Keiji Ashizawa has been involved in designing architectural spaces, interiors, furniture, and lighting since the founding of his practice, Keiji Ashizawa Design, in 2005. After the Great East Japan Earthquake in 2011, he established Ishinomaki Laboratory to create a local community hub for recovery activities and craftsmanship in the disaster-struck city of Ishinomaki. As CEO of Ishinomaki Laboratory, he proposes a new brand concept for furniture — connecting the regional city with the world. Keiji is also an award-winning architect and designer who presents ‘honest’ design — simple yet refined — derived naturally through the process of maximizing the potential of each material and its function. Past projects have included Miyake Design Studio, Dior, Swatch, and Victorinox. His furniture and lighting pieces have been exhibited internationally with clients including IKEA, Galerie Maria Wettergren, FRAMA, COMMOC, Duende, and Zaozuo. He is also the founder of Design Koishikawa, a gallery space and marketplace in Tokyo. Ishinomaki Laboratory was a recipient of the Good Design Award in 2012, and in 2015, the Ishinomaki Stool became part of the permanent collection of the V&A Museum.

This presentation by Keiji Ashizawa is part of Building Community in Detroit & Regional Japan, a Center for Japanese Studies symposium held at sites across Detroit in partnership with the 2017 Detroit Design Festival, the Stamps School of Art & Design, and the Bicentennial Office at the University of Michigan. Event and registration details available via EventBrite (https://www.eventbrite.com/o/building-community-in-detroit-amp-regional-japan-14569619387). Additional opportunities to engage with Ishinomaki Laboratory include:

Ishinomaki Laboratory In Detroit
Reception: Friday, September 29 at 7 pm. Open Saturday, September 30 11 am - 6 pm.
Ishinomaki Laboratory’s debut exhibition in the United States. Held at The Carr Center, in the heart of downtown Detroit. Pre-registration required.

Brightmoor Bento Workshop
Saturday, September 30 at 10 am
A maker workshop co-led by Keiji Ashizawa and young Detroiters at the Brightmoor Maker Space in northwest Detroit. Pre-registration required.

In partnership with the Center for Japanese Studies, with additional support from the Detroit Design Festival.

All Penny Stamps Distinguished Speaker Series presentations are free and open to the public; visit http://stamps.umich.edu/stamps to view upcoming events.