1) How would you describe Nagaoka’s “non-designing” design practices?

Nagaoka’s non-designing practices involve the recycling, reviving, and repurposing of old and unwanted designs and design ideas.

2) How do your opinions of “good” design compare with Nagaoka’s? Would you define good design differently, how so?

My opinion of a “good” design is one that is able to transform and/or improve how humans live. On the other hand, I believe Nagaoka’s opinion of a good design depends on the design’s quality, longevity, and sustainability. As an aspiring designer, I of course understand the significance of designing with Nagaoka’s ideas in mind. Nonetheless, I think what is the essence of all designs is that it has to function and serve with perfection first. Without achieving this first the rest about the design don’t really matter anymore in my opinion.

3) Nagaoka says that we have entered a new era where people want to buy things that mean something to them, that truly matters, and that we have entered a new era. Do you feel these ideas are specific to Japan or are applicable to other countries too? What evidence do you have of your opinion (what makes you say yes or no)?

Nowadays, people definitely buy things for their implied meanings more than they care about the quality. To use bottled water as example, although studies have repeatedly showed how bottled water is not cleaner nor healthier compared to tap water, people are still willing to pay more than hundred times of the price than that of tap water simply because the bottles say “FIJI” on them. Other examples would be how people purchase coffee from Starbucks for the environment and the logo but not the actual coffee and how people buy Apple products for their implication of lifestyle but not entirely for the products themselves. Most if not all people nowadays purchase designs solely for their implied lifestyle, subculture, and status rather than the quality of product itself. Consumer goods from Louis Vuitton to Converse shoes all suggest a different way of life, and people usually purchase them because they want others to look at them in a certain way.

4) What kind of design do you think appeals to young people today?

Virtually, anything that is “popular” or “hip” online appeals to young people today regardless of the product’s design. An example would be Kanye West’s Yeezy clothing line. Despite being horribly bashed by the fashion community, millennials and teenagers online still show immense love for West’s products all because he is famous now. Another example would be Kylie Jenner’s makeup line or any and all celebrity merchandize for that matter.

5) Near the end of the program, the host of the program says the future of design could be, “people who make things with care and people who use them with care” and that this could be a new form of prosperity. Do you agree? Why?

I agree with this notion near the end of the program that “people who make things with care and people who use them with care” can be a new form of prosperity, because looking into the not so distant future, I can see resources, materials, and spaces starting to run out. By then, there might be a shift of consumer behavior and people will start to cherish what they have.

6) What do you think of the student projects shown at the end of the program?

I think it is interesting that one of the student had decided to make a clothing design with cottons she grew by herself. This reminded me of the TED talk video about kombucha leather and how the speaker talked about the potential of growing our own things whatever that may be. Additionally, I feel like people nowadays are more and more likely to participate in DIY activities such as growing his/her own clothes due to the prevalency of materials and the spread of knowledge via the internet.

7) Do you consider yourself a long-life designer? Would you like to become one?

As of now I am still learning what it means to design, how to design, and what to design, meaning that I still do not consider myself as a designer. However, I think incorporating long-life design concepts is and always will be a very crucial part of being a designer. Only with these considerations in mind will I be able to avoid becoming another designer that creates the so-called “empty trends.”

8) How might the concept of Long Life design be useful to designers working within the constraints of the Anthropocene?

Incorporating the concept of long-life design means the reuse of recycled materials and a slower rate of replacement. These designs are very helpful in combating the negative impacts of the Anthropocene because they lessen the use of raw materials, slower the production of factories, and increase the rate of recycling.

Gen Saratani

1) After watching the video, what are two questions you have for Gen about kintsugi?

How to you think kintsugi changes the beauty of the original ceramic and it is possible to make it more beautiful? After the repair, can the ceramic be easily broken or dangerous to use?

2) Lacquer, the base of kintsugi, has been used for repair for nearly 1000 years in Japan. Are there similar practices of repair in your home country?

When I was young, my grandmother use to create blankets, curtains, pillowcases, tissue boxes and etcetera with clothes that we are no longer able to wear. Some of these objects are still being used in my house today. It was not until I grew older than I realized many of my friend’s grandparents also did the same thing.

3) What kinds of design and cultural values do you think enables a process of repair such as kintsugi to be practiced and refined over hundreds of years?

The deeply embedded spirituality and appreciation for material things enables this process of kintsugi in Japan.