2016.02.01 Monday

027 A viewpoint that calls for “design with a place in society”

On December 18, 2015, the Organizing Committee released an investigation review report confirming the fact there was wrong-doing carried out by Mr. Kazumasa Nagai and the two gentlemen, Mr. Takuma Takasaki and Mr. Hidetoshi Maki, who held key positions in the Organizing Committee. More than a month has gone by since this was widely reported in various newspapers, television and internet news sites. It was a massive affair that turned into a major social issue, yet the actual players who were in the thick of things, the companies they belonged to, related design organizations and educational institutions, the very people and organizations that were accountable for the fiasco, have doggedly maintained their silence, refusing to take responsibility. Not only are they keeping mum, but unperturbedly continue to promote themselves and their work as if nothing had happened. I have been quietly observing the state of things, this tolerance of blatantly unethical behavior. This is a world that ignores the truth, an eerie world devoid of remorse and self-reflection that is turning into hell—a bottomless pit, reminding us of the problems regarding plans for the new National Stadium for the 2020 Olympic Games.

We have turned the page into a new year. It is 2016 and I have been continuing to write. Yet every time I tried to update my blog, I was prevented to do so by some deterrent force. I found myself unable to post my thoughts. Mind you, this deterrent was not any pressure from outside. It was the result of my own will. The reason why I did not update my blog, or rather, I could not update my blog, was not because I was disappointed by the false report published by the Organizing Committee, a declaration of containment of the problem, per se. I hadn’t given up. Just because the Organizing Committee revealed its investigation report, it was just a document, “official” by name only, filled with lies and false statements. In my opinion, the problem has not been solved and the issue has not been closed. Far from it. Because the major players and all the people who were involved in the case are keeping their silence on the emblem issue only, that is causing further skepticism, worsening the situation regarding design in the whole. We are hardly close to containment of the emblem issue. In fact, we are in the midst of a hopeless situation. Yet, for a month, I could not reveal my thoughts and reflections in real-time, on a timely basis. I was plagued by guilt, frustrated that I was not fulfilling my responsibility. It has been an agonizing time for me.

The selection process for a new Olympic emblem is underway. In order for me to continue writing this blog, I came to the decision that I should reconsider my perspectives and then move on to the next stage of consideration. I actually needed this time for deep meditation, in order to restructure my policies and procedures for further consideration.

Up to the end of December, the main mission and role for my blog was to record the facts I experienced as a judge on the selection committee—it was my way of fulfilling my responsibilities. Looking back, all things have now become public knowledge. The contents of the reports that the Organizing Committee have officially made public, starting with the press conference held on August 5, 2015, have all proved to be falsified accounts—facts have been freely rewritten to cover up wrongdoings and blunders for the convenience of the Organizing Committee. They were accounts of pure fiction, completely different from the actual facts that I witnessed as a judge on the selection committee. The blog took on the role of providing information for comparison of facts, for verification purpose. However, there were time constraints, as the blog progressed concurrently as things unfolded. In addition to the physical constraints, I was limited by my personal capabilities; thus I find that there are some areas I have left unclear.

My blog is moving on to the next phase. Instead of observations based on personal experience, I intend to shift the mode of discussion to a more objective discussion based on an objective viewpoint; and cover a wider scope not limited to the “Olympic emblem issue” only. I want to draw a sharp line between the selfish set of values that places designers first—which flourishes in part of the graphic design industry—based on the very limited viewpoint that can be perhaps be described as “design for design’s sake”. I assume this is one of the main causes for and lies at the root of the emblem issue. Instead, I propose to engage in a comparative discussion based on a broader viewpoint, the more pragmatic and down-to-earth “design with a place in society”.
 
Keiko Hirano
 
Keiko Hirano:
Designer/Visioner, Executive Director of Communication Design Laboratory
Hirano served on the panel that chose the official emblem for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics, which was ultimately withdrawn.

五輪エンブレム問題の
事実と考察
001 責任がとれる方法で 002 公募期間の短さ 003 『展開』『展開性』『展開力』 004 知らされなかった招待作家 005 ブログを読んで下さっているみなさまへ 006 利害優先の土壌 007 修正案承諾拒否の経緯と理由 - vol.1 008 修正案承諾拒否の経緯と理由 - vol.2 009 『公』の仕事 010 専門家の盾 011 秘密保持誓約書という密室 012 いまこそ、私心なき専門性を問う 013 判断の論拠 014 最終の審議 015 金銭感覚と敬意の相対性 016 表現におけるモラリティと表現者のモラル 017 言葉のちから 018 何のための調査なのか、調査の目的は何なのか - vol.1 019 何のための調査なのか、調査の目的は何なのか - vol.2 020 何のための調査なのか、調査の目的は何なのか - vol.3 021 何のための調査なのか、調査の目的は何なのか - vol.4 022 願い 023 摩訶不思議な調査報告書 024 負の遺産とならないように 025 出口なき迷路 026 届かぬ思い 027「社会に位置づくデザイン」という観点 028 無責任主義の村 029 審査委員として知り得た情報のすべて 030 新聞寄稿文への異論 - vol.1 031 新聞寄稿文への異論 - vol.2 032 1対3の構図 - 「A案」VS「BCD案」 033 今を生きる 034 負の連鎖……を断つために 035 欲望の公害 精神の断絶 036 イカサマ文書 by JAGDA - vol.1 037 イカサマ文書 by JAGDA - vol.2 038 イカサマ文書 by JAGDA - vol.3 039 事実はひとつ 040 新世界へ 041 JAGDA文書への意見と要望 ― 法律の専門家による分析 042 JAGDAの回答 JAGDAへの要望書 043 「要望書へのJAGDAの回答」に対する更なる質問 044 「意見書へのJAGDAの回答」に対する質問と提案 045 ブラック・デザイン 046 弁護士から届いた封書 047 おとぎの国の物語 048 退会届
Tokyo 2020 Olympics Logo Controversy--Facts and Observations 001 My way of taking responsibility 002 Duration of contest was way short 003 “Development” “Development Capabilities” “Development Power” 004 Guest artists I wasn’t told about 005 To My Readers 006 A culture where special interests take priority 007 How and why I refused to accept the modified design - vol.1 008 How and why I refused to accept the modified design - vol.2 009 Strictly “public” work 010 Specialists as shields 011 Behind closed doors-secrecy surrounding a non-disclosure agreement 012 Time to put selfless expertise to the test 013 Rationale behind my decision 014 The final review session 015 Is the money mindset relative to paying respect? 016 Morality of expression and the morals of its creator 017 The power of words 018 An investigation for what? What is the purpose of the investigation - vol.1 019 An investigation for what? What is the purpose of the investigation - vol.2 020 An investigation for what? What is the purpose of the investigation - vol.3 021 An investigation for what? What is the purpose of the investigation - vol.4 022 My wish 023 Mystifying investigation report is out 024 In order to prevent a negative legacy 025 Stuck in a maze with no exit 026 A voice unheard 027 A viewpoint that calls for “design with a place in society” 028 A village with a policy of irresponsibility 029 Every piece of information that I garnered as a judge on the selection committee 030 Objections to a newspaper contribution - vol.1 031 Objections to a newspaper contribution - vol.2 032 The underlying picture of one against three - “Plan A” versus “Plans BCD” 033 Living in the moment 034 Putting a stop……to a negative chain of events 035 Pollution by greed and discontinuity of the spirit 036 Bogus document by JAGDA - vol.1 037 Bogus document by JAGDA - vol.2 038 Bogus document by JAGDA - vol.3 039 Every fact has only one version 040 Toward a whole new world 041 Opinion and request regarding JAGDA document―An analysis by a legal specialist 042 Reply from JAGDA Request letter to JAGDA 043 More questions re: "Reply from JAGDA regarding Request Letter" 044 Questions and proposal re: "Reply from JAGDA regarding Request Letter" 045 Rogue design 046 Letter from the lawyers 047 Tales from Wonderland 048 Withdrawal Notice