‘Love’ was the theme of the 23rd annual Tokyo Designers Week (30 Oct – 3 Nov), and there were plenty of creations to fall head over heels for among the more than 500 exhibitors.
See more highlights from Tokyo Design Week
Unlike many events on the international design calendar, Tokyo takes design to the people, with key fairs 100% Design in the Aoyama district and Design Tide in Roppongi, drawing close to 100,000 visitors, while over 100 smaller locations across the city draw further crowds to their mini-exhibitions.
100% Design, the main draw, consisted of three vast exhibition tents and combined big names (Shin Azumi, Peter Liversidge, Michael Young) and big companies (Toto, Sony, G-Star, to name a few), with the nation’s top design universities and emerging talents.
But it was the smaller Design Tide ¬- that truly came of age this year. Young designers with a big future were out in force and, as if to help them along, some of the most revered names in Japanese design joined the party. The father of Japanese design, 97-year-old Riki Watanabe not only exhibited, but came to speak. Add to that new works by Tendo Ply, Final Home, Sfera and Kenzo, as well as the fabulous new venue, and it was plain to see that Design Tide is going from strength to strength.
There may well be a global economic crisis but going by the shows and after-parties at Tokyo Design Tide – it seems Love can in fact conquer all.
-
Audemars Piguet and Kaws have created the Royal Oak Concept watch we didn't know we neededThe Audemars Piguet x Kaws Royal Oak Concept Tourbillon 'Companion' is slick wrist-worn art
-
A friendly rivalry coloured by kinship: Wendy Maruyama and Tom Loeser on their two-artist show'I wanted to make furniture, just not traditional furniture, but weird furniture,' says Wendy Maruyama on ‘Colorama’, a two-artist show presented at design gallery Superhouse (until 11 January 2025)
-
Tranquil and secluded, Lemaire’s new Tokyo flagship exudes a sense of homeIn Tokyo’s Ebisu neighbourhood, Lemaire’s tranquil new store sees the French brand take over a former 1960s home. Co-artistic directors Christophe Lemaire and Sarah-Linh Tran tell Wallpaper* more
-
Designart Tokyo transforms the city into a museum of creativityDesignart Tokyo presents global design highlights through a series of exhibitions involving global creative talent and traditional Japanese craft
-
Exhibition in Japan celebrates all things EamesTo mark the 80th anniversary of the Eames design office, Tokyo’s Isetan The Space gallery hosts an exhibition (until 5 January 2022), highlighting some of Charles and Ray Eames’ most celebrated designs as well as new editions and collaborations
-
Fritz Hansen Tokyo HQ opens in Kengo Kuma-designed buildingFritz Hansen unveils a new Tokyo HQ, in a building originally designed by Kengo Kuma in 1991. In a new film created to mark the opening, the architect shares his creative vision and his views on both Scandinavian and Japanese design
-
Designart Tokyo transforms the city into a living, multi-sensory museumThe third edition of the fair (18-27 October) showcases over 100 exhibitions across the Japanese capital
-
How Tokyo’s creative universe is evolving at Designart’s second edition -
The things that define you: an exhibition of zakka at 21_21 Design Sight Tokyo -
Tokyo Designers Week 2013: The highs and lows -
Tokyo design fair report, 2012
