Workshop｜Creative Design City Nagoya 2009

Creative Design City Nagoya 2009

From Now On:Envisioning Nagoya’s Future on the Large Scale and the Small

International New Designers Workshop

A Team: Signage Project

Fieldwork:

MIDLAND SQUARE Sky Promenade,
Endoji shopping mall and Nagoya Castle
Osu shopping malls
Residence of Kawaito and Shikemichi Road

Proposal Summary:

Title: Inspiration

We propose three creative and sustainable signage solutions for the City of Nagoya, based on clues from the wisdom of the past and technology that may be applied in the near future.

(1)
Signage utilizing natural materials
Traditionally, sake breweries would hang a big ball (tama) made out of Japanese cedar (sugi) needles under the eaves when the first sake of the year was ready. The fresh green of the new sugidama gradually turns brown, signaling the sake’s maturity. Our design combines the sugidama with Nagoya’s maruhachi symbol (an ‘8’ written in kanji inside a circle). This naturally and slowly transforming signage functions as a gradual visual countdown to the opening ceremony celebrating the 400th anniversary of Nagoya’s founding.

(2)
Sustainable signage making use of recycled materials
Using the sake barrels commonly found displayed for good luck at shinto shrines, we built a wall depicting Nagoya Castle, to commemorate Nagoya’s 400th anniversary. Each barrel is graced with the face of a familiar figure from Nagoya history and an accompanying phrase.

(3)
Digital, sustainable signage utilizing new technology
This signage system, designed based on existing Augmented Reality (AR) technology, provides information to visitors and citizens in several languages. i-marked objects serve as direction boards and correspond to locations on the touch screen.

The combination of sustainable elements such as natural and recycled materials and new technologies will make possible effective, impressive signage solutions.