Osaka University of Arts Department store trash and waste is transformed into art! Re: Local Material, an industry-academia collaboration project between Osaka University of Arts, we+, and Takashimaya Osaka, is being held: “The future emerging from

[Osaka University of Arts] Department store “trash” and waste transformed into art! Osaka University of Arts, we , and Takashimaya Osaka are teaming up for Re: Local Material, an industry-academia collaboration project titled “The Future Born Behind the Scenes of Department Stores”! ​ Osaka University of Arts Press Release: October 18, 2025 Department store “trash” and waste are transformed into art! Osaka University of Arts, we , and Takashimaya Osaka are holding an industry-academia collaboration project, Re: Local Material: “The Future Born Behind the Scenes of Department Stores”! ■Date/Location October 8th (Wednesday) – October 28th (Tuesday), 2025 Takashimaya Osaka Store Osaka University of Arts (Tsukamoto Gakuin Educational Corporation / Location: Minamikawachi District, Osaka Prefecture / President: Kunihiko Tsukamoto) implemented an industry-academia collaboration project, “Re: Local Material – The Future Born Behind the Scenes of a Department Store,” with contemporary design studio we and Takashimaya Osaka Store as part of Takashimaya’s sustainable action, “TSUNAGU ACTION.” Fourth-year students in the Product Design course of the Department of Design created artworks. Cardboard boxes and cushioning materials generated within the Takashimaya Osaka store, which have previously been treated as waste, have been reinterpreted as “materials” by students, who have recreated them into works of art with new value. The “trash” collected from the “behind the scenes” of the department store has been transformed into artworks that present a sustainable future through the students’ innovative ideas and under the supervision of we . Come and see the works born from new perspectives and creativity through this challenging circular design project that transcends the boundaries of industry and academia.
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Osaka University of Arts’ philosophy is, “We want university to be a place where students can find clues to realizing their dreams and seize them through their own efforts.” In the past, the university has collaborated with various companies and local governments to provide curricula that allow students to gain experience. This project, in collaboration with Takashimaya’s sustainable initiative “TSUNAGU ACTION,” was realized as a practical opportunity for students to take on real-world challenges. The project focuses on “local materials” generated at Takashimaya Osaka store, specifically waste cardboard and cushioning materials. Rather than simply disposing of these materials as trash, the project aims to raise awareness of waste issues and nurture the next generation of creators by taking on the challenge of “upcycling” them and giving them new value through the power of design. ■Exhibition Overview For this exhibition, fourth-year students from the Product Design Course at the Department of Design at Osaka University of Arts spent approximately one month researching materials and creating works under the expert supervision of we . The students understood the characteristics of the wide variety of packaging materials used in department stores, and by utilizing hand-processing and new joining methods, they were able to give materials that had outlived their original function artistic and product-like qualities. Their work is an innovative and thought-provoking design that conveys the message that materials from the “behind the scenes” of department stores connect to the “future.”
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/44215/204/44215-204-825a6a2ae2a5084948f2412f7a32741d-198×132.jpg Tour of the backstage area of ​​Takashimaya Osaka store: Waste collection
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/44215/204/44215-204-9050268aa9063f1bc629907656c7616b-198×132.jpg A lecture by we , a materials experiment at a university
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/44215/204/44215-204-bb7f7caf87d1e49b0481343c9aee9d35-198×133.jpg After the department store closed Delivery and setup of works ■Student introductions and comments on their works Title of work: “Kapoop” Comments: Our team created a piece called “Kapoopu” using capsules from capsule machines. Initially, each member worked with various materials, such as steel cans and PP bands, to understand their characteristics and experiment with various processing methods. Through this, we discovered potential in the movement of the capsules when stones are placed inside. To effectively convey the capsules’ movement, which changes depending on the placement and weight of the stones, we refined the piece through trial and error, changing the type and number of stones and testing their movement by blowing air into them. Our team shared a wealth of unique ideas, and through repeated prototyping, we created many interesting shapes and movements, making adjustments to prepare for exhibition. At the exhibition, we were able to see visitors interacting with and playing with the piece, giving us a real sense of having been able to directly communicate the creative process. We believe that the experience of working with materials and collaborating with our colleagues will be a valuable asset in our future projects. ＜Satoshi Kanamori (4th year, Product Design Course)＞ Title of work: “MELT” Comment: We proposed processing the PP band used in packaging to resemble the rose, a symbol of Takashimaya, and turning it into a flower box. Based on the results of a study into heating the material and changing its shape, we selected PP band as a material that is easy to process with a consistent width and thickness. In putting together the product, we emphasized differences in composition rather than simply size, striving to create a design that would make each one a delight to receive. Normally, we define the object or shape before we begin production, but this time we followed the exact opposite process of exploring what we could create from changing the shape of the material, and although there were some shortcomings, it was an extremely valuable experience to be exposed to the possibilities of a material I had never worked with before, and to have the opportunity to exhibit my work in a highly visible space that is used by many people every day. We hope that our work will serve as an opportunity to draw your attention to the colors that we tend to forget in our daily lives. ■Event overview Title:Re: Local Material “The Future Born Behind the Scenes of a Department Store” Date and Time:October 8 (Wed) – October 28 (Tue), 2025 *On the final day, the Rose Patio on the 4th floor will be open until 6:00 PM Venue: Takashimaya Osaka Store, 1st floor Main Entrance Stage / 4th floor Rose Patio Related URL: Takashimaya “TSUNAGU ACTION WEEKS”
https://www.takashimaya.co.jp/store/special/tsunaguaction/
TakashimayaTV https://youtu.be/i6Sc9mDg4Xw?list=TLGGfSmZ6kFUpRExNTEwMjAyNQ For more information about this release Press release attachments