AboutTOKYO SEEDS PROJECT2017
The first Tokyo Seeds Project was held over a nine-day period from November 16 to 24, 2017, with eight designers invited to explore the area around the Yamanote line.
Our participating designers explored the area around the Yamanote Line on a new form of transport called a shared bike, compared life in the area during the weekend and on weekdays and split into North, South, East and West teams to get to know each area in more detail. Their suggestions led to the creation of the Tokyo Moving Round concept and gave us ideas for future initiatives. This is where it all began.
2017
designers
teamEAST
Indonesia
Zinnia Sompie
Egypt
Sabah Khaled
teamWEST
Singapore
Xinying
United Kingdom
Jamie Mcintyre
teamSOUTH
Australia
Wing Lau
USA
Caleb Misclevitz
teamNORTH
Argentina
Francisco Roca
Japan
Yuko Hirose
2017
schedule
| Schedule | Program |
|---|---|
| 11/16・17 | Overview (attended by all designers) |
| 11/17・18 | The designers divided into teams to explore the northern, southern, eastern and western areas of the Yamanote Line in more detail. |
| 11/19・20 | Overview (attended by all designers) |
| 11/21〜23 | Creative work |
| 11/24 | Presentation |
TOKYO SEEDS PROJECT2017
The designers split into four teams for these two days,
with each team exploring one area around the Yamanote Line in detail.
They then presented their findings.
SOUTH
Team South meets up!
Enjoying taiyaki at Hiiragi in Ebisu. These brought a smile to everyone's faces.
Washing the left hand, then the right hand, then the left hand again, the custom in Japanese shrines.
Our team just had to take a photo of this. Old and new standing side by side is something that appeals to people worldwide.
Itinerary
11/17
- Museum of Yebisu beer
- Taiyaki Hiiragi
- Zojoji Temple and Tokyo Tower
- The Tolman Collection
11/18
- Meguro Gajoen
- PIGMENT Tokyo
- Matsunoyu Hot Springs, Nakanobu
- Izakaya Soregashi
- Global Cabin Gotanda
Presentation
Please note that the ideas in this presentation and words here are suggestions by the participating designers.
Implementation of these ideas is not guaranteed.
PLAY-YAMANOTE
Yamanote Line, one of Tokyo’s most important and best connecting railway line is losing touch their users. How can emotional connections be brought back on-board one of the busiest trainline in the world?
Using new mediums and relevant user experience strategy, the idea “play-Yamanote” was born as the core of the mission. The word “play” comes in at 2 levels:
1）to engage /take part in activity for enjoyment
2）to emit sounds
Multi-sensory experience design become a crucial part of the creative proposal. It aims to trigger curiosity and to engage all five senses of the passengers before, during and after their journey from A to B while leaving a lasting impression.
DESIGNER
Wing Lau
Born and raised in British-HK, resides in Australia, Wing Lau is proud to be cross-pollinating idea and craft in the cross-cultural, multi-lingual domain, partnering with clients to launch visionary business ideas, communicate meaningful purposes and build memorable identities. With 10+ year experience, Wing has worked with leading agencies including Re Agency, M&C Saatchi, Frost*collective and the ONE Centre, handling projects for clients like Woolworths, Australian Broadcasting Corporation, Commonwealth Bank, Optus to name a few. Between 2008-2011, Wing has been a sessional academic at UNSW Art& Design. In 2016, his work is included in “The Typography Idea Book: Inspirationfrom50 Masters”.
Australia
Yamanote Stories
Yamanote Stories is a socially engaged art project that helps people who live along the Yamanote line show Tokyo what their neighborhood means to them.The campaign empowers Tokyoites to slow down and rediscover the magic of familiar environments. From Transportation Company: JR is valuable because it connects places to Lifestyle Company: JR is valuable because it connects people.
DESIGNER
Caleb Misclevitz
Caleb Misclevitz is an interdisciplinary designer from Portland, OR who thinks everything issentimental. He likes loud music and quiet typography.
Australia
WEST
At Shibuya Hikarie, discussing the future of the Shibuya area.
At D47MUSEUM. An unexpectedly local spot in the buildings of Shibuya.
Team West！
A glimpse of how Japan used to be in Shinjuku's Omoide Yokocho.
Itinerary
11/17
- Wagashi Shimura
- Gakushuin University
- Philatelic Museum
- Penguin Park
- Omoide Yokocho
11/18
- Yamate pingpong
- d47
- Cat Street and Takeshita-dori Avenue
- KAWAII MONSTER CAFE
- Brick End
- Ebisu Shrine and dagashi bar
- Ebisu Yokocho
Presentation
Please note that the ideas in this presentation and words here are suggestions by the participating designers.
Implementation of these ideas is not guaranteed.
Yamanote House
‘Yamanote House’ is a response to help to introduce new brand values for Yamanote Line apart from being a mean of transport. The proposal aims to connect the train line’s diversecommunities, bringing together people, stories and their shared experiences.It is a ground-upapproach that pushes boundaries and challenges that traditional concept of communicatinglifestyle to the residents and international audience through co-creation and collaboration. The strategy was developed in stages (Form–Collaborate & Connect–Engage & Celebrate)to illustrate the how the project could unite all communities under one roof. The first approach was the collection and crowd-sourcing of data with emphasis on stories, emotions and experiences which would then be usedto create art forms developed into campaigns to help create awareness to the project. The second approach was to engage thecommunities by re-inventing the purpose of a service centre around the stations to be more communal. This could allow them to gather for conversations and interactions throughworkshops and talks, therefore cultivating an emotional value for the line.
DESIGNER
Xinying
Xinying is a creative based in Singapore. She has a drivingpassion to create, evolve and shape brands that last. As abeliever that good design has the power to bring value and meaning to our lives, she pushes her boundaries to reach new heights in every project she undertakes. Xinying has worked on projects for established brands acrossvarious sectors such as lifestyle, F&B and governmentagencies. She is currently a Senior Designer at BLACK, aSingapore-based creative agency.
Singapore
JR Culture Department
During this time of growth and financial success, JR has lost touch with customers and local residents on a human and emotional level. People believe that JR offer an amazing service, but contribute much less to the day-to-day culture of the people. Introducing “Laurel” A Digital Culture Platform from JR focusing on the positive impact and growth of culture on the Yamanote Line.
DESIGNER
Jamie Mcintyre
Jamie is now working for himself as a creative consultant for some of the world’s leading brands across fashion, culture, lifestyle and technology. Originally from Scotland, now London based, the past 6+ years saw him run the creative team of the globally recognised media platform, It’s Nice That. His past experience has seen him work on a range of ambitious projects, from interactive experiences to directing films, photoshoots, architectural spaces and magazines. He is based and work in Amsterdam now.
United Kingdom
NORTH
Trying candy-making, a Japanese tradition dating back to the Edo Period (1603-1868). Our team show off their adorable confections.
At Tayori, founder Mr. Miyazaki tells our team all about how Tayori came to be.
In high spirits at tori-no-ichi of Otori Shrine.
Sake tasting at a kaku-uchi in Yanaka Ginza Shopping Street. There aren't many shopping streets like these anymore, but there are still some left!
Conger eel sushi at Sushi Noike. This super-famous dish isn't something the average person can eat often! Our team also got to speak to the proprietor of Noike (unfortunately we didn't get a photo).
Itinerary
11/17
- Yanaka Sushi Noike
- Onigiri Bongo
- Toden Arakawa Line
- Sugamo Jizo-dori Shopping Street
11/18
- Amezaiku Yoshihara (candy making)
- Tayori
- Walking tour of Yanesen
- Tori-no-ichi market
Presentation
Please note that the ideas in this presentation and words here are suggestions by the participating designers.
Implementation of these ideas is not guaranteed.
meet eat club
JR East is one of the biggest companies in Japan and has money and power. I made two proposals to nurture carefully the people and the edge which are involved in the business, because JR East is a company that can do anything with enough money. The first proposal is to create “a third place that is neither work nor home” and “a place where everyone can gather even if there is nothing”. The second is to create an in-house environment where you can work out the ideas came up from these “places”.
The company is made up of people. Although the work in front of them is important, I conveyed the importance of creating a business that can realize the self-fulfillment and profits of the employees who support the company.
DESIGNER
Japan
Yuko Hirose
A graphic designer, born and raised in Osaka. After gaining experience atan advertising production company, she moved to Yoshino-cho, NaraPrefecture. She is very taking care of telling the charm of Nara to customers, snuggles up to the client like a okan (careful mum) and works on a method that considers what expression is best for the client. Although the designer is the main business, “Home CookingOkan”(mother cooking) is also in the experimental business, where she can make full use of clothing, food, and shelter as much as possible and cook the products she is involved in. It is natural for the world and how to convey what is right, and to find out what interests are fun, work and live.
EAST
Trying hanga printing, a traditional Japanese art form. Our team admire a collection of famous works.
We are Team East !
Itinerary
11/17
- Walking tour of Nihonbashi
- Ozu Washi
- Omoide Yokocho
11/18
- Kanda Myoujin
- 2k540
- Sasanoyuki
- Tour of Nishinomiya Hanga Gallery
- (former residence of Mutsu Munemitsu)
- Izakaya Kagiya
- THE HARBOUR SHIBAURA
- Shibaura Island Cape Tower
Presentation
Please note that the ideas in this presentation and words here are suggestions by the participating designers.
Implementation of these ideas is not guaranteed.
Maximize your surrounding
JR East tasked us with finding ways to draw out the potential of the Yamanote Line as much as possible. The research on the eastern and northern parts of the line covered a wide area, which meant riding and walking all around to see the culture and traditions of Japan.
Here's what we found:
-Tokyo's railways have a tremendous history (0km Post)
-Forgotten customs (station stamps)
-Empty spaces under the tracks that can be used
DESIGNER
Zinnia Sompie
Zinnia graduated from Art Institute of Seattle (1995) and School of Visual Arts, NewYork (1998) as a graphic designer. She started her career in magazines and continuesnow to be one of the few designers that is sought out for editorial design in Indonesia. In 2009, she joined the Indonesia Graphic Designer Association (ADGI) and was appointed as ADGI’s President 2014-2017. Currently, she runs her design studio while actively involve in the design community as vice president for ico-D(International Council of Design), also teaches design thinking and UX at AppleDeveloper Academy. She was recently selected for Apple Distinguished Educator class of 2019
Australia
Sabah Khaled
Sabah has learned to pay full respect to all projects that have been in college for five years and have been able to collect and thoroughly pursue the trivial information that was previously overlooked. With her instructor, Ahmad Saqf-Alhait, the advisor has honed her strengths and made clear her purpose as a designer. She has a talent of visualizing data, elucidating complex information and transforming it into a message that can be visually and carefully communicated, which is easy to understand and preserved as a remnant.
Egypt
Francisco Roca
Francisco Roca is a graphic designer and associate professor at the University of BuenosAires, where he has been teaching Typography since 2014. He has recently launched, together with NY based illustrator Leandro Castelao, his own publishing imprint FlechaBooks, which specialises in design and visual culture. Their first published title has won theCommunication Arts 2019 Award of Excellence. Last year he undertook training in typographic design in Type@Cooper, Cooper Union, NewYork. In 2017 he represented South America by joining Tokyo Seeds, a Nippon residencyorganised by the branding team of Yamanote Line / East Japan Railway Company (JR東日本) where he worked with designers from the UK, USA, Egypt, Australia, Singapore,Indonesia and Japan. Roca’s professional background was preceded by a five-year period atMotion Graphics with clients like FOX International Channels, Nat Geo, Nickelodeon, MTVand FX, among others.
Argentina
2017
TOKYO SEEDS PROJECT SECRETARIAT
- Yuichi Tomohiro（a general incorporated association TSUMUGIYA Representative Director）
- Mikiharu Yabe（Agent Hamyak Inc. ）
- Naoyuki Suzuki（Diagram Co., Ltd.）
- Chika Gukawa（Diagram Co., Ltd.）
- Junichi Takahashi（Photographer）
- Callum Hasegawa (Videographer)
- Dennis Chia（Interpreter coordinator）
- Ayaka Omiya（Interpreter coordinator ）
- Jing Lao（Interpreter coordinator）
- Tatsuki Ishihara（Interpreter coordinator）