2019

Our “happiness” has been shaped on the premise of economic expansion and growth. This assumption has been altered by factors such as the aging of society, declining birthrate, and climate change, and the concept of “happiness” is changing as we enter a society where economic development and expansion are no longer desirable.

Ten years ago, we named our exhibition project “Package Koufukuron” in response to the question, “What is the future of happiness? What can designers do to contribute to the creation of a happy society in the future? and “What can designers do to contribute to the creation of a happy society in the future?

And every year, we have struggled to find the answers to these questions, almost being swallowed by the turbulent waves of society. The “Package Koufukuron” is not just an exhibition of works, but a challenge to find the answers for tomorrow.

This year, too, we will take up the challenge without giving up. In his book, Kazuo Inamori said, “The talents and abilities you possess do not belong to you. They were given to me by chance. That is why we must use our talents and abilities for the benefit of the world and others. What are “talents and abilities” for us creators? It is “the ability to create. It is not only a quality that we originally possess, but something that we have refined through our daily work.
We thought that if there is anything we can do “for the world and for others,” it would be to use our “ability to create” to make people happy. To say “make people happy” is a bit of an exaggeration, but I think that the “sculptures” that we have created have made people “happy! or “I'm so happy! I want it, I don't want to throw it away,” or ”I see! I don't want to throw it away,” ”I see! I see!” or ”Cute!” In other words, we believe that we can lead the hearts and minds of those who come into contact with our “artifacts” in a slightly more positive direction.

Our challenge this year at Package Koufukuron is to move people's hearts in a slightly positive direction through “packaging,” the “formative arts” that is our area of expertise. It may be a work of art that oozes individual feelings. On the other hand, there may be a project that is a bit removed from ourselves and pursues modeling in a cool-headed way. Whatever the form, the goal is to “move people's hearts in a positive way through the power of modeling.

If people are moved by and love the “package,” it may help to reduce the amount of garbage, even if only a little. Here, we hope to express our commitment to “modeling” in a way that lives up to the name “Loving Package.

［Designers]　
　Naoko Akai (KOSÉ)
　Kiyoshi Ishida (underline graphic)　
　Hiroyuki Ishiura (Suntory)
　Taiki Inoue (Sony)　
　Kazushige Oue (OUE DESIGN)
　Takashi Kagotani (Dai Nippon Printing)
　Kaori Kondo (Shiseido)
　Yuki Sugiyama（Hakuhodo)　
　Kenichi Tanaka（Cotori Design Standard)
　Kenichi Hirose (Sony)　
　Sumiko Matsuda (Tiger & Design)
　Shigeru Yamazaki (KOSÉ)
　Itsuro Yumoto (Kao)

［News in 2019]
　The new era “REIWA” begins
　Fire at Notre Dame Cathedral
　Consumption tax raised to 10