Perhaps you’ve heard about a place where art and technology meet. It’s not a museum. It’s Kyushu University Ohashi Campus. This campus is a hub for design innovation in Fukuoka. Let’s explore its story.
Kyushu University Ohashi Campus evolved from the Kyushu Institute of Design. This institute was founded in 1968. It was one of the first in Japan to offer design education. The term “design” meant integrating science and technology with art. It was about accessible human expression. In 2003, the institute merged into Kyushu University. This created the School of Design and Graduate School of Design.
The Graduate School of Design offers master’s and doctoral programs. These programs cover Design and Design Strategy and Philosophy in Design and Engineering. The curriculum enables cross-integration of individual design fields. A wide range of subjects are taught in English. This develops flexible mindsets. It also cultivates students with global competence.
Since April 2022, the master’s programs were further consolidated. A six-course system was adopted under the Department of Design. These courses include Strategic Design and Environmental Design. They include Human Life Design and Science Course and Design Futures Course. Media Design Course and Acoustic Design Course are also included.
The doctoral program encourages free and flexible individual research. There isn’t a division by course. There is a tailor-made supervisory group. This group consists of multiple faculty members with different specialties. They meet the research needs of each student. This achieves advanced and integrated doctoral research. It is unique to design studies.
Kyushu University Ohashi Campus is easily accessible from downtown Fukuoka. It houses a full range of education and research facilities. The Design Library offers resources. The Design Workshop provides space to build. Various research centers support advanced arts and engineering research. The campus is compact with lush natural surroundings. This encourages interaction among faculty, students, and alumni.
The Visual Communication Design Center features a movie editing room. This is for the Department of Visual Communication Design. There are also studios and darkrooms. Building 2 houses labs for environmental design. It contains drafting rooms and staff rooms. Building 3 has labs for industrial and acoustic design. It has staff rooms and a lecture hall. Building 4 offers labs and classrooms for environmental design. Building 5 provides staff rooms for visual communication and design strategy. Building 6 contains staff rooms for applied information sciences. Building 7 houses labs for art and information design. Building 8 contains science labs and student rooms. The Environmental Research Center is a lab for architectural experiments. The Research Center focuses on human environmental adaptation. There is also a printing workshop and design workshop. The Open Design Laboratory offers motion capture and 3D visual experiments.
Other facilities include the Design Library with a video and stereo room. The Multi-purpose Building contains a lab hall and exhibit hall. The Admission Office is on the first floor. General affairs and accounting are on the second floor. The Institute of Health Science has a branch here. There is a convenience store and cafeteria. A multipurpose sports field and gymnasium are present.
Kyushu University Ohashi Campus is more than buildings. It’s a place where design shapes the future. It fosters creativity and collaboration. As you leave, remember the innovative spirit here. It’s a place where art, science, and technology converge.