About Craft × Tech
Overview
Craft x Tech is an initiative to bridge the gap between traditional Japanese craft and contemporary technology. Our goal is to create a novel and unique body of artworks that express both the history and future potential of these beautiful materials and techniques. With this in mind, we have selected a group of designers and artists whose work we respect and admire and who we believe will bring new and meaningful insights to these centuries-old master crafts traditions.
Art Collaboration
We will produce collaborations between world-class artists and designers and traditional craft industries from various regions. As part of the project, we will create art pieces targeted at collectors, which will be produced, presented, and sold exclusively both domestically and internationally. Furthermore, through sponsorship and business partnerships, we aim to create synergy with corporate activities and expand into larger-scale business endeavors.
Academic Research
Researching the fusion of traditional crafts and technology centered around the University of Tokyo’s Institute of Advanced Studies. Collaborating with multiple research labs and other universities to advance student projects. Collaborating with local governments to create artworks and introducing a new course, "Advanced Craft Theory," for all graduate students at the University of Tokyo in 2024. Additionally, we developed and presented "DAWN," a project combining Kanazawa foil and cutting-edge ultra-short pulse laser technology.
Business Development
We aim to contribute continuously to local craft communities by jointly developing products that can be independently mass-produced in craft regions, and by not only organizing one-off event projects but also facilitating ongoing efforts to increase sales, expand demand, and foster talent exchanges within these regions. Furthermore, we are exploring new business applications by leveraging craft techniques in fields such as construction materials and interior design. As a testament to our achievements, in 2023, Kawatsuri Lacquerware and TANGENT jointly announced the lighting products "LOTUS" and "ARC".
Founder, Creative Director
Hideki Yoshimoto
Tangent was established in London in 2015, specializing in the progressive integration of design and engineering.
It provides numerous designs and concepts to global luxury brands, and engages in projects across a wide range of fields, from technology-driven new business development to urban planning.
Curatorial Director
Maria Cristina Didero
Independent design curator, consultant and author, who collaborated with different publications and magazines, among them Domus and Vogue; she was editor at large for Icon Design and Milan editor for Wallpaper magazine. Didero has consulted for companies such as Vitra, Louis Vuitton, Fendi, Valextra among others. Based in Milan, she works internationally, curating exhibitions: some of her projects include Nendo: The Space in Between and The Conversation Show at the Holon Design Museum, Israel; FUN HOUSE by Snarkitecture at National Building Museum, Washington D.C.; SuperDesign on Italian radical design, R&Company, NY; Vegan Design - or the Art of Reduction by Erez Nevi and The Fish and The Crowd by Carlo Massoud, MDW. In 2020 she was in charge of the public program for Supersalone by Stefano Boeri, in 2022 she was appointed Curatorial Director of Design Miami/, presented a project at MK&G in Hamburg, titled Ask Me if I Believe in the Future and a solo show by Mathieu Lehanneur titled The Inventory of Life, at Triennale Milano. For MDW 2023, she co-curated with Richard Hutten Droog30 for the 30th anniversary of Droog Design, with Tony Chambers Future Impact for Singapore Design Council and A Future for the Past for on entropy.
Craft x Tech Association
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Founder / Creative Director
Hideki Yoshimoto
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Managing Director
Keita Sato
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Director
Shinichi Ohnuma
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Director
Kenji Goto
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Director
Toshiki Sato
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Manager
Kentaro Ueno
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Curatorial Director
Maria Cristina Didero
Management Team
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Project Manager
Miki Sumida
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Project Manager
Ai Hamaguchi
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Project Manager
Eri Sasaki
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Project Manager
Kana Kubota
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Production Manager
Akane Kawahara
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PR Manager
Yuko Kiyotake
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PR Manager
Masumi Yamamoto