DESIGNTIDE TOKYO 2011 | CASA Feature | Anticipating DesignTide Tokyo 2011

2011 sees the debut of new content: "TIDE Focus" and "TIDE Table"!

Heightened Expectations for DESIGNTIDE TOKYO 2011

Autumn in Tokyo is painted with design. Now in its seventh year, Design Tide Tokyo serves as a forum for trading "ideas"—the very source of creation. As anticipation builds each year for the next iteration, 2011 promises further upgrades with the addition of two new content areas. Against the backdrop of Tokyo, ideas will mingle and new landscapes will emerge.──A dramatic and captivating week is about to begin.

Text by OPENERS

The Main Venue's Key Element is "Light"──Sosuke Nakabo

At Design Tide Tokyo 2011, alongside the existing "TIDE Exhibition," "TIDE Market," and "TIDE Extension," new content areas "TIDE Focus" and "TIDE Table" will be introduced.

"TIDE Focus" will feature the presentation of works by invited artists. Through the works of designers selected from Design Tide Tokyo 2011's unique perspective, it aims to convey the consciousness of the year and inspire viewers. Participating artists include Mika Tolvanen, Vahakn Art & Design Studio, London, and Daito Manabe.

"TIDE Table" is a talk event where participants discuss and share various topics presented on a large table. It serves to connect all of Design Tide Tokyo's content, transcend genres, and bridge design with society.

The configuration of the main venue, a perennial highlight, is handled by designer Sosuke Nakabo. Shifting from the previous engagement of architects, a product designer will now design the venue. Regarding the design concept, Nakabo states, "For exhibitors, the main venue is a place to 'show' their work, and for visitors, it's a place to 'see.' I want to create a product-oriented space. The key element is light."

Sosuke NAKABO
Born in Kyoto Prefecture in 1972. Completed his Master's degree in Design Products at the Royal College of Art in 2002. After working at Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. Design Center, MUJI's Planning & Design Department, and Jasper Morrison's London office, he established his own firm.
www.sosukenakabo.com

Furthermore, OPENERS highlights the following three artists and brands. We anticipate how their works will be perceived and what surprises await when one steps into the main venue designed by Nakabo.──Our excitement is already building.

TIDE Focus | A noteworthy new content area where works by invited artists will be presented in the main venue.

Mika Tolvanen
A designer based in Helsinki. Born in Lieksa, Finland, in 1975. He operates from a former coffee shop in the Töölö district, focusing on product design for furniture and lighting. His clients include Muuto, Zanotta, Frag, E&Y, Offecct, KFF, and SpHous.

TIDE Exhibition | The core of Design Tide Tokyo, this main exhibition showcases new ideas and works from designers with the highest level of precision.

Colin Schaelli / con.temporary furniture
A furniture collection characterized by its simple structure, making assembly and transport exceptionally easy. "Con.temporary Furniture," which requires no nails or screws for assembly, is crafted from "wood"—the most renewable resource. To minimize the effort and cost of long-distance transportation by sea or air, artisans in selected workshops within the country of sale handle its production. The furniture, made from laminated plywood, is based on a modular grid system with a standard size of 170x85cm.

TIDE Market | A marketplace where visitors can directly purchase products from the designers themselves.

Rendez-vous Project
A platform for new forms of creation, driven by the "rendezvous"—encounters—between diverse individuals including artists, scientists, and craftspeople, promoted by Spiral/Wacoal Art Center.
The "Slow Label" by "Rendez-vous Project" is a brand of handmade雑貨 (zakka, miscellaneous goods) born from the rendezvous between individuals with disabilities and artists. It represents a new endeavor aiming for creative freedom unattainable through mass production.

Design Tide Tokyo 2011
Dates: Saturday, October 29 – Thursday, November 3, 2011
Main Venue: Tokyo Midtown Hall
Hours: October 29 (Sat) – November 2 (Wed) 11:00–20:00 / November 3 (Thu, holiday) 11:00–17:00 Admission: ¥1,500 (Students ¥1,000) / Day Pass; ¥3,000 (Students ¥2,000) / 3-Day Pass *Student discounts valid only upon presentation of student ID.
Reception: Friday, October 28, 19:00–21:00 *Invitation holders: Free / Non-invitation holders: ¥1,500 (Students ¥1,000)
https://designtide.jp/