Report: ICC+SIC Workshop 2009
~ "Communicating the pride of Sapporo to the world" ~
For three days beginning on Friday, July 3rd, the second "Sapporo Ideas City Workshop 2009" took place. Last year, creative resources (people, things, places, ideas) were gathered and over 200 visuals were created through the workshop. Many such visuals are currently used as business cards for municipal employees, but the real gain from the workshop came in the form of a realization: There is a lot of remarkable material in Sapporo, but very little of that work is known to the public.
So, this year our theme became "Communicating the pride of Sapporo to the world". We use the word "pride" to express our belief that art created in Sapporo has a quality that meets the world's standards.
Group A, communicating through newspaper, newsletters, and paper advertisement.
Because this workshop requires the use and cooperation of the press such as newspaper and television, new members including television, newspaper, and magazine personnel were added to last year's graphic designers, copyrighters, photographers, illustrators, sound creators, architects, and urban history specialist.
Group B, communicating via broadcast mediums including television, radio, and the internet.
Also, 43 students made up of art and design, as well as humanities, information technologies, economics, and media majors participated, allowing the workshop to offer communication from various angles.
Group C, communicating to Sapporo City Hall.
Discussions began the first day after splitting up into paper advertisement group, broadcast medium group, and Sapporo City Hall group. Their first mission was to discuss how to effectively advertise creative content Sapporo is proud of. They then decided the details of the fieldwork destinations for the following day.
South Team heads out for Sapporo Art Park.
On the second day, they decided to split into a North and South team to begin their fieldwork. At Moerenuma Park, architect Makoto Suzuki explained the history of the park and the process by which it was made.
Many sounds were recorded in the glass pyramid.
The North Team went to Moerenuma Park, Hokkaido University Museum, the JR Tower, and Sapporo Factory.
South Team at Sapporo Art Park. Collaboration with nature.
The South Team went to Sapporo Art Park, Ishiyama Ryokuchi, Shiseikan Elementary School, a children's puppet theater Kogumaza, Sapporo City Observatory, Sapporo Concert Hall Kitara, and Nishioka Suigenchi.
Intently listening to a presentation at the children's puppet theater Kogumaza.
Fieldwork took place in the summer this year, giving participants the opportunity to enjoy the seasons Sapporo has to offer. Both groups discovered something new, taking notes, sketches, and recording sounds at interesting locations.
A project proposal. Ideas were actively exchanged at the mid-workshop presentations.
Back at ICC, each group presented their findings from fieldwork.
The three groups steadily narrowed their focus, bringing together three distinct colors to the canvas of communication.
Clockwise from top left. A group, B group (TV), B group (Web), and C group (Sapporo City)
Day 2. A long day coming to an end.
It's the third and final day. Gathering results from fieldwork and experience from last year, each group writes a proposal and creates visuals. The entire day took place at ICC, where each group split into smaller groups according to their own special skills, making for a tense, concentrated environment.
A group takes their work seriously as they create visuals.
B group heatedly exchanges ideas.
C group receives advice from graphic designers.
Despite long, hard days of work, discussions continued up until the very last moment before submitting results.
A scene from the third day.
Finally, participants gathered in the ICC Café on the first floor to present their findings.
Press such as newspaper and TV, as well as Sapporo City Hall, plan on presenting their results at a future date. The results of the rest of the presentations will also be released at that time.
The group gathered for the final day. They presented at the ICC Café.
A sincere thank you to all the lecturers and students that participated in this event. Our hearts are filled with gratitude!
