On Monday, March 23, 2026, the “Center for Designed Futures Research Co-Creation Seminar 2025” was held in a hybrid format combining in-person and online participation at the Ohashi Campus of Kyushu University. The seminar was organized to share the outcomes of joint research and research seeds among Center members, as well as to foster relationship-building with companies and create opportunities for future co-creation. A total of 33 participants attended, including Center members, university faculty and staff, and company representatives.
Part 1 was a closed program restricted to Center members, featuring progress reports on four joint research projects carried out with companies, as well as organizational collaboration achievements.
Part 2 was an open program in which six Center members introduced a diverse range of research seeds spanning engineering, the humanities and social sciences, and environmental fields, all grounded in design studies and illustrated with practical approaches to addressing social challenges. An introduction to the activities of Kyushu University OIP Co., Ltd. was also provided, covering the support structures in place to promote the social implementation of research outcomes and co-creation with companies.
Through this seminar, the value of deepening industry-academia collaboration centered on design practice research, and the effectiveness of an exploratory and co-creative approach to research were reaffirmed. A shared direction was also established to not only pursue existing collaborations, but also initiatives aimed at generating new projects.

Program

[Part 1] Introduction of Joint Research Achievements at the Center
14:00–15:10 *Closed program for Center members only

・Presentation on collaboration with Kyushu University OIP Co., Ltd. Akinari Matsuo (Coordinator, Issue-Driven Team, Kyushu University OIP Co., Ltd. / Assistant Professor, Academic Research and Industrial Collaboration Management Office, Kyushu University)
“Collaboration Achievements with Kyushu University OIP”

・Joint Research Achievement Presentations (4)
1. Associate Professor Naoshige Akita
2. Assistant Professor Tomohiro Sakotsubo
3. Assistant Professor Eigo Nishimura
4. Professor Ryoichi Tamura

[Part 2] Introduction of Research Seeds by Center Members
15:20–16:50 *Open program

・Introduction of Kyushu University OIP Co., Ltd. Activities
Takuji Sakamoto (Director, Kyushu University OIP Co., Ltd. / Assistant Professor, Academic Research and Industrial Collaboration Management Office, Kyushu University)
“Introduction to Kyushu University OIP”

・Research Seed Presentations (6 presentations)
1. Professor Toshiya Sameshima:
　“On the Optimal Design of Cello Endpins and Endpin Stoppers”
2. Associate Professor Masahiro Takita:
　“On Communication Design in Child Welfare Settings”
3. Professor Chihiro Hiramatsu:
　“On the Diverse Subjective Perception of Color”
4. Professor Kazuo Asahiro:
　“On the Evaluation of a 30-Year Reforestation Project in Typhoon-Affected Areas”
5. Professor Yoshihiro Okada:
　“On University Initiatives in Digital Technology-Integrated Education”
6. Associate Professor Zhang Yanfang:
　“On the Importance of Design Thinking and Co-Creation”

[Part 3] Networking Reception
18:00–20:00