Faculty of Design
Department of Product Design Interior and Goods Design Course ライフクリエイション専攻

Designing interiors and accessories to enrich people's lives

In the Interior and Goods Design Course, students work to design the interiors, furniture, and household goods that will enrich our lives in the future.In class, students develop their descriptive and modeling skills while learning a variety of methods for designing spaces as well as two- and three-dimensional objects.The goal is to teach students to create more beautiful, more functional designs.Additionally, in anticipation of their involvement with product development, students study topics such as marketing and lifestyle.In the industry collaboration project, students are challenged to plan and design products, devise sales strategies, and even design stores,experiencing every step of the production process, from a product’s initial conception to its eventual arrival in the consumer’s hands.Through practice, students develop the ability to conceive and execute their ideas and acquire the skills to solve real-world problems through design.

Subject Highlights

  • Students experience Japanese craftsmanship and try traditional crafts, such as lacquerware and bamboo working.

    [Crafts / Year 1]
    Students learn about traditional crafts, such as lacquerware, hand-hammered metalwork, and bamboo working.Keeping both the maker and the user in mind, students learn the fundamental techniques of each craft.Students also learn the basics of manufacturing and the properties of various materials while working with their hands.This class makes use of our well-equipped facilities, including a room for drying lacquer.

  • Propose products to companies targeting the younger generation.

    [university-industry collaboration / Year 3]
    Explore communication design between the younger generation and seedlings.Starting with a visit to a research farm, the students also engage in the process of growing and eating their own vegetables, and as a result of the class, they make a presentation of their new product in front of employees of cooperating companies.

What You Will Study

  1. 1STYEAR

    Learning the basics of practical design

    Students develop their descriptive skills in classes where tasks might include learning traditional techniques from Japanese craftsmen or creating over 100 different sketches of plants.Through these practical methods, students learn the basics of design.

  2. 2NDYEAR

    Learning how to give shape to ideas

    Students learn to apply design principles to spaces as well as two- and three-dimensional objects.They also deepen their understanding of materials and develop the ability to give shape to their ideas.In a class held in collaboration with private companies, students try their hand at product development.

  3. 3RDYEAR

    Improving practical design skills

    Students learn to work on projects that address different aspects of furniture, packaging, and store designand participate in classes involving corporate collaborations to improve their practical design skills.

  4. 4THYEAR

    Completing a graduation project

    After deepening their understanding of contemporary lifestyles, students are able to create designs that enrich people’s lives.Students set their own topics, conduct research, and produce something of their own to complete their graduation project.

What You Will Learn

  • The descriptive and modeling abilities needed to give shape to ideas
  • The ability to plan and propose products that enrich people's lives
  • Traditional craft techniques and the ability to handle a variety of materials

Student Works

Facilities

Woodworking room

This room is fully equipped with the tools needed for cutting, planing, sanding, polishing, and drilling wood.It can be used for all kinds of woodworking, from making tables and chairs to crafting stationery and accessories.

PICK UP!

  • With its array of computers, students can work on their CAD and DTP skills in the Computer Graphics Lab.

  • There is also specialized equipment for metal processing, such as pipe cutters and high-capacity air filters.In addition, students can also utilize the facilities for various specialized processes and techniques, such as painting booths and the CAD/CG labs.

Photo Gallery

Careers

Over four years, students acquire the modeling skills to design two- and three-dimensional objects, the ability to work with computer-aided drafting software, such as CAD and DTP, and a plethora of other skills. At the same time, they develop the ability to propose new values and ways of life. As a result, many of our graduates find success as designers who create furniture, lighting, books, and a variety of other goods.
  • Furniture or lighting designer
  • Goods or craft designer
  • Interior designer with a second-class architect's license
  • Packaging or editorial designer

Voice

  • AWADA Akemi Academic Faculty

    The beauty of tools made by human hands

    One of the features of the Interior and Goods Design Course is that students can work across a wide range of fields, designing two- and three-dimensional objects (e.g., graphics and products) as well as spaces (e.g., interior design).Another attraction of this course is that traditional Kyoto crafts are incorporated into the classes.I hope that students will make the most of a university environment where they can encounter so many different ideas and creations. Here, they can learn to understand the culture and traditions that form the basis of daily life, gain a sensitivity to see the essence of things, and acquire the ability to see through problems, analyze, edit, and express themselves.My own research attempts to tell the story of the beautiful, handmade tools used in traditional crafts{j}and bring insights from these designs into the modern age.Since my university days, I have been a member of the Harihata Seikatsu Shiryo Kenkyukai (lit. “Harihata Living Materials Study Group”), where I’ve researched the household tools found in former Kutsuki Village from the perspective of design.These tools are filled with the memories and wisdom of people who lived in harmony with the natural environment.I believe that we can find insights into beauty and design not only in the world of traditional crafts and artisans but also in the objects that come out of everyday life and the natural world.And it’s crucial to have a range of interests to maintain one’s curiosity.After you enter university, I encourage you to dive into many  different fields and specialties—even if at first you aren’t interested in them.Because no matter what it is, the experience itself is bound to expand your range of expression.