International Design Workshop 2009

Sozoscha College Of Design, OSAKA

“Osaka is the working heart of Kansai. Famous for it’s down-to-earth citi-
zens and hearty cuisine, Osaka combines a few historical and cultural attrac-
tions with all the delights of a modern Japanese city. Indeed, Osaka is sur-
passed only by Tokyo as showcase of the Japanese urban phenomenon.
Osaka was bombed almost flat in WWII, it appears an . . . expanse of concrete boxes
punctuated by Pachinko parlours and and elevated highways. . . the city rises above
this and exerts a peculiar charm. At night, Osaka really comes into its own; this is
when all the streets and alleys come alive with flashing neon, beckoning residents
and travellers alike with promises of tasty food and good times.”
The Lonley Planet guide

The International workshop was organised

by Sozoscha College of Design. The course
included design students from France, Ma-
laysia, Japan, the US, Italy and the UK. The
students involved in the course were from
several different disciplines of design, includ-
ing Graphic Design, Fashion Design, Product
Design, Illustration and Landscape Archi-
tecture. During the course all the students
lived with voluntry families and couples from
Northern Kansai, and close to Osaka.
International Design Workshop 2009
Sozoscha College Of Design, OSAKA

BREIF
“A National Park is a green stage where your dreams come true!!
WANTED : DREAM PLAN!!
“Dream Plan” is a plan that you propose and execute with your free-wheeling thinking.
When you went to a park have you ever thought ‘i want to do something in such a large and beautiful park’? We’d
like the national parks to be more vibrant. Therefore we would like you to take advantage and let them be the
sites or group activities. A lot of people visit national parks, so if you wish to communicate with various others, or
send your message widely, please submit your plans. We will give awards to excellent plans.

Who can apply?

Everyone is welcome to apply for this plan, regardless of age, individual or affliliation.

What sections are there?

One is the idea section where you propose the plans. The other is the Challenge section where you
both propose and execute the plan.

In the idea section

raise an idea that you wish to do in national parks. Excellent plans may have a possibility to be brought
to realization.

In the challenge section

Raise a plan that you actually would like to execute at a natural park. (Parks management centers will
help providing goods and tools to execute the events)

What is the application condition?

Anything that you want to do in the national park is welcome.

Conditions in common for both sections

Your plans will not be returned after entry. The organizer retains all rights to the park.

Sectional Conditions
-In the idea section, contents of the proposed plan may be changed upon realization. we may utilizethe
rejected plans as national park events.
-in the challenge section, the plan should be enjoyable for everyone and also feasable for the appli-
cants.
As a rule, plans that fall under the prohibited matters of the park cannot be executed. Applicants shall
be responsible for the costs assosciated with your plan and for recruiting staff. If you plan to charge
participation, it should be set just enough to cover the actual expenses such as the cost of materials.
You are to take responsibility for the accidents or troubles during the event.”
International Design Workshop 2009
Sozoscha College Of Design, OSAKA

Site visit: ASUKA NATIONAL PARK, NARA.

“Asuka, was Japan’s political and cultural center some 1,400 years ago when the foundations of Japan as a national state were first
laid. Around Asuka, various cultural influences, such as Buddhism introduced from China and Korea, were integrated to form a
spiritual culture characteristic of the Japanese nation. Thus, it can be said that Asuka is the spiritual home of the Japanese people.”
http://www.asuka-park.go.jp/asuka_en/index.html

The park is split into five different areas; Kitora Tumulus Area, Amakashi-no-Oka Area, Ishibutai Area, Iwaido Area and Takamatsuzuka Area. The two areas
we visited and focused our study on were the Takamatsuzuka and Ishibutai Areas.

Group work

We were put into groups of four to

five,so each group was mixed nation-
ality and mixed according to design
major.
Group B consisted of:

Leulla, from France, major in Graphic

Design; Tatiana from USA, major in
Graphic Design; Dennis, from Malaysia,
major in Interior Design; Kiyo, from Ja-
pan, major in Display Design and Lucy
(Me) from England, major in Landscape
Architecture.
Initial Ideas: Sketchbook work

KAWAII; NATURE; HISTORY; INFORMATION; MATERIALS; PERMANENT

HABITAT; RESTING PLACE; WOVEN NATURAL MATERIAL; NATIONALITY

Design Concept: Karuishi
Promotional materials: Postcard Design
Promotional materials: Poster
Final Designs

The two designs we proposed as a group were a shelter area and a seating area on the way to and at the Tumulus. The design
of the structures reflect the ‘heavy stone’ karuishi concept, with the gaps between the weaved corten steel (rusty effect) willow is
interwoven with the corten steel to give it a natural, soft, and temporary look to enhance the permanence and the weight of the
tumulus itself. Information and history about the tumulus is displayed in the seating area.
Final Design: Display
Final Presentations; GROUP B