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Tracing the journeys of water in the air across borders June 2025 - ongoing In collaboration with: Yoshimura Lab Moisture Commons visualizes how atmospheric moisture travels across borders to shape our weather. By tracing water vapor from distant oceans and lands to local rainfall, it reveals the deep interconnectedness between global climate systems and regional weather patterns. Developed in collaboration with the Yoshimura Lab, IIS, UTokyo, the project translates atmospheric moisture pathways reconstructed from climate simulations into an intuitive visualization that deepens awareness of our shared atmospheric commons and highlights the need for collective climate action. #Ecology_Environment_Sustainability #Prototype #Treasure_Hunting

Example of a concept sketch of an at-home biosensor to monitor residents’ emotions Addressing Loneliness in Elderly Care Centers January 2025 - April 2025 In collaboration with: AS PARTNERS Co., Ltd. ( https://www.as-partners.co.jp/ ) Loneliness is one of the quietest yet most urgent challenges in the world’s rapidly aging societies. People particularly at risk are those in socially and economically vulnerable positions, such as those who are unmarried or divorced, in poor health, have low household incomes, or have limited social connections. 1 Furthermore, a 2024 survey found that approximately 40% of respondents reported experiencing feelings of loneliness. 2 In Japan, where one in three people will be over 65 by 2040, 3 we ask: how can design spark joy and connection inside elderly care care facilities? Conducted with elderly care facilities operator, AS PARTNERS, and multiple research labs at the Institute of Industrial Science at the University of Tokyo, Project Collins set out to explore this loneliness and the future of care in our aging society. 1 https://www.cao.go.jp/kodoku_koritsu/torikumi/zenkokuchousa/r6/pdf/tyosakekka_point.pdf 2 https://www.cao.go.jp/kodoku_koritsu/torikumi/zenkokuchousa/r5/pdf/kosatsu_r5.pdf 3 https://www8.cao.go.jp/kourei/whitepaper/w-2025/zenbun/pdf/1s1s_01.pdf   Background and Inspiration As Japan’s population ages, the question of how older adults experience daily life and connection is no longer distant, but one that will soon touch every household. AS PARTNERS operates more than 25 elderly care facilities in the Tokyo metropolitan area and confronts these challenges every day, making them an ideal partner in this work.  Together, we aimed to explore new approaches to address loneliness in elderly care facilities, with a particular focus on future scenarios in the year 2040. Using a futures-oriented design approach allowed the team to look beyond immediate challenges and imagine long-term possibilities, ensuring today’s ideas could remain relevant and adaptable for the care environments of tomorrow. AS PARTNERS' elderly care facility, Asheim Jingu no Mori Research and Process Through on-site field research in care facilities and close exchanges with residents and staff, the DLX Design Lab team gathered valuable insights about loneliness, challenges in an aging population, and daily life in a care home. This helped us better understand their lived experience. One resident explained that moving in meant making difficult sacrifices: “When I moved here, I decided to cut ties with my university friends.” “I gave up all my hobbies.” Another spoke of the guilt she felt in everyday life: “I feel bad asking staff for even small things, like going for a walk.” These voices, and others, revealed how entering a care facility often involves not only physical relocation, but also the loss of relationships, routines, and independence. Reducing isolation, we also learned, is not only about companionship, but also about unlocking richer daily experiences, improving mental and physical health, and restoring dignity and belonging. Following these exchanges and gathered insights, AS PARTNERS, DLX Design Lab members, and University of Tokyo researchers came together in an ideation workshop. It became a rare moment of collective imagination, where diverse perspectives were shared openly and new possibilities for trust, dignity, and connection began to take shape. collaborative ideation workshop with AS PARTNERS staff, DLX designers, and University of Tokyo researchers Final Concepts The ideas that were generated during the ideation workshop were synthesized into five concepts and shared back with top management at AS PARTNERS. The ideas ranged from lighthearted playful games that spark spontaneous laughter to scientific biosensors that gently tune into residents’ emotional states. This work brought together partners from various lived experiences all focusing on a design futures challenge. Through it, much was learned including that designing with elderly care facilities requires balancing creative exploration with the everyday realities of care. We also learned that genuine collaboration across residents, staff, and researchers is what gives the concepts both practicality and heart. This work challenged us to reimagine elderly care not as a place of gradual decline, but as a community of seniors enjoying connection, dignity, and growth. Because of the futures design oriented approach that was taken in this work, Project Collins is a small but impactful step towards addressing loneliness in elderly care centers not just for today, but for tomorrow. Press Releases PR Times , 2025/12/10 University of Tokyo Institute of Industrial Science , 2025/12/10 #Health_and_Wellbeing #Concept

Rapid prototype of a section of the IWCD Designing for the frontiers of physics May 2024 - ongoing In collaboration with: Kavli IPMU IWCD Prototyping is a collaboration with Kavli IPMU (Institute for the Physics and Mathematics of the Universe) to design human-centered, cost-effective solutions for the Intermediate Water Cherenkov Detector (IWCD), a part of the Hyper Kamiokande project, with the goal of researching neutrinos in order to understand the origins of the universe.  Project Background Neutrinos are considered to be the “smallest unit of matter,” and scientists believe that they might hold the key to understanding the universe. The Kamiokande series, created by Dr. Masatoshi Koshiba, was originally made in order to research proton decay, but was modified later to focus on neutrino detection. Using the original Kamiokande, Dr. Koshiba and his team became the first people to observe neutrinos emitted from a supernova explosion, a feat which won him the Nobel Prize in Physics in 2002. Its successor, Super-Kamiokande, went on to support more Nobel Prize-winning research when they were able to demonstrate neutrino oscillations. Now, set to start operation in 2028, Hyper-Kamiokande is being created in order to further research neutrinos. Inside the Super Kamiokande detector, Kamioka Observatory, ICRR (Institute for Cosmic Ray Research), The University of Tokyo The DLX Design Lab is working alongside scientists and engineers around the world on the Hyper-Kamiokande Intermediate Water Cherenkov Detector (IWCD). The IWCD will be installed near the J-PARC neutrino beam source in Tokai, Ibaraki. The detector features a “PRISM” technique by moving vertically in a 40 m pit to provide precision measurements of the neutrino beam that can be extrapolated to the main Hyper-Kamiokande detector 295 km away in Kamioka, Gifu. By observing neutrinos change type along this journey (neutrino oscillation), we can get closer to understanding how the universe became filled with matter while almost all antimatter has disappeared. This is one of the biggest open questions in modern physics, and solving it could help explain why the universe looks the way it does today. Cherenkov lights observed by the IWCD detector (simulation), https://www-neutrino.kek.jp/en/project/iwcd/   The IWCD sits in a 50m vertical shaft, able to move up and down to detect neutrinos at different trajectories ( https://www-neutrino.kek.jp/en/project/iwcd/ ) From creating rapid, low-cost mock-ups for quick testing to designing various brackets, jigs, and components for easier assembly and usability, the DLX Design Lab has demonstrated the value of design in complex manufacturing and engineering environments. By continuously testing ideas in a cheap and simple setup, mistakes and oversights that could be costly if they aren’t caught early in the process can be prevented, better informing the development process and helping prepare for deployment. Mockup of a section of the detector, J-PARC #Prototype #User_Test

AICOM - Mind the AI Gap game console Where do humans still outperform AI? November 2024 ~ ongoing In collaboration with: Sugano Laboratory The goal of the AICOM Project is to create ways for the public and researchers to interact with and develop AI together. In order to discover the gaps in AI’s knowledge, we are making a game that allows the public to create data to be used to evaluate AI.  In this two player game, players work together to create descriptions of images that humans understand but AI doesn’t. Through this, we create a dataset of images and human-written descriptions that challenge current AI systems.  Research Inspiration Sugano Laboratory researches computer vision and artificial intelligence. As AI becomes more widespread, it becomes increasingly important to identify the limitations in current systems. A seemingly minor gap in knowledge may not affect the majority of users, but to a small minority, this may be a huge problem. To make AI systems that can serve diverse needs across society, we need to better understand these gaps in their capabilities. Data Collection through Gamification Gathering data through a game allows players to have fun while also contributing to the improvement of AI. Through many iterations of prototyping and user testing, we aim to strike a balance between gathering quality data while also making it a fun and rewarding experience. The game is collaborative, with two players working together to try to beat AICOM-chan. User testing at The University of Tokyo Komaba Research Campus 2025 Open Campus #Prototype #User_Test #AICOM_Project

Transforming food waste into sustainable agricultural value July 2023 - ongoing In collaboration with: Applied Entomology Lab Japan imports around 90% of its fertilisers used for food production, leaving it dependent on foreign resources. At the same time, over 5 million tonnes of food is wasted each year. We see an opportunity to gradually replace imported fertilisers by harnessing the nutrients from food waste. We are prototyping a system for restaurants called TabeMaru that hosts a colony of black soldier flies (known as BSF) which turn food waste into organic fertiliser. By closing the loop between production and consumption, we aim to reduce the reliance on imported fertilisers and foster greater agricultural resilience in Japan. #Ecology_Environment_Sustainability #Prototype

Toward resilient coexistence with urban wildlife 2024 - ongoing In collaboration with: Laboratory of Veterinary Ethology at the Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences “Rats in the City” takes visitors on a year-long journey of urban rat observation and exploration. Through three interactive installations paired with photographs by Hiroyoshi Hara, the project invites you to see rats from a fresh perspective—free from prejudice. Perhaps rats are not the “filthy” pests we once assumed… Grounded in science, this project envisions sustainable urban life for both humans and wildlife as a step toward building more ecologically inclusive and resilient cities. Exhibitions Komaba Open Campus: May 30–31, 2025 DLX Curiosity Event at Tokyo Node: Aug 7, 2025 Gwangju Design Biennale (Gwangju, Korea): Aug 30 – Nov 2, 2025 Kashiwa Open Campus: Oct 24–25, 2025 Matsudo International Science Art Festival (Chiba, Japan): Oct 24–26, 2025 #Ecology_Environment_Sustainability #Exhibition

OMNI Delta tools developed for river cleaning Let’s prevent ocean-bound waste! 2024 - 2025 In collaboration with: Zushi City, Shikokuchuo City, Nagasaki Prefecture, Yamazaki Lab Studies suggest that plastics accumulate on land and in rivers, forming a long-term source of marine litter even if the primary source of mismanaged plastic waste is resolved. Around 80% of marine litter originates from the land, much of which accumulates in rivers and is eventually transported to the ocean.  In addition, in Japan specifically, around 30% of the mainland coastline is covered by concrete tetrapods, designed to minimize coastal erosion by dissipating the power of waves and currents. Due to their large size and interlocking structure, the deep crevasses in between tetrapods is the perfect place for plastic to accumulate. Cleaning these areas is an important part to reducing marine litter, but both rivers and tetrapods tend to be difficult to access and clean. OMNI Delta is a project that encourages people to engage with and participate in marine litter reduction strategies by making river and tetrapod cleaning more approachable. With supervision from local stakeholders, we are working on design interventions to address these issues and make the activity more accessible. #Ecology_Environment_Sustainability #Prototype #OMNI_Project

recyclable, customizable paper bag holder for beach cleans Let's enjoy litter picking! 2022 - 2025 In collaboration with: Zushi City, Shikokuchuo City When picking up trash during beach cleans, the wind can cause the opening of the bag to flap around, making it difficult to put trash into the bag. PIGRA was created to solve this problem. The PIGRA bag holder is made from environmentally friendly, recyclable paper, and can be personalized by drawing on it. Through PIGRA, we aim to make litter picking a more friendly and accessible activity. #OMNI_Project #Ecology_Environment_Sustainability

Skin Vessel Bodysuit A thermal optimization suit 2022 - 2023 In collaboration with: Hasegawa Lab Project Skin Vessel leverages research from the Production Technology Research Institute to develop concepts that may lead to new products and services. In partnership with the DLX Design Lab, the Hasegawa Laboratory is working on a bodysuit designed to assist with temperature regulation by effectively “wearing blood vessels over the body.” The image below envisions a future scenario where the suit could be worn in extreme environments such as outer space or underwater. Background and Inspiration In the Hasegawa Laboratory, we focus on predicting and controlling fluid flow and the accompanying heat transfer. As part of this research, we developed an optimization algorithm for flow channels that satisfies two conflicting goals at once: “minimizing the pumping power required to drive fluid within a given space while maximizing cooling efficiency.” Many of the resulting optimal flow paths feature branched structures resembling biological vascular networks. This led to the hypothesis: “If we could wear a branching structure like blood vessels, might we achieve more efficient heat exchange in the human body?” Wearing Blood Vessels By applying the flow paths derived from the Hasegawa Laboratory’s fluid dynamics research, we positioned optimal water channels along the body’s surface. Our question became: could circulating hot or cold water through these channels enable efficient heat exchange for the human body? This design is analogous to the way real blood vessels circulate blood and regulate body temperature at the same time. Prototyping To turn this idea into an actual wearable garment, the project team engaged in active prototyping. We produced trial versions that could be worn to observe how circulating hot or cold water affected a wearer’s body temperature. A Small, Innovative Pump A key feature of this flow path is that it minimizes fluid resistance, allowing water to circulate readily without relying on a large pump. In contrast to conventional cooling vests that require a bulky external pump, we envision a smaller pump that works in tandem with the wearer’s movements. Through prototypes of a body-mounted pump leveraging human motion, we discovered that semi-automatic circulation is feasible without depending solely on a motor. Future Prospects and Applications Because this in-development garment can be made both lightweight and compact, it could be more practical than traditional cooling vests in active situations such as sports. We are also considering applications for individuals who have difficulty regulating body temperature or are sensitive to cold. Additionally, we aim to expand use cases to include high-temperature and high-humidity environments where sweat does not evaporate easily, microgravity conditions in space, and even underwater scenarios. Going forward, we plan to pursue further miniaturization and mass production while personalizing the design to match individual vascular structures—broadening its potential use across a variety of settings. #Prototype #Biotech

This project aims to communicate cutting-edge scientific research conducted at the Institute of Industrial Science to the broader public. By highlighting the significance and future potential of the research, the project seeks to raise awareness and public interest. DLX Design Lab collaborated with the Tatsuma Laboratory to produce a short film that visualizes the properties of innovative nanoparticles and the possibilities they offer for the future. These microscopic particles interact strongly with light and could, in the future, demonstrate astonishing capabilities such as bending or even rendering materials transparent. About Tatsuma Lab Tatsuma Laboratory focuses on developing nanoparticles that respond to light. Through chemical approaches, they aim to efficiently produce a large number of nanoscale particles at once. This research may enable the creation of "metamaterials," which possess properties not found in nature. Metamaterial particles operate using complex mechanisms to bend light. Each particle receives the energy of a light wave, vibrates, and re-emits waves. By designing particles to resonate with specific wavelengths, the materials can even exhibit phenomena such as negative refraction, which is not naturally possible. This project visualizes a roadmap for the development and potential applications of such metamaterials. Technology Roadmap To illustrate how this mysterious material might be realized, we created a timeline through continuous dialogue with the Tatsuma Laboratory. The timeline is structured along two axes: horizontal (left to right) and vertical (top to bottom), each representing increasing levels of difficulty. The top line shows the completion of the current research phase, where individual particles become functional "meta-atoms." The middle line represents the formation of two-dimensional surfaces by combining these particles. The bottom line envisions the construction of complex three-dimensional structures. The difficulty of control also varies depending on the wavelength of light. Longer wavelengths, like red, require larger structures and are thus easier to manipulate. In contrast, shorter wavelengths, such as violet, demand extremely fine structures, making implementation more difficult. The mechanism by which metamaterials bend light is intricate. Each particle behaves like a radio antenna, receiving light waves, vibrating, and emitting modified waves. These waves interact and strengthen each other, resulting in light bending in a new direction. By designing particles to resonate at specific wavelengths, complex wave combinations can emerge, producing negative refraction, something not found in natural materials. This research anticipates that light can eventually be manipulated freely in any direction or path using such technologies. Potential Applications • Ultra-Black Solar Panels The initial stage may involve creating materials that absorb all light rather than control it. Applied to solar panels, this could capture previously wasted reflected light, dramatically improving efficiency. The ideal solar panel might, in fact, be invisible. • Light-Redirecting Objects The next phase could involve objects that reroute light around them and emit it from the opposite side. This may first be achievable in spherical forms and with single colors, such as red. • Partial Optical Transparency As understanding deepens and manufacturing techniques mature, it may become possible to design structures that allow selective visibility around complex shapes. For example, only eye-level areas may appear transparent, enabling architectural innovations that reduce blind spots without removing walls or columns. • Future Windows That Deliver Light and Views Further advances could lead to metamaterials stretched into rod-like connectors, transmitting light and views like fiber optics. This would allow people in underground rooms to see the sky, experience shadows, and even feel the warmth of sunlight. To realize such a window, metamaterials must be able to manipulate red, green, and blue wavelengths. Incorporating infrared (IR) would also enable the transmission of heat. Depending on the application, the material could be tuned to transmit only specific colors or even ultraviolet light. Ultimately, these technologies may evolve into "optical camouflage" that can make objects invisible. While this remains extremely complex and lacks a concrete design path today, revolutionary breakthroughs could occur, just as we have seen with modern AI. A hundred years from now, wearable cloaks that render people or vehicles invisible, like those in science fiction, may become a reality. #Speculative #Materials_and_Matter

A rearview mirror driving assistant 2022年10月〜2025年3月 共同者：KAIST, NAIST, JARI Private Vehicle Autonomous Driving has become a reality, with significant progress in the approval and deployment of SAE (Society of Automotive Engineers) Level 3 vehicles in regions such as Japan, Europe, and the United States. These vehicles enable hands-free, eyes-off driving under specific conditions, but drivers must remain alert to notifications and be ready to take control when required. While this technology offers convenience, it also faces challenges in earning drivers' trust and acceptance. To address this, the UTokyo DLX Design Lab, in collaboration with the Department of Industrial Design at KAIST (Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology), designed and developed internal human-machine interfaces (iHMI) to foster trust between drivers and Level 3 autonomous private vehicles. This collaboration resulted in two prototypes: Auze, a robotic in-car accessory, and MIRAbot, a rearview mirror driving assistant. In summary, the project hosted four student interns from KAIST at DLX Design Lab’s Kashiwa studio, conducted two public demonstrations and a user study of the prototypes at Kashiwa Open Campus in 2023 and 2024, and presented its findings at HRI 2024 and CHI 2024, with a planned presentation at CHI 2025, prestigious international conferences in Human-Robot Interaction and Human-Computer Interaction. The research followed an exploratory design approach, beginning with an ideation workshop involving 14 designers at the 4D Space in UTokyo Kashiwa II Campus, which yielded the concept of a rearview mirror ornament designed to protect the driver. Through iterative ideation, exploratory prototyping, and demonstrations for peer and expert feedback, the concept evolved into Auze, a robotic in-car accessory that utilizes kinesthetic and auditory cues in conjunction with the existing handover system to facilitate takeovers (see the Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mY6wbhw1sRI ). We further developed this concept into MIRAbot, a reimagined rearview mirror designed as a driving assistant. MIRAbot transitions seamlessly between functioning as a standard rearview mirror and an interactive assistant, supporting manual driving, autonomous driving, and the transitions between them. Using anthropomorphic movements and voice prompts, MIRAbot directs attention during takeovers and enhances driver engagement (see the Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w5Xgp1wnp9g&t=17s ). Through Auze and MIRAbot, we aim to seamlessly integrate autonomous technology into everyday driving, not only fostering trust between drivers and Level 3 autonomous private vehicles but also delivering a more supportive, enjoyable, and accessible experience for all users, especially those who face challenges adapting to emerging technology. This work was supported by the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS) KAKENHI Grant Number 22H00246.
UTokyo DLX: Hyunjung Kim, Max Fischer, Shota Kiuchi, Kumi Oda, Kentaro Honma, Miles Pennington KAIST ID: Jongik Jeon, Seunghwa Pyo, Yena Kim, Geumjin Lee, Chang Hee Lee Auze, an in-car accessory with kinesthetic and auditory handover pre-alert for semi-autonomous vehicles. MIRAbot, a rearview mirror driving assistant for semi-autonomous vehicles. A workshop participant testing a prototype in a real car within a projected simulation of a takeover situation in semi-autonomous driving.

A new network to cope with a changing climate. October 2022 - March 2025 In Collaboration With: NICT In 2035, the introduction of the 6G network in Japan redefined movements of people and goods in ways that we couldn’t have predicted. The network has brought about major changes in transport, communication, and lifestyle; ultimately altering the way we perceive places and services. 6G has the potential to revolutionize the way we collect and process environmental data, drastically decreasing the time necessary to assess changes in the territory and reach out to people in danger. Responsive Network  uses 6G to create an infrastructure that reacts to sudden disruptions (flood/snow/traffic) around you. #BY5G_Project #Future_Mobility #Speculative