News 2011

At The Beginning of FY2011 (2011.4.1)

We wish to pray for the souls of those who have lost their lives in the Great Eastern Japan Earthquake on March 11 and offer our most sincere sympathies to those suffering as a result of this tragic event.

Today marks three weeks since the largest earthquake in recorded history of Japan. Earthquake, tsunami, and the accident of the nuclear power plants, the full extent and severity of the damage are still largely unknown.

However, something has been clarified in these three weeks.

It is the germination of social awareness such as our awakened consciousness, or our significantly changed sense of value.

Now, ways of life and work of many people have changed, and the industry, economy and politics of Japan are about to undergo a dramatic change. Needless to say, this only means that the way of design up to the present is entering a new phase.

At the same time, Japan, as a developed country with every country’s common problems, has attracted great interest from across the globe because of the earthquake. The way how we are going to face these problems is drawing worldwide attention.

Finding the problem and resolving it, that is exactly the essence of design. It is because we are in this circumstance, that we must demonstrate the effectiveness of design.

As one member of the society with this unprecedented catastrophe, Japan Institute of Design Promotion (JDP) aims to support the recovery of the industry and new creation in the disaster area through the design point of view. Therefore, through the activities in Good Design Award, Tokyo Midtown Design Hub and International Design Liaison Center, along with the network of design-related organizations, we will promote our business on the axis of following three subjects.

1. Support the designers and businesses in the disaster area from a standpoint of promoting Japan design. Also actively cooperate in the activities of designers those try to support the reconstruction.
2. Work on the support and start-up for the industries’ recovery and rebuilding through the design.
3. Persuit the new common sense, social value and the nontraditional sense of value found by individuals, and promote the designs those are embodying them.

We are planning to shift our legal status to Public Interest Incorporated Foundations in 2011. With the opportunity of these activities, we will focus on broader contribution to the society.

" Design for Japan. "

We wish to step along the path toward Japan recovery by design with every one of you.

April 1, 2011
Kazunori Iizuka
President
Japan Institute of Design Promotion