Tokyo is a city brimming with creativity. From its unique architecture to the artwork that adorns its pavements it’s no wonder that foreigners flock here to become part of the design scene. But how easy is it to make your mark in a city of 12 million people?

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Tokyo’s Design Week is one way. The week-long annual design event attracted around 100,000 people in 2007 and is becoming increasingly known as an international design event.

In 2007, the theme was “LOVE” but some eco-friendly offerings made their way into the event, mainly in the student exhibition where 42 local schools and five international schools designed park furniture with the global environment in mind.

Talking with exhibitors at this year’s event many felt that it was a good way to test the waters. Hagan Provan a designer who came from New Zealand for 100% Design felt it was a great entry into the market and a way to meet people and learn. It was also good from the point of view of understanding how to adapt their product to the Japanese market.

Those wanting to learn more about Tokyo’s design scene should visit the online magazine PingMag, a website dedicated to design in Tokyo. Ping Producer, Tom believes:　

Tom Vincent, PingMag Producer

The stimulant you get from this city is amazing

This city may inspire, but it’s not that easy to get into design here. Tom receives emails, nearly daily, from people wanting advice on how to get started in Tokyo. Knowing the language will definitely help as well as networking with people already in the industry. Joining sites like asoboo.com will put you in touch with like-minded people.

Tom Vincent, PingMag Producer

One of the cool things about Tokyo is that people find their thing. You can do your own thing in the city.

James St.Clair, a designer in Tokyo, believes getting profiled on popular design blogs like Tokyo-based Jean Snow’s and the international site MoCo Loco will help get your name out there. James also believes that making contacts in the industry is important and fairly easy to do at the various design events held around Tokyo.

One such event is PechaKucha Night. Held every month at SuperDeluxe, each speaker on the night is allocated six minutes and 40 seconds to present 20 images about their designs. Although the event started in Tokyo it has spread all around the world.

Another way to see more new designs, or even showcase your own, is the Design Festa Gallery in Harajuku and the bi-annual Design Festa event at Tokyo Big Site. Rooms at the Design Festa gallery can be rented out on a daily basis and booths at the Design Festa are a low cost and less formal alternative to exhibiting at Tokyo Designer’s Week.

Tokyo provides a range of ways for designers to try their luck here or find new inspiration. In Japan’s thriving capital you’ll never be short of ways to explore your creative side.

For creative events and more, check out our events page. If you want to list your event, send us your event detail to: events[at] spinshell [dot] com

Story by Karryn Cartelle
All Rights Reserved, Spinshell Inc.

Spinshell Reports are three minute episodes of useful information about visiting and living in Japan.

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Tags: art, asoboo, design, designfesta, japan, jean snow, mocoloco, spinshell report, Tokyo

This entry was posted on Monday, April 21st, 2008 at 14:37 and is filed under Spinshell Report. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.