Taku Satoh, Japan

AGI member since 1998

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Taku Satoh was born in Tokyo, graduated from Tokyo University of the Arts, majoring in Design, in 1979. He completed his graduate studies at the same university in 1981. After initially working for Dentsu, Inc., he established Taku Satoh Design Office Inc. in 1984. Starting with the product development of Nikka’s “Pure Malt”, he created well-known package designs for the top brands in Japanese market share such as Lotte’s “Xylitol” chewing gum series, Meiji’s “Oishii Gyunyu” milk and the graphic design for “PLEATS PLEASE ISSEY MIYAKE”. He conceived the logomarks for the 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art in Kanazawa, the National Museum of Nature and Science in Tokyo and National High School Baseball Championship. He has served as art director for the “Nihongo de Asobo” children’s program on NHK’s educational channel, overall supervisor of the “Design Ah!” children’s program on the same channel, and director of 21_21 DESIGN SIGHT gallery.

Design work by Taku Satoh


    Taku Satoh, Japan (1998)

    Taku Satoh was born in Tokyo, graduated from Tokyo University of the Arts, majoring in Design, in 1979. He completed his graduate studies at the same university in 1981. After...

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    Taku Satoh, Japan (1998)

    Taku Satoh was born in Tokyo, graduated from Tokyo University of the Arts, majoring in Design, in 1979. He completed his graduate studies at the same university in 1981. After initially working for Dentsu, Inc., he established Taku Satoh Design Office Inc. in 1984. Starting with the product development of Nikka’s “Pure Malt”, he created well-known package designs for the top brands in Japanese market share such as Lotte’s “Xylitol” chewing gum series, Meiji’s “Oishii Gyunyu” milk and the graphic design for “PLEATS PLEASE ISSEY MIYAKE”. He conceived the logomarks for the 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art in Kanazawa, the National Museum of Nature and Science in Tokyo and National High School Baseball Championship. He has served as art director for the “Nihongo de Asobo” children’s program on NHK’s educational channel, overall supervisor of the “Design Ah!” children’s program on the same channel, and director of 21_21 DESIGN SIGHT gallery.

    Exhibitions

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    KOME : The Art of Rice

    2014

    21_21 DESIGN SIGHT, Tokyo

    In Japan, rice is a symbol of religion, economics, and popular culture. Formerly in Japan, land was assessed by its ability to produce rice. Tax was collected in rice. Rice straw was used in everything from roofs to shoes, flooring and packaging. At a time when people tend to think of rice as a commodity, this exhibition revisited rice's broader significance within Japanese culture. 21_21 DESIGN SIGHT Exhibition "KOME : The Art of Rice" (February 28 - June 15, 2014) Photo: Satoshi Asakawa

    Design Anatomy series

    2001

    Matsuya Design Gallery, Tokyo

    Takasaki City Museum of Art, Gunma

    Mito Art Tower Contemporary Art Gallery, Ibaraki

    The Design Anatomy series of exhibitions and books (and now a class at the Musashino Art University) propose ways to analyze ubiquitous everyday products. It is a project about de-familiarizing ourselves with the designed world around us, working from the outside in to increase our literacy about the design and manufacture of things we use every day. The companies which make these products cooperate in full, providing both informational and financial support.

    Exhibition “water”

    2007

    21_21 DESIGN SIGHT, Tokyo

    It is said that the 20th century was the age of oil and that the 21st century will be the age of water. I invited Mr. Shin'ichi Takemura, a cultural anthropologist, to help me develop the concept and, along with many other creators, help create the exhibits. It was an important exhibition for me to explore the exhibition medium. 21_21 DESIGN SIGHT Exhibition "water" (February 8, 2007 - June 2, 2008) Photo: Masaya Yoshimura

    TEMA HIMA: the Art of Living in Tohoku

    2012

    21_21 DESIGN SIGHT, Tokyo

    Temahima means the time and effort of manual craftsmanship. The Great East Japan Earthquake occurred in 2011. I planned and curated this exhibition together with industrial designer and 21_21 co-director Naoto Fukusawa the following year, focusing on the brilliant inheritance of craftsmanship and food from this region. 21_21 DESIGN SIGHT Exhibition "TEMA HIMA: the Art of Living in Tohoku" (April 27 - August 26, 2012) Photo: Yusuke Nishibe

    Exhibition “Design Ah!”

    2013

    21_21 DESIGN SIGHT, Tokyo

    I developed the Design Ah! exhibition from the children’s design education TV program of the same name, which aims to help children develop their design thinking skills. Interactive and fun, it attracted more than 225,000 visitors, and helped demonstrate the popular interest in design education in Japan. 21_21 DESIGN SIGHT Exhibition "Design Ah!" (February 8 - June 2, 2013) Photo: Masaya Yoshimura, Yusuke Nishibe

    Awards

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    • 1991, 2000, 2004, 2005, 2014

    Tokyo TDC Award
    • 1993

    JAGDA New Designer Award
    • 2002

    Mainichi Design Award
    • 2004, 2012

    Good Design Grand Award
    • 2008

    The Yusaku Kamekura Design Award
    • 2008, 2009, 2013, 2014, 2015

    JAGDA Award
    • 2013

    Tokyo Art Directors Club Awards Grand Prix
    • 2013, 2014, 2015

    NY ADC Gold Award
    • 2015

    Cannes 2015 Gold Lion

    Other Professional Activities

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    • Japan Graphic Designers Association President

    • Chihiro Iwasaki Memorial Foundation Director

    • The Miyake Issey Foundation Councilor

    • Tokyo Type Directors Club Director