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...
Read full biographyTaku 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
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
1991, 2000, 2004, 2005, 2014
1993
2002
2004, 2012
2008
2008, 2009, 2013, 2014, 2015
2013
2013, 2014, 2015
2015
Other Professional Activities
Japan Graphic Designers Association President
Chihiro Iwasaki Memorial Foundation Director
The Miyake Issey Foundation Councilor
Tokyo Type Directors Club Director