< Recent

091201
As announced before, our New Year's Cards of 2009 seem to have been totally lost in the mails.
It has been almost a year since we asked the post office to inspect, but they have not given us any report... thus, we have been unable to inform you of any result. We are sorry. And now, it is a new year card season again. [AT]

091116
We got interviewed about the activity of chiku-chiku laboratory.
Cannot wait to see the article to be printed in the magazine. [AT]

091112
As today is the first Rooster Day (Tori-no-hi), together with our open desk interns, we went to a nearby shrine called Hanazono Jinja at night. Probably partly because the economy is not good, it was full of people, more crowded than usual years.
We bought Japanese pancakes called Obanyaki as a souvenir to other staff members who remained at the office. [AT]

091107
Exhibition "Coal Mines as Cultural Resources" has started at Meguro Museum of Art. We are not involved in this exhibition, yet I would like to introduce this amazing show, which examines the historical relationship between coal mines and visual expressions in Japan. The exhibition consists of three parts: Part 1 exhibiting works whose subject is coal mine, such as paintings, photographs and graphics, Part 2 displaying a huge, new installation by Tadashi Kawamata, which is titled "Coal Mine Project(Chikuhou, Sorachi, Ruhr)", and Part 3 screens a compilation of related films under the title of "Coal Mines in Films". Works rarely on exhibit, such as drawings by Sakube Yamamoto in Chikuho, are on view in this show. The museum also organizes a series of lectures under the title of "Night Museum College". I recommend you go take a look! [AT]

091105
Invited by photographer Risaku Suzuki, I take part in the critique of photogram works created by students at Inter Media Art, Tokyo University of the Arts. After the critique, I gave a short lecture on art books, having the students hold actual books in their hands. [SA]

091101
Kozue Takagi's first two photo books "MID" and "GROUND" have been published by AKAAKA ART PUBLISHING Inc. "MID" is a big and spacious book, and "GROUND" is a tiny and cute book.
Takagi herself went to a printing company in Kyoto in an attempt to realize the best quality. Please take a look at your nearby bookstore. [AT]

090919
Exhibition"Coop Himmelb(l)au: Future Revisited" opened today at InterCommunication Center.
We designed its publicity materials, catalogue and on-site graphics. Plus, following the D&D exhibition in spring, we again made two kinds of official t-shirts, silver letters on white cloth and black letters on black cloth.
There is a production limit, so hurry up and don't miss it! [AT]

090918
The catalogue of the exhibition "Coop Himmelb(l)au: Future Revisited", which will open tomorrow, have been safely delivered to us. My hero when I was a student, Wolf D. Prix, gave me a humorous, positive comment on this book: "Your catalogue is great. Printed matter is always better (than architecture)". [SA]

090901
The first-stage of the construction of the sign project in the Tohoku University campus, into which we have put great effort for a long time, has been completed. The signs have very simple structures, large-scale printed sheets attached on bald supports. We chose such a style to flexibly respond to institutional and organizational changes which tend to occur often in such a big campus, as well as to avoid any authoritarian styles that conventional on-campus sign designs tend to end up. [AT]

090808
The photo book "Cell: taiji matsue", which we produced, has been selected as one of the last year's best photo books by the Photobook Award in Kassel (the city known for the international art exhibition Documenta), Germany.
The unique Photobook Award prizes 24 photo books (not photographers or photo exhibitions) released in the previous year, with 24 international photographers, photograph critics, and curators as its juries. "cell" was selected by English photographer Martin Parr.
A writer of "The Photobooks: A History, Volume 1-2", which reevaluates the history of photographs through photo books, as well as of the popular titles at foreign book shops "Boring Postcards" and "Boring Postcards USA", Parr is also known as a collector of photographs and photo books. He commented on "cell", "It is an exhilarting work, with an elegant design, and demonstrates once again how brilliant the Japanese are at making books".
The book is available at AKAAKA PUBLISHING's website, art bookshops in Tokyo, and art sections at big bookstores nationwide. [AT]

090807
We have accepted open desk interns from Tama Art University and Waseda University.
They will undertake various tasks, as well as helping us bind nrd001 and modify plan drawings for architectural documents. The first task for them will be making name cards to learn the basic techniques and concepts to lay out letters.

090725
Exhibition "Ai Wei Wei: According to What?" opened today at Mori Art Museum.
It is the first large-scale solo exhibition in Japan of this dissident Chinese artist, whose work in the previous Documenta became the subject of heated debates.
We designed publicity materials and sign graphics on-site and around the museum. Particularly, the flier has a special 8-page newspaper-like format printed with rotary press, which is rare as an art exhibition flier.
If you happen to find this in town, please take a look. [AT]

090709
nrd 003 "Eiki Mori + Komichi Kobayashi: Crows and Perls" has been published as the third publication from edition nord, for which we had put great effort to publish it before Zine's Mate opens. A collaboration between Mori's photo works and Kobayashi's novel, it has a unique style with photos in the form of cards and texts in the form of posters, put together in a box.
Available at Zine's Mate. [AT]

090625
Akiyama has a lecture at Design and Engineering department, Shibaura Institute of Technology.
He will introduce basic graphic design techniques, as well as his own works, to architecture students. [AT]

090616
Edition Nord is going to participate in Zin's Mate, which will start on July 9th. [AT]

090611
Akiyama gave a lecture and served as one of the juries for Portfolio Review, a joint project by students from various universities in Tokyo that have architecture departments.
The submitted works were various and highly-motivated, given that it was the very first time of this competition. And, the open screening itself was so crowded that some people had to stand.
Akiyama, together with architect Jirko Ogawa, a friend of him, selected winners, and gave them a plaque designed by us. [AT]

090528
The Rem Koolhaas issue of the magazine Eureka has been published.
Akiyama contributes a text and composed its pages, as a second attempt following "Between Books and Architecture", an article previously written for the magazine 10+1.
The whole eight pages are in full color, which is rare when it comes to a literary magazine! It seems to be selling very well.>>
Please take a look. [AT]

090522
We have accepted a student at Department of the Science of Living, Kyoritsu Women's University, as an open desk intern.
There is no term for now; she will come do our work little by little, when there are no classes or no part-time jobs to take.
On the first day, we had them bind nrd001.
The next task would be typing, and then we will move to making name cards and postcards. [AT]

090519
We had a guest from a publisher of architecture in Berlin.
he is planning to publish a book to introduce Japanese architects little-known in Europe.
Also, he is interested in publishing Japanese editions of some of his books for which he holds international publication rights.
While in Japan, he researched both publishers of architecture and the current situation of publishing business in Japan. [AT]

090516
"OPEN SPACE 2009" has started at ICC.
We made its flier and poster both of which are experimental with op-texture.
We also designed graphics for the exhibition site, to do with we had visited there several times.
This show will continue until February 28th, 2010, and there is no entrance fee.
So please visit the museum. [AT]

090504
Having happened to know that Robert Seidel, the video artist Akiyama interviewed for "SITE ZERO / ZERO SITE No. 2", had been invited to a film festival here, we went to see the program for which he selected videos and films. We talked to him personally and I found him a nice and intelligent guy.
He asked us about some Japanese artist's media art work - he said he had found it in the flier of "OPEN SPACE 2009", which we designed, and got interested.
His work shown in the program was a documentation of his installation using, as usual, delicate and beautiful images. [AT]

090422
A graduate from Department of Urban and Civil Engineering, Ibaraki University, who had wanted to work in the graphic industry rather than architecture, came to Tokyo and helped us as an open desk while job-hunting.
We had him do several works for us, while we tried to help him find a job.
Later, he got accepted by the graphic design office for which he was interviewed.
Congratulations! [AT]

090331
We have just updated our website after a long time. But we are still working on a list of our works in last year and arranging photos of selected works among them. Give us some more time! [AT]

090330
Our open desk intern from Kuwasawa Design School last summer has been given "new artist award" with his graduation work. Congratulations! [AT]

090314
Buku Akiyama's "Composition No.2 'an exceptional state': with equipments owned by hiromi yoshii" has been published as the second publication from edition nord. It is a book documenting his exhibition with the same title held at FARM in 2008. This book will be available exclusively at his exhibition "Document and Reconstruction", until April 4th, before its official release. Comprised of photographs taken by photographer Masahito Yamamoto, this book has an ironical cover design - the original front cover was teared off at chiku-chiku laboratory, so that the next page, a small sheet with publication data, virtually functions as a front cover. The edition is limited to 600. Take it asap! [AT]

090310
Mille-feuille, journal of Sendai Mediatheque, has been launched by AKAAKA ART PUBLISHING, Inc. To this issue, Akiyama contributes an article titled "Transferring a Book onto a Book - Pedro Costa's "Casa de Lava" Sketchbook". [AT]

090228
We have launched our own publishing label called edition nord . We will try to publish one or two titles per year, with well-selected contents and an uncompromised (?) attitude to design. Our first publication is "Fellow Travelers" by Christian Holstad. It is a box edition in which his collection of amateur photographs - even their original paper qualities and back side conditions- are reproduced in full scale. The artist also uses these photographs in his installations. Having been prepared for two years, the book has an amazing quality, with which the artist himself was also stunned. It is only available at NADiff right now. Please check it out at the shop. Signed editions and super-limited special editions are also in preparation. [AT]

090226
The schtucco T-shirts, having been available at gallery 5, are now sold out! We thank those who purchased it. Moreover, other than those sold, a bulk order was placed by D&D office. Now that we have finally become a bit confident about T-shirts, we will try to make more if there is any opportunity in the future. Wait till then! [AT]

090130
The book "Terunobu Fujimori's Journey on Materials" has been published by Japan Architect Co., Ltd. With translucent title letters and without a belt, the book has several holes on the front cover, through which images of various materials make appearances. Among them, Fujimori himself is also hidden. Please find him! The main body is made of recycled paper that have rich materiality, with various colors in accord with contents. I heard Fujimori himself liked this design very much, too. Please check it out at a bookshop near you. [AT]

090119
We got stunned by a startling fact that our New Year's cards, to which we devoted ourselves so much, had never been received by anyone! This was revealed by some phone call by chance, and we immediately ran to Shinjuku Post Office. They said they definitely got our cards in their hands, so it seemed that the cards were lost somewhere after that. The post office is still investigating this matter, but anyway, we apologize to those who gave us New Year's cards. When the investigation is done, we will post the result here. [AT]

090117
The exhibition "The House and the City: Architecture by Diener & Diener" is currently at Tokyo Opera City Art Gallery, for which we designed press materials, handouts, and exhibition graphics. Its stoic and quiet spatiality, I guess, has fascination to not only architecture related people but also contemporary art fans. Please see with your own eyes. Plus, gallery 5, the art gallery's own shop, now sells schtucco-designed Diener & Diener T-shirts. There are three types, two of which are made in the motif of their questioning messages used also for the flyer and poster, and the other with their important concept Städtebau. Each of them is limited to 30 copies only, so do not miss out! The display of gallery 5 is also our work, reusing shipping supplies with which their works were wrapped. Slipped into this display is a wood carved bear that we bought at 1 euro at a doll shop in Bern two years ago, as Diener & Diener is also from Switzerland. Can you locate it? [AT]

090115
Our New Year's card, again, is currently on display in the exhibition"New Year Cards from 100 artists vol. 4" at the TAKEO CO., LTD Gallery. Just like the ones we created last year and two years ago, this year's card is also made reusing waste paper generated at our office. The spoiled paper was again out of binding process at chiku-chiku laboratory. Each card is unique. Please check it out when you come near. [AT]

081015
"SITE ZERO / ZERO SITE No. 2: Information Bionomy - Media to be Alive" has been published by MDR. For this issue, Akiyama interviewed Robert Seidel, German CG artist. Same as the previous issues, this one is limited to 600 copies; so we highly recommend you to get it as soon as possible. [AT]

080913
Kentaro Ichihara's "After The Reality" has been published by hiromi yoshii. The cover features an experimental optexture which makes full use of the high opacity of silver ink. Available at the gallery and NADiff shops. [AT]

080905
We took in a student at Kuwasawa Design School as an open desk intern. They undertook work experiences while taking practical training. [AT]

080829
On the occasion of his solo exhibition at TARO NASU, the book "taiji matsue | cell" has been published by AKAAKA ART PUBLISHING, Inc. One of its highlights is the deeply blind embossed title on the front cover. Please check it out at a bookshop near you. [AT]

080528
Our works completed before May 2008 have been listed in the "works" section.
We are still taking photos of the works, including those created in 2007, but we will upload the photos later. [AT]
080410
The special feature of the latest issue of the magazine IDEA is "Grass Roots of Design", for which we made a single gatefold introducing the magazine SITE ZERO / ZERO SITE.
The inside of the gatefold features photos and optexture, on which we put typography clusterizing and layering the introductory texts about the special features of its first three issues.
Printed on the outside is an optexture-covered photo of an installation which we asked Buku Akiyama, who was having a solo show at FARM, to make with in-stock magazine copies and proof sheets found at the magazine's editorial office.
We found the special feature very interesting, with the participation of 24 Japanese graphic designers, from new ones to masters, who are all active regardless of popularity of the publications they work on. [SA]
pic. >>

080403
Mr. Pedro Costa and Ms. Valerie Massadian, in spite of their tight schedule during their stay in Japan, came to our office with the coordinator Mr. Tamaki Tsuchida and Ms. Hama from Cinematrix.
During his solo exhibition at Sendai Mediatheque three years ago, Pedro visited our office and liked it, and this time he wanted to bring Valerie because she was interested.
It seemed that both of them also loved the printed materials which we designed for his movie Colossal Youth.
We were very happy to have their surprised visit. [SA]
pic. >>
leaf etc. >>

080402
For about a week from March 24th, we took in a student from the Department of Spatial Design and Information Systems, Miyagi University, as an open desk intern.
She said he became interested in our company through the lecture that Akiyama gave in Sendai last year.
In order to learn our company's style of letter-spacing and proportioning, she was assigned not only pragmatic tasks such as scanning, but also practical tasks, such as kerning letters and designing name cards, flyers etc.
We will continue accepting interns. [AT]
As a result, a nice flyer was made. pic. >>

080401
Information on our "chiku-chiku laboratory" has been added in the "works" section, with some images of its hand-made products. Please check it out. [AT]

080315
A Pedro Costa film "Colossal Youth" will be released in Japan in this spring. In conjunction with this, "Filmografia do Realizador Pedro Costa - 2008" will be held at Athenee Francais Cultural Center, starting on March 20th. The featured films include some of his works that have been unreleased in Japan. Don't miss it! [AT]

080310
Went to Tohoku University, Sendai, to witness installation of the sign that we had specifically designed for Gallery Tonchiku, an exhibition space attached to the Department of Architecture. Though it is low-cost, I felt the gallery would become a nice one. [SA]
pic. >>

080202
The exhibition "ART IS FOR THE SPIRIT: Works from The UBS Art Collection" has started at Mori Art Museum. The catalogue, which we designed, is an experimental work with an “optexture” effect. We also worked on huge billboards at the plaza in Roppongi Hills and ad wrapped buses (No. 都01). Please check them out. [AT]

080201
We've just updated our long-unupdated website!
The content page now introduces you our works created in 2007 and offers you a new classification system with which you can sort our works by themes.
On the top of the list of newly-introduced works are "optexture" and "very early works of Shin Akiyama".
Those new items are written in red so that you'll know what's new.
Please check them out! [AT]

080115
This year again, our New Year's card is on display in the exhibition "New Year Cards from 100 Designers" at the TAKEO CO., LTD. Gallery.
All hand-made and with non-identical designs, it's a recycling New Year's card reusing paper waste that our office generated, just like those in last year.
For 2008, we recycled waste sheets out of the process of binding the book "Koichi Enomoto: Pigeon's Riot / Taro Izumi: Trolley" which took place at the chiku-chiku laboratory.
If you have a chance, please visit the show to check it out. [AT]
date: 1/17-2/15
venue: 2F, TAKEO CO., LTD.
pic. >>
making of >>

071213
I got interviewed by "Jounal of Architecture and Building Science", for which Taro Igarashi has been appointed as the new editor in chief from the first issue in 2008. We had worked for this magazine as an art director in last two years.
The interviewer was Shinji Takami, who, by coincidence, was a fellow of mine at Tokyo National University of Fine Arts and Music (He now works for the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, and told me that he had taken charge of the fabricated earthquake-resistance data scandal).
For our first conversation in a while, I spoke how I started my career as a graphic designer after studying architecture at university, how what I learned at that time has generally affected my current practice, and about our design concept for the magazine "Jounal of Architecture and Building Science". [SA]

071111
We visited and participated in a tour for inspection of 100th Anniversary Library and Communication Center, Nippon Institute of Technology. It is us who designed its sign.
We have been there many times when it was still under construction, so we are very glad it is finally completed.
It is a bright and airy facility. [SA]
pic. >>
sign >>

071109
Invited by Mr. Risaku Suzuki, I participated in a class critique to review photo works by students at Department of Inter Media Art, Tokyo National University of Fine Arts and Music.
The students used photogram for the first time yet created so many interesting works.
I was amazed by their beautiful compositions.
After the review, having students hold my books in their hands, I explained how those photo books and art books were made.
There were students wanting to show their portfolios to me right after that; I found their attitudes very admirable. [SA]

071101
Invited by Swiss fashion brand "Beige", whose textile is so artistic that we just love it, we participated in an event called Blickfang as part of the design week.
There we reunited Manuera and Karin, the designers, and bought a piece of their new collection, a wonderful light blue sweater.
They liked the combination of that color and my black hair. [AT]
pic. >>

071029
Karl-Heinz, an artist from Vienna, came to Japan.
He stayed in "schtucco bis" for two weeks, during which we introduced him to the deep Shinjuku such as Shonben-streets and Golden-gai.
We also went to the Torinoichi-festival at Hanazono Shrine, where he enjoyed taking photos of real yakuzas!
He made a new work using the window of the "bis" room.
He is looking for an institution (a gallery, hotel or public/private art collection) in Tokyo/Japan to offer a similar project as a permanent in-situ installation. [SA]
pic. >>

071027
In Sendai, I was asked by my junior Horiguchi (who teaches at the university) to take this opportunity to give a short lecture to the graduate students of the architectonics department. I talked about graphic design for architectural presentation.
Not only his graduate students but also some of those from other laboratories who had attended in my lecture the day before came participate.
I introduced the students some technical know-hows including an appreciation method of the graphic design and the grid system, which is a basic technique and skill to lay out letters. [SA]

071026
I was invited to give a lecture to students in design study course at Tohoku University, Sendai. As most of the audience were architectural students, I started it off by talking about what I was thinking when I was a university student. I then introduced my body of work in a random manner.
After the presentation, together with the coordinators Taro Igarashi and Toru Horiguchi, I took part in Qs and As with the audience.
Taking this opportunity, our books were sold at the venue, including those hard to find at bookstores around.
I was worried if my lecture could interest the different-field audience, but it turned out successful: it drew a full house and I heard the people liked it. I was relieved. [SA]
pic. >>

071006
A painting exhibition "Bubble Eyes" by Keegan McHargue has started at Hiromi Yoshii gallery, in conjunction with which a monograph "Mauve Deep" has been published.
Please check it out.

070927
An exhibition titled "APPEARANCE: Urban Space Interpreted Through Photography" has started in Daikanyama by TN probe. It would be great if you could have a look.
artists: Oliver Boberg / Candida Hofer / Armin Linke / Naruki Oshima
date: 9/27-10/20
venue: Daikanyama Hillside forum
TN probe >>

070901
A photograph exhibition "Kumano, Yuki, Sakura" by Risaku Suzuki has started at Tokyo Metropolitan Museum of Photography.
It is a tranquil, touching show, which many people say is the best show ever held at the museum.

070816
We enjoyed the great view of the fireworks of Meiji Jingu Gardens with Leipzig wine on the rooftop of out office building! [AT]

070728
We went to Aoyama to see a typography exhibition by Anna-Lena, a graphic designer from Leipzig.
The Chinese characters meaning "Fish Book" that she created with us, photographs of various signboard characters she found in Kabukicho when we took her there the other night, many other characters she collected here and there in Japan on a trip, and so on, were laid out in a room of an apartment building. [AT]
pic. >>

070709
A small exhibition "My very personal souvenirs from Switzerland + Germany" is currently held on the small table located at the entrance of our office. [AT]
book etc...pic. >>
bear pic. >>

070609-29
Visiting Switzerland + Germany!

070424
The catalogue for the exhibition "Architecture of Terunobu Fujimori and ROJO from Venice Biennale: 10th International Architecture Exhibition 2006" (venue: Tokyo Opera City Art Gallery) is selling so well that the copies of limited edition have already sold out.
The popular editions are still available with a free sample of the architectural material.
Please come and check them out at the gallery book store.

070416
We designed the leaflet of English version for the exhibition "Parallel Nippon: Contemporary Japanese Architecture 1996-2006" that travels other countries.
Our friends SO + BA, Swiss graphic designers, were chosen to design the publicity for its exhibition in Japan.

070414
The exhibition "BLOODBATH & BEYOND" has started at HIROMI YOSHII Gallery.
It is an installation work by Christian Holstad, Ryan Schaefer, and ClaudeWampler using the entire space, and visitors can get inside.
Only one person is allowed to enter at a time.
We recommend you to try it.
date：4/13–5/12
venue：hiromi yoshii (Kiyosumi) >>

070414
The exhibition "Architecture of Terunobu Fujimori and ROJO from Venice Biennale: 10th International Architecture Exhibition 2006" has started at Tokyo Opera City Art Gallery.
The exhibition space is much bigger than the space at Venice, and their works have also upgraded.
We have designed posters and invitation cards with a sewing machine stiches done by "chiku-chiku lab.", the annex to our office.
dates: 4/14–7/1.
venue: Tokyo OperCity Art Gallery >>

070410
"Kenchiku-Mokei. Miyamoto-ryu"（Architecture models in Miyamoto's way）is published from Saikokusha.
We found the word "Miyamoto's way" is interesting, so we used hand-writing for the title logo on the cover. Such design we usually do not do.
The hand writing is done by Matsui, our colleague who owns a title of fifth dan (fifth rank) for Sho-do.
They say that the architecture students nowadays do not make much architecture models.
We hope that this book inspires them to learn the basics of creating things.

070331
"Pedro Costa; Whispering in Distant Chambers" is published from Sendai Mediatheque.
This book is a companion volume to the "Pedro Costa Film Retrospective in Sendai 2005" that was published a year before last.
The book contains pages that introduce the scenes from his installation work in SMT, dialogue with Prof. Hasumi, a study on Costa's work by Kitakoji, interviews to Kosta, latest Filmography, and so on.
Also the color portraits shot by Tamura while Kosta was staying in Sendai-city are should not be missed.
Please find out that he is such a photogenic film director.

070320
Our recent design work "Experience in Material 49: Ryoji Suzuki Complete Works 1973-2007" is now published.
It is his first monograph publication that covers all the works from "busshitsu-shikou" (Experience in Material) series.
Please check it out at the book store

070112
Our new year's card we sent to TAKEO is on display at the exhibition "New Year Cards from 100 artists" at the TAKEO CO.,LTD Gallery.
Our cards are all hand-mades and none of them is the same.
Please check it out.
dates: 1/15–2/9
venue: TAKEO CO.,LTD. >>

070101
A happy new year 2007! Recycling used papers to new year cards project 2007: We recycled all the print-outs to new year cards. pic. >>

061221
Further information for the exhibition "shrinking city × fibercity@Akihabara" which we've announced before is uploaded.
Please come and stop by if you are near by.
date: Jan.28th – Feb.18th
venue: AKIBA_SQUARE

061001
A little exhibition, "My very personal Swiss souvenir", was held on the little table at our office entrance.

060927
On Marco's recommendation, we went down to the antique book store runs by this FANTASTIC MAN.
We got dozens of unique antique books.

060918
As we were walking down the stone pavement at Bern, we accidentally met Marco.
'Such a small country, Switzerland!', he said.
Then he took us to an artists' colony which is a renovation space of an old school, an antique shop street. and his favorite cafe.
Progr >>
an antique shop >>
at a cafe >>

060914-19
Going to Swiss mountainous region:
Andermatt >>
Passo del St. Gottardo >>
Interlaken >>
Truemmelbach >>
Kleine Scheidegg >>
Jungfraujoch >>

060912
Our works will be on view at the exhibition which starts today.
The exhibition is held to preview the designers and their latest works including the ones introduced in the article of the newsletter "PAPER'S" vol. 2 through 21 published by Takeo, a paper wholesale company in Japan.
you are very welcome to come and stop by if you happen to come near by.
"paper-work collection + one": September 12 - October 5, 2006 / Mihoncho Honten, Kanda, Tokyo

works
Tadao Ando Edition >>
Venice Biennale catalogue >>

060910
The catalogue we've designed for the Japanese pavilion at Venice Biennale have been nearly sold out at the sneak preview for press, and run out of the stock early in the opening day. According to currator Okabe, no catalogue has ever sold out so quickly like this.
"Wow !" We were very much excited, but we must deliver the additionals ASAP. We started to make the material samples that are given to each catalogue box.

060906
We had a meeting about the poster and the cataloguee for the exhibition "Shrinking Cities" that will travel to the Museum of Design Akihabara, Japan in November.
This exhibition is held at Italian pavilion, and Mr.Ozwald, the curator for the exhibition, had just arrived along with several staff.
The exhibition focuses on the fact it is inevitable that the most of the cities in the world are shrinking, and gives you the opportunity to think of how we could manage it.
The issue may perhaps be too serious, but the presentation will take a style that is pop and enjoyable.
And related live performances are considered to be held during the exhibition.
It should be fun for all people.
Please stop by.
"Shrinking Cities" in Italian pavilion >>

060902-5
We flew into Venice to finish up with making the catalogue for Japanese pavilion (this year, Terunobu Fujimori has been appointed as a commissioner).
Soon after arriving at the hotel, we packed each material piece into the packages, and delivered them to the venue. And we combined the several items together and put them into each box.
We did have some troubles along the process (one of the material, the bamboos, got moldy while shipping and so on.), but we managed them somehow, and made all the 500 boxes for venue sale done before the opening day of the pavilion.
We had time left before going back to hotel, so we helped the Jomon Architects group with making their exhibition.
Venice >>
catalogue >>

0608
Two students came to our office as open-desk studies.
One studies architecture in Tohoku Univ., and the other is from Ibaraki Univ., majored in civil engineering.
We let them work on updating the home pages of our office and Heiner Schilling, and preparing of the material pieces for the catalogue of Venice Biennale.
They also experienced desining and printing of a flyer before they go back to school.
We will accept interns in the future too.

open desk:
Some design office in Japan admit college students on summer vacation (mainly those who studies graphic design, architectures, etc), to give them opportunities to experience how it is like to work in the business they are interested.

060731
Job requirement is now closed.

060501 job offer!
We are looking for new staff graphic designer who work outside of our company.

age: any
experience: not required (but if you have, favorable )
persons: 3-5
period: all this year (there's possibility of extending)
salary: depends on your ability

how to apply:
Please send your C.V. and portfolio. (any form will do)
After the judgement based on the document, we will inform you the date of the interview.

scheduled contents of work:
T-shirts design

contact:
info@schtucco.com >>
Tel.03-5366-8467 (Tsutsumi)

0601
Akiyama's interview appeared in "Nikkei Architecture" 06 number1-9 "Next-A: Recommendation of the Defiant Dropout". It is introducing the sequence of his changing from architectures to graphics with showing his works.

060401
"The Oral History of Modern Architecture", the Honer Award work of 2003 have been on display at the exhibition "The Most Beautiful Books in the world 1991-2005" (2/11-4/23 @Printing Museum. It is a traveling exhibition around the world.) And (surprisingly,) It also have appeared in the catalogue of past prize-winning works edited by "Stiftung Buchkunst", Germany. >>
However, there is a spelling mistake. Correctly, "Shin Akiyama, Takeshi Kuze".

060301
We have finished the recruitment.

Our new staffs:
Yuzo Kariya: 26 years old / from Atlier Bow-Wow: the architecture planning office
Kentaro Matsui: 25 years old / from Taro Igarashi lab., Department of Architecture, Tohoku University
Please continue your favor toward them.

0602
Our want ad. was printed in "Idea" 315. It was designed neatly, (by Shirai-san. thank you!) but it is a bit too smart for an ad, doesn't it?
pic. >>

060213 job offer!
We are looking for new staff graphic designer and operator.

age: any
experience: not required (but if you have, favorable )
persons: 2-3
period: 2 yrs from 060301 (there's possibility of extending)
salary: depends on your ability

how to apply:
Please send your C.V. and portfolio. (any form will do)
After the judgement based on the document, we will inform you the date of the interview.

scheduled contents of work:
books of design and art
museum graphic
exhibition graphic
T-shirts design
architecture sign
etc.

contact:
info@schtucco.com
Tel.03-5366-8467 (Tsutsumi)

060110-25
An official tour for Holland. We designed a logo-mark and a sign for a Church Renovation Project. It was a request from an architect Moriko Kira who lives in Amsterdam, and the church will be completed in April. We visited Claus en Kaan Office, and in his room, we found the leaflet of his lecture in Japan which we designed. Then traveled around the main cities of Holland, and bought a plenty of Dutch books! (again!)
Remonstrantse kerk >>
Claus en Kaan office >>

0601
Akiyama's interview appeared in "Nikkei Architecture" 06 number1-9 "Next-A: Recommendation of the Defiant Dropout". It is introducing the sequence of his changing from architectures to graphics with showing his works.

0512
"Recycled NENGAJO Project": Reused some of the spent color-proof-sheets and test-print-sheets as the NENGAJO card.
pic. >>

0509
Wrote "Gravity of the Grid: Swiss Typography and after" (text + photo) for the catalogue "Made in Switzerland: Rich Design of the Small Country" of the exhibition "Small and Beautiful".
pic. >>

0506
Won the "Prize of Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry" at "Competition of Book Designing and Binding 2004": sponsored by: Japan Book Publishers Association, Japan Federation of Printing Industries / supported by: Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry.
The total number of the works were 485, and we were selected as the best 3: There is no ranking of the 3.
The prize-winning work is "Jun Aoki Complete Works | 1 | 1991-2004": INAX Publishing, and it was admired for "the working style with thorough and careful techniques" by the Judging Committee: Hiroshi Kashiwagi, Nobuo Nakagaki, and Nobuyoshi Kikuchi.
First, it was recommended as the best 3, and then it was given the "Prize of Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry" according to the contents. (To our regret, we couldn't attend the awarding ceremony because of the tour.)
Jun Aoki Complete Works | 1 | 1991-2004 >>

0506-07
An official tour for Switzerland: Took pictures of Swiss contemporary architectures, mountain huts, and mountain scenery. Bought plenty of beautiful Swiss books!
pic. >>

0505
Sent some works and text for "Idea" 310 / special number: Typography of Japan 1995-2005.
pic. >>

0504
Akiyama contributed an article "Between Books and Architecture" to "10+1" number 38 / feature: Architecture and Books. (text + pictures + layout design) He chose some books about architecture and urban from his own library, and gave them some comments from a point of view of the graphic designing.
pic. >>

0503
Mr. Pedro Costa payed us a surprised visit! He was staying in Japan for his one-man exhibition at sendai mediateque, and Mr. Tamaki Tsuchida had taken him to our office. Mr. Costa was looking for "Black Album" of "Prince", but he said he could not find it in Shinjuku. A few days later, Akiyama happened to find it at a secondhand record shop in Sendai. Before the event at smt, Mr. Costa was really excited to have it, and afterward, he gave Akiyama his DVD which is not sold in Japan.
pic. >>

0409
Akiyama's interview has appeared in "DTP WORLD" for September with his latest work.
It is reporting about his knack of designing.

0406
Akiyama's interview has appeared in the students-magazine of Depertment of Architecture, Tokyo National University of Fine Arts and Music: "Ku-kan" vol.22 / feature: interviews
It is asking the OB who chose the different way from the architecture trade about the relations between one's present job and the architecture.
pic. >>

0401
We designed "El Aleph", the original series of posters for the designed T-shirts shop "graniph" Kyoto.
on display: 1/10-1/31
installation >>
plates >>

031018
Justyna Feicht filmed Tokyo.
looking down the city: movie >>
pictures she took >>

031015
"Godard et Miéville 2003" is now on sale at mube.jp!
go and check the shop >>

030907
We renamed our company.
QUALIA is not only the name of the luxury home appliance.
It exists everywhere, or only in our brain.
pic. qualia business card >>

030901
we moved to an empty space.
pic. interior >>
pic. wall >>
pic. a view from the room >>