領 域 ： インダストリアルデザイン
派遣元 ： 
コンストファク
期 間 ： 2005.09.12 ～ 2006.12.20
When I finished my bachelor degree at the department of Industrial design at Konstfack (University Collage of arts, crafts and design), in Stockholm, Sweden, I felt that it was time to widen my perspective of industrial design and product design.
For a long time one goal of mine have been to go to Asia and see the differences in the design process compared to the European way of thinking.
The best choice for me was to apply for Japan and Tokyo Zokei University.
The reason was primarily based on the fact that Japan is one of the leading countries when it comes to product design, in the field of electronically products.
I was also interested to learn more about Japanese design tradition and how it comes that you could see similarities in Japanese design and Swedish design.
One other important reason for me applying to Zokei University was that the school offer courses in Sustainable Design. That is one area that I have a special interest in and it is an area that my school in Sweden do not have a special focus on.
When I arrived to Zokei University I could choose freely from a large number of courses. During discussions with my professor, Mr. Masuda, I joined several courses the first two weeks. I did that to get a better picture what the courses was about and how they could fit my idea of what to study in Japan. After these two weeks I choose which ones to attend. It was a Lifestyle B course, Social Project B, an open class with professor Oki where I did learn about the program Flash and an industrial design class held by professor Matsui (Product Design B). The four different courses all gave me something in terms of inspiration, new methods and attitudes concerning the creation process of a product. The language could some time be a problem (the classes was held in Japanese), but thanks to professors and fellow students that was not such a big problem in the end. I think that my expectations of getting greater insight in the Japanese design process have been fulfilled. Zokei University, Tokyo and Japan have been a great source of inspiration for me and I am sure that my time at Zokei will help me in my future work as an industrial designer. I have definitely widen my perspective and I think have a greater understanding for different ways of creating products now than I had before. For example we used haiku poems as the source of inspiration to create shapes, that is one thing I never tried before for sure!
All the exchange students at Zokei gathered to make an exhibition together at Kuwasawa design school (sister school to Zokei University) in Harajuku (in the center of Japan). It was a great opportunity for us to show both our classmates and people from the outside our work. I also think it was a good deadline for us all - to have a date to work towards.
During the 3 days we had the exhibition we had more than a 100 visitors so I think we all where happy with the outcome of this exhibition. Thank to you all at Kuwasawa design school that made this exhibition a reality!
The time in Japan has been a mix of different things. One part has been the new school environment, one other part has been the cultural exchange and the last part has been about experiencing new things. All together it has made a great impact on me and my way of thinking.
I want to say thank you to all of you who have helped me and inspired me during my stay at Zokei University! Mr.Yoneyama, Professor Masuda, Professor Oki, Professor Matsui and my classmates - You have all been a great deal of help. I wish and hope I will visit Zokei University again and see you all again, lets keep in touch until then.
Thank you all so much!
/Anna Karlsson
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学校法人桑沢学園 東京造形大学
