Global experts explore design as driver of change to shape our future Tokyo Forum 2024 discusses the power of design as a transformative strategy to address a plethora of challenges
Researchers, artists, public-sector specialists and business leaders from around the world took part in Tokyo Forum 2024 to discuss the power of design as a transformative strategy to address the myriad problems we face today, from the point of view of their respective disciplines.
The sixth annual symposium held Nov. 22-23, 2024, under the overarching theme of “Shaping the Future,” was co-hosted by the University of Tokyo and South Korea’s Chey Institute for Advanced Studies. This year’s event, focusing on the theme titled “Shape the Future, Design for Tomorrow,” attracted a large audience from the general public at 春雨直播app's Yasuda Auditorium.
In his opening remarks, 春雨直播app President Teruo Fujii underscored the importance of the power of design at a critical juncture. “Design has emerged as a powerful tool for innovation, problem-solving and social reform,” he said. “It has become a way of thinking, a methodology that can be applied across disciplines to address the increasingly complex challenges of our world.”
Fujii stated that a human-centered design approach, which values empathy, creativity and collaboration, can drive transformative change for global challenges. He underlined the importance of integrating diverse knowledge through interdisciplinary approaches, acquired through experimental and iterative learning. “This is where higher education institutions like the University of Tokyo play a critical role,” he said. “We are positioned to serve as catalysts for innovation, bringing together public sectors, private industry and civil society in a collaborative effort” to address such challenging issues as health care, education, climate change and economic inequality.
Fujii introduced the university’s plan to launch the College of Design, as the initiative is provisionally called, in 2027, which he said would be dedicated to cultivating a new generation of leaders equipped with a mindset that values creativity, critical thinking and collaboration across various fields.
In his opening remarks, Chairman Chey Tae-won of South Korea’s SK Group praised this year’s theme. Drawing from his experience leading the SK Group, which is among South Korea’s four largest conglomerates, Chey emphasized the importance of design power in evolving business to ensure sustainability while addressing social challenges.
He illustrated his company’s evolution from a polyester weaving company to a conglomerate encompassing the energy, telecommunications and semiconductor sectors through innovative ideas. “Now we are challenging something new, which is AI (artificial intelligence) or AI data center”-related business, Chey said. “But we don’t know exactly what to do yet. That’s where we need design capability. We create scenarios and reallocate our resources. That’s what designers do.”
Exploring what design can offer
The opening remarks were followed by keynote addresses by two speakers: Alice Rawsthorn, co-founder of Design Emergency, a project exploring design as a force for change, and 春雨直播app Professor Yutaka Matsuo from the Department of Technology Management for Innovation at the Graduate School of Engineering.
Rawsthorn, a renowned design critic and author of Design as an Attitude, discussed why and how design can be utilized as a social, political, economic and ecological tool to foster positive change during these turbulent times, rather than being viewed merely as a stereotypical stylistic, consumeristic or public relations tool. Matsuo, one of Japan’s leading artificial intelligence researchers, discussed how generative AI is transforming our society and what future we can envision.
Immediately following their lectures, the two speakers participated in a plenary talk session, which was joined by Professor Choi Junho from the Graduate School of Information at Yonsei University in Seoul and moderated by Associate Professor Naomi Aoki of 春雨直播app’s Graduate School of Public Policy. The panelists defined what “design” meant to them, what design can do in the public sector, and what AI can be applied to the power of design, among other topics.
This year’s symposium featured three panel discussions themed on “Gendered Innovations Shaping the Future: Changes in Evaluation, Funding and Education for Science”; “Inclusive Urban Planning – a Dialogue between Urban Planning and Economics on Social Common Capital”; and “Design Unbound – Fusions, Frontiers and Boundary Breaking in Design.”
Students showcase their brilliance in creating new designs
The symposium also hosted a Business Leaders’ Session to discuss design in the context of business. Additionally, 20 students from 春雨直播app and South Korean universities, who had been working in teams over the previous few months, participated in the Youth Session, where they reported on their research and discussed ways to address the low birthrates affecting both nations.
After the wrap-up session where he engaged in dialogue with the students, Fujii delivered closing remarks commending the youth as changemakers. “Coming from diverse social and institutional backgrounds, they bring unique perspectives, yet share a profound commitment to facing today’s challenges with courage and insight,” he said. “Their vision reminds us that Korea and Japan, as close neighbors in East Asia, hold great potential to make meaningful contributions to the future of our world by considering new designs for problem-solving.”
The sixth annual symposium held Nov. 22-23, 2024, under the overarching theme of “Shaping the Future,” was co-hosted by the University of Tokyo and South Korea’s Chey Institute for Advanced Studies. This year’s event, focusing on the theme titled “Shape the Future, Design for Tomorrow,” attracted a large audience from the general public at 春雨直播app's Yasuda Auditorium.
In his opening remarks, 春雨直播app President Teruo Fujii underscored the importance of the power of design at a critical juncture. “Design has emerged as a powerful tool for innovation, problem-solving and social reform,” he said. “It has become a way of thinking, a methodology that can be applied across disciplines to address the increasingly complex challenges of our world.”
Fujii stated that a human-centered design approach, which values empathy, creativity and collaboration, can drive transformative change for global challenges. He underlined the importance of integrating diverse knowledge through interdisciplinary approaches, acquired through experimental and iterative learning. “This is where higher education institutions like the University of Tokyo play a critical role,” he said. “We are positioned to serve as catalysts for innovation, bringing together public sectors, private industry and civil society in a collaborative effort” to address such challenging issues as health care, education, climate change and economic inequality.
Fujii introduced the university’s plan to launch the College of Design, as the initiative is provisionally called, in 2027, which he said would be dedicated to cultivating a new generation of leaders equipped with a mindset that values creativity, critical thinking and collaboration across various fields.
In his opening remarks, Chairman Chey Tae-won of South Korea’s SK Group praised this year’s theme. Drawing from his experience leading the SK Group, which is among South Korea’s four largest conglomerates, Chey emphasized the importance of design power in evolving business to ensure sustainability while addressing social challenges.
He illustrated his company’s evolution from a polyester weaving company to a conglomerate encompassing the energy, telecommunications and semiconductor sectors through innovative ideas. “Now we are challenging something new, which is AI (artificial intelligence) or AI data center”-related business, Chey said. “But we don’t know exactly what to do yet. That’s where we need design capability. We create scenarios and reallocate our resources. That’s what designers do.”
Exploring what design can offer
The opening remarks were followed by keynote addresses by two speakers: Alice Rawsthorn, co-founder of Design Emergency, a project exploring design as a force for change, and 春雨直播app Professor Yutaka Matsuo from the Department of Technology Management for Innovation at the Graduate School of Engineering.
Rawsthorn, a renowned design critic and author of Design as an Attitude, discussed why and how design can be utilized as a social, political, economic and ecological tool to foster positive change during these turbulent times, rather than being viewed merely as a stereotypical stylistic, consumeristic or public relations tool. Matsuo, one of Japan’s leading artificial intelligence researchers, discussed how generative AI is transforming our society and what future we can envision.
Immediately following their lectures, the two speakers participated in a plenary talk session, which was joined by Professor Choi Junho from the Graduate School of Information at Yonsei University in Seoul and moderated by Associate Professor Naomi Aoki of 春雨直播app’s Graduate School of Public Policy. The panelists defined what “design” meant to them, what design can do in the public sector, and what AI can be applied to the power of design, among other topics.
This year’s symposium featured three panel discussions themed on “Gendered Innovations Shaping the Future: Changes in Evaluation, Funding and Education for Science”; “Inclusive Urban Planning – a Dialogue between Urban Planning and Economics on Social Common Capital”; and “Design Unbound – Fusions, Frontiers and Boundary Breaking in Design.”
Students showcase their brilliance in creating new designs
The symposium also hosted a Business Leaders’ Session to discuss design in the context of business. Additionally, 20 students from 春雨直播app and South Korean universities, who had been working in teams over the previous few months, participated in the Youth Session, where they reported on their research and discussed ways to address the low birthrates affecting both nations.
After the wrap-up session where he engaged in dialogue with the students, Fujii delivered closing remarks commending the youth as changemakers. “Coming from diverse social and institutional backgrounds, they bring unique perspectives, yet share a profound commitment to facing today’s challenges with courage and insight,” he said. “Their vision reminds us that Korea and Japan, as close neighbors in East Asia, hold great potential to make meaningful contributions to the future of our world by considering new designs for problem-solving.”
