Taki Corporation and Yamagata University Launch Joint Research Project Exploring Social System Design Methods by Design with "Spaceport" as a Subject

Taki Corporation (Head Office: Chuo-ku, Tokyo; President: Toshikazu Takizawa) and Associate Professor Keita Mitomi of the Interfaculty Initiative for Digital Studies in Social Co-Creation at Yamagata University (Co-Creation Prototyping Laboratory/"Mitomi Laboratory") have started a joint research project on the theme of "Research on Social System Design Workshop Methodology for Spaceports". This joint research is a project of our CDO Board of Directors, Mr. Fujita, and Mr. Mitomi.

This joint research is to verify and systematize the workshop methodology based on "System Architecture x Service Design" designed by Kenji Fujii, CDO Director of our company, within the framework of academic joint research. The methodology will be refined through practical application.

Yamagata University logo, Taki Corporation corporate logo

■ Background

Future social infrastructures, such as space ports, renewable energy networks, and autonomous mobile societies, need to be conceived not as individual structures but as "social systems" in which people, technologies, institutions, and services continue to operate in tandem. On the other hand, the methodology for discussing such complex and long-term future infrastructures in terms of specific user experiences, services, and profit structures has not yet been fully developed.

MHI, led by its Corporate Planning Office Exploration Business Promotion, will work to design experiences and support business concepts in the space domain and other new areas. In this joint research, we will consider prototyping as a "cognitive device to create common understanding through interpretation and dialogue," and by collaborating with the Mitomi Laboratory, which is conducting research on the co-creation process, we will academically examine how design can intervene in the design of future social systems.

About Mitomi Laboratory (Co-Creation Prototyping Lab), Interdisciplinary Graduate School of Digital Studies for Social Co-Creation, Yamagata University

The Digital Interfaculty Initiative (CID) at Yamagata University was established in April 2025 as a new educational organization to foster human resources who can manage local communities through data-based value creation, equipped with interdisciplinary thinking skills across the humanities and sciences, digital utilization skills, and a business entrepreneurship perspective.

The Co-Creation Prototyping Lab (Mitomi Lab), led by Associate Professor Keita Mitomi, views prototypes as "cognitive devices that create shared understanding through interpretation and dialogue," and is engaged in research on the co-creation process and the solution of regional and social issues by utilizing technologies such as generative AI.

URL: https://co-prototyping-lab.jp/

About Taki Corporation

Taki Corporation is one of the largest design agencies in Japan, founded in 1960 as Taki Koubou, and established through a group merger in 2021. With approximately 400 creators, the company is engaged in the planning, design, and production of advertising, SP tools, website planning and production, corporate and product branding, CI/VI, UI/UX development, and other overall communications.

The Exploratory Business Promotion Division of the Corporate Planning Department promotes business development and research activities that expand the power of design into new areas.

Company Profile

Company name: Taki Corporation

Representative ： Juichi Takizawa, President and Representative Director

Location: Tsukiji Hamarikyu Building, 5-3-3 Tsukiji, Chuo-ku, Tokyo

Business Description: Planning and production of advertisements, SP tools, and websites,

　　　　　 Corporate and product branding, CI/VI, UI/UX development, etc,

　　　　　 Planning, design, and production of overall communications, including corporate and product branding, CI/VI, UI/UX development, etc.

URL : https://www.taki.co.jp/