Tokyo Design Week

Creativity flourished at this year's Tokyo Design Week, counting 700 exhibitors and over 100,000 visitors

A new feature was the Air Tent exhibit, large, transparent plastic domes containing collaborative displays involving students, businesses and prominent Japanese designers. Young talent was showcased through a competition to create a one-room living space. Inspired by post-earthquake needs, college students also presented a simple disaster shelter of wooden panels and a tent-like cover. Japanese tradition was the focus of glass panels decorated with kimono fabric patterns. And interactive technology in the form of changeable watch faces and a smartphone design workshop for visitors also drew attention.