”Visions Halfway Outside Architecture” Lecture Series 2025 vol.01 Asao Tokoro x Kota Hikichi

[Lecture Series “Visions Halfway Outside Architecture 2025” Starts on July 03]

The first lecture of the 2025 series will focus on the “design systems” behind the Tokyo Olympics and the Osaka Expo.

We are pleased to welcome two renowned speakers: Asao Tokolo, known for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic logo, and Kota Hikichi, who is known for the design system of the Osaka Expo 2025 as know as Komyaku sytem.

“Visions from Halfway Outside Architecture” is a lecture series organized by Toyoda Lab at the Institute of Industrial Science for Dept of Architecture. While it’s intended for architecture students, it is open to participants from other departments, other universities, and even professionals outside academia. In a deliberate choice, we invite not architects but central figures from adjacent fields who are actively working on the cutting edge of design, technology, and social issues, to share their perspectives.

Some details of this year’s series are still being finalized, but we plan to announce the full lineup soon. For reference, the second session (scheduled for July 23) will feature renowned fashion designer Akira Minagawa of mina perhonen.

This is a rare and valuable opportunity to directly learn from pioneers about how they navigate conflicts in implementing diverse design and technology in society. We encourage everyone to apply what they learn to their own work.

The venue is Kuma Hall on Building 11, Faculty of Engineering, Hongo Campus. In-person attendance is recommended, but the events will also be streamed online. Each session begins at around 6:30 p.m. on a weekday evening and consists of about one hour of lecture followed by about one hour of open discussion including audience. This is a unique chance to engage in direct dialogue with people at the forefront of their fields. The events are open to the public, but please register in advance using the link below.

https://www.commonground.iis.u-tokyo.ac.jp/lecture-series2025?fbclid=IwY2xjawK8tAlleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETFzb1I4N01nd2IzUlB6MVNZAR53s75MePmfywosUBaMVPXWngi_j7H7vnkVGWOuICgqXzqLrBwbL_-L89WeCg_aem_6qOk87khpIXvEl1rtWWqfg