over the world during the four days which the factories had been publicly opened. DESIGN WEEK KYOTO is a state of its own with many successful and innovative events attracting the crowd. It is inspired by DESIGN WEEK PORTLAND which has taken place in one of the most creative cities in the United States. It is determined to provide an open and innovative experience. During the Creative Session by Design Week Kyoto, there will be guest speakers such as Ritsu Yamada, Banto, manager at Gyokusendo and Naohiro Niiyama, CEO & design director at TSUGI. They will be sharing stories about the events themselves as well as the effects they have witnessed on the local communities. This will be held on the 18th of January at the Kyoto Shinkin Bank Head Quarters.
Open factories will be a major highlight to expect for DESIGN WEEK KYOTO. Visitors looking to have that first-hand experience of connecting with well-known designers and artists can expect a well-collected list of contacts. This year will also be the first year it organizes tour and talk events, keeping the engagement at high levels. The participating companies and factories are Itohen Universe (kasuri woven textiles), Koseido (Kyo-hyougu – traditional Japanese mounting items for artworks and interior decorations), SATOKIYOMATSU-SHOTEN Co. Ltd. (lacquer), Miura Butsuzo Sculpture Works (Buddhist sculptures), Take-kobo Kisetu (bamboo weaving crafts), Fukuoka Weaving o. Ltd (Nishijin textiles), KODO Co., Ltd. (washi paper), Seikado (pewter and metal crafts), Ando Ningo Studio (Japanese Dolls), and many more!
It will be held at WORLD, KYOTO (BF Imagium Bldg, 97 Shinmachi Shimogyo-Ku, Kyoto), so be sure to mark the dates on your calendar.
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