Keynote: Professor Yamanaka
Presented by National Communication Museum (NCM)
DETAILS
Ticketed
National Communication Museum (NCM)
375 Burwood Rd, Hawthorn VIC, Australia
“Our outputs are not limited to science fiction like plots, but contain real life stories experienced with concrete materiality and movement.” – Shunji Yamanaka
Professor Shunji Yamanaka is one of Japan’s most respected designers. An engineer as well as a designer, he has led innovative projects across robotics, advanced communication technologies and wearable prosthetics.
In this keynote, Professor Yamanaka discusses the importance of interdisciplinary and collaborative processes and considers robotics for design and sociality, not just engineering, at the National Communication Museum (NCM).
Currently on display in FRIEND, Professor Yamanaka’s speculative glasses and concept sketches for the remarkable JIZAI ARMS are shown alongside the supernumerary robotic limbs themselves, developed as part of the JIZAI Body Project. The project aims to enhance human capabilities by integrating wearable robotic arms with human movement, with the potential to transform personal robotics and human–computer interaction.
This keynote includes an after-hours opportunity to view FRIEND during its final week. A Japanese–English translator will attend to assist Professor Yamanaka.
5:30 pm: Doors open, FRIEND exhibition viewing
6–7 pm: Keynote: Professor Yamanaka
Participants
Professor Shunji Yamanaka
Born in 1957, Professor Yamanaka graduated from the Faculty of Engineering at The University of Tokyo. He began his career as a car designer at Nissan Motor Co., Ltd., and served as a specially appointed associate professor at his alma mater from 1991 to 1994. In 1994, he founded Leading Edge Design Co., Ltd. As a designer, he has created a wide range of products—from wristwatches and consumer electronics to furniture and railway vehicles—and, in collaboration with scientists, has developed advanced prototypes such as robotic vehicles and 3D-printed prosthetic legs for athletes. He is also known for designing the standardised user interface for IC-card ticket gates used across Japan. He became a professor at Keio University in 2008 and returned to The University of Tokyo in 2013. His work is in the permanent collection of The Museum of Modern Art, and he has received honours including the iF Design Award and the Red Dot Design Award.Professor Yamanaka's Prototyping & Design Laboratory took part in the development of the ERATO Inami JIZAI Body Project’s JIZAI ARMS in collaboration with other researchers across Japan over five years. This project explored the concept of humans acting in unity with robots and AI while maintaining self-awareness, dramatically expanding the range of human action with the goal of creating a 'Freeing Body'.