From assets of the past
to resources of the future—
Toward a living archive of design

Design has long supported Japan’s culture and industry. Yet in recent years, valuable design resources have been at risk of disappearing due to the closure of museums, limitations in storage capacity, a shortage of successors in manufacturing, and even natural disasters. “DESIGN デザイン design - JAPAN Design Resource Database -” is an initiative seeking to preserve these assets for future generations, collecting and organizing them in accessible and utilizable form.

The scope of this project extends from modern industrial products to graphic and package design, fashion, and traditional craft and folk art.

In collaboration with museums, research institutions, and companies across Japan, we are digitally archiving design resources from all regions of the country. Select materials are also being captured as 3D scan data to be made openly accessible.

Beyond objects themselves, the project also focuses on the stories behind design—the choices of materials, records of prototyping and experimentation, and the processes of production and craftsmanship. These narratives reveal the essence of design, illuminating how ideas take form. The knowledge they carry will serve not only designers and researchers, but also businesses, municipalities, and all who seek new ways to imagine and make. Our goal is to create a foundation where anyone interested in design can draw on the wisdom of the past to inspire new ideas and creative possibilities.