Designer Insights: The Future of Offices
Vol.10 ITOKI’s Bold Experiment: Reimagining Offices and Factories as a Design House
The significance of contributing to the region and future generations
President Minato says he wants to develop DESIGN HOUSE SHIGA as a business model for regional revitalisation.
He believes it is essential that manufacturing sites appear attractive to the next generation as places where they would want to work and engage with others.
Taizo Mikazuki, governor of Shiga Prefecture, comments: “I expect this to become a national model for attracting factory investment. We are also working to attract talent from Vietnam and collaborate with local small and medium-sized enterprises. Looking ahead, we plan to establish a college of technology in Shiga Prefecture to train manufacturing talent. ITOKI is one of the employers to receive them.”
ITOKI was also involved in the refurbishment of Omihachiman City Hall all the way from the conceptual stage. Omihachiman mayor Osamu Konishi says: “From about five years ago, in planning the city hall, we put together a team of younger staff members and had them work with ITOKI to explore future ways of working. Administrative thinking alone tends to be a bit rigid. We wanted to break through that and create a place where people want to work in Omihachiman.”
More than 100 young Omihachiman City officials were sent to ITOKI’s Osaka office for observation visits and discussions. Following the refurbishment, systems such as group addressing have improved communication among staff, and these workplace reforms have found appreciation from the mayor.
Changes to offices and factories are not just for those currently working there. They represent an important turning point that will shape future recruitment, companies and the local community.
ITOKI’s factory tours have long been popular, with 1,200 visitors annually. A dedicated team was created to handle this, and the visitor programme is now run by three people. Tour reservations have a two-month waiting period.
“As a company that creates places to work, we want this DESIGN HOUSE to be known by many people as an open-source initiative. We welcome a wide range of visitors, including people from other industries, educators looking for places of employment, overseas inspection groups, and even children”, explains Saeko Kawashima, Director of Public Relations and IR Department.
The renewal of ITOKI’s Omihachiman factory is an attempt to create value beyond operational efficiency. It is likely to send ripples through the office furniture industry.
Miki Homma／Lifestyle Journalist
After gaining experience in the editorial department of the interior design magazine Shitsunai, Miki Homma became an independent journalist. She has been involved in reporting, writing, seminars and various other activities related to furniture, interior design, architecture, kitchen design and more. Ms Homma has conducted numerous interviews overseas in Germany, Italy and other countries. Her published works include “Real Kitchen & Interior”, “Real Living & Interior”, and "Interior Kitchens That Change Your Life" (Shogakukan).