Name: The Original - A Genealogy of Timeless Product Design
SKU: 9784861529573
Price: 4950 JPY
Availability: InStock

21_21 DESIGN SIGHT hosted a special exhibition “The Original” from March to June 2023, which received great acclaim. This book is a re-edited version of that exhibition, featuring a unique “textbook of design” that includes masterpieces of products.

Approximately 150 products from the 19th century to the present, selected under the theme of “originality,” are included with explanations. While conveying their charm from a modern perspective, the book introduces various everyday items such as furniture, lighting fixtures, tableware, and toys in chronological order. This deepens the understanding of the historical context and allows readers to learn about the history of product design.

*Japanese and English.

Category：Japanese Product design Book

Tag：21_21 DESIGN SIGHT, chair, Room Light

Pages：: 232
ISBN：: 9784861529573
Release Date:: July, 2024
Language:: Japanese & English
Publisher:: Seigensha

Author profile

Naoto Fukasawa

He was born in Yamanashi Prefecture in 1956 and graduated from the Product Design department of Tama Art University in 1980.

To date, he has handled numerous designs and consulting for domestic Japanese companies, as well as designs for over 60 representative brands worldwide in countries such as Italy, Germany, the United States, Switzerland, Spain, China, South Korea, Thailand, Taiwan, France, and Sweden. The scope of his design work is wide and diverse, ranging from electronic precision devices to furniture and interior design.

He has won numerous awards for his work including the 2018 Isamu Noguchi Award, the IDEA Gold Award in the U.S., the iF design award Gold Prize in Germany, and the Good Design Award Gold Prize in Japan. Fukasawa has authored books including “An Outline of Design” (TOTO Shuppan), as well as producing two monographs of his work, first one was published in 2007, “Naoto Fukasawa” (PHAIDON), and the recent book, in 2018, “Naoto Fukasawa EMBODIMENT” (PHAIDON).

He is a professor at Tama Art University and the Director of the Japan Folk Crafts Museum.

Naoto Fukasawa’s books

The Original – A Genealogy of Timeless Product Design

¥4,950
ATELIER – NAOTO FUKASAWA DESIGN

¥3,850

Takahiro Tsuchida

Design journalist and writer. Born in 1970 in Hokkaido. After working as a company employee, has been freelancing since 2001. Based on interviews and research conducted domestically and internationally, contributes to specialized magazines, often focusing on furniture, interiors, and daily goods. Part-time lecturer at Tokyo University of the Arts and Kuwasawa Design School. Editor of the design magazine ‘Ilmm’.

Takahiro Tsuchida’s books

The Original – A Genealogy of Timeless Product Design

¥4,950

Kaoru Tashiro

Independent curator and writer. After going to Italy as a government-funded student, has been based in Milan. Translated books include “Projects and Passions” by Enzo Mari (Misuzu Shobo, 2009). Curations and co-authored works include “The Skin and Temperature of Architecture – The World of Gio Ponti” (LIXIL Publishing, 2013). Returned to Japan in 2018. Curations include various exhibitions at “ATELIER MUJI GINZA” (Gallery 1) from 2019 to 2022, and “PROGETTAZIONE” (co-curated/Tokyo Midtown Design Hub, 2024). Part-time lecturer at Tama Art University since 2021.