When Japan Designed to Design: A Review of "Design Today 100"

By Manjari Kaul

In his curatorial note for Design 100 Hiroshi Kashigawi writes, "Upon arriving in an unfamiliar city, we notice its topography and vegetation and observe the characteristics of its natural environment. We also look at the buildings and equipment people use in everyday life to get an idea of the local culture."

If the central tenets of Japanese design corresponds to what defines Japanese culture then the Japanese can be said to be minimalists, efficient and futuristic. With the legacy of the best workmanship in the world and invention of several machines and everyday objects that have made our lives simpler and faster, the Japanese have have been torchbearers of the design industry.

Design 100, an exhibition of Japanese designs brings for the people of Delhi, carefully annotated exhibits of household goods like the Toshiba rice cooker to designs of cars like the Subaru 360. A majority of the exhibit are contemporary designs, with a few post World War II ones like the Nikon F camera and the Subaru 360 car. The Nikon F was Nikon's first SLR, a leader in 1959. The utility of the camera was doubled by an X-Ray mapping device to create its indelible mark in the area of camera design.

The Sony walkman and the Subaru 360 car have particular relevance in the Indian context. The Sony walkman achieved huge success in the Indian market and rose to become a much coveted commodity. In the explanation of the social, historical and economic relevance of the design of the small car, Subaru 360 is mentioned the fact that it was designed by the Fuji company in 1959, a precursor to the Maruti 800 (brought to India by Suzuki) that zipped through  Indian roads in the 80s.


The designs at the exhibition were sleek and stylish, yet achieving maximum utility through their cleverly crafted designs. These Japanese designs and everyday products contain a sensibility that has many a lesson in store for the Indian industry- most of all, the idea of a minutely detailed object that fits in the palm of your hand that unfolds to hold the awe and admiration of the world.


The exhibition, Design Today 100 is on at Japan Foundation, New Delhi till the 15th of January, 2012, from 12pm to 8pm.