Making the "Globe" Interesting

Introducing "Ideas to Make ○○ More Interesting" conceived by young art directors at Dentsu Inc. This time, it's "Globe" by Emi Kubota.

I want to remove the boundaries

──Why did you make the "Globe" more interesting?

Kubota: This globe uses different materials for each climate zone. For tundra climates, cold acrylic; for deserts, gritty textures; for tropical rainforests, fluffy materials... By using materials that match the climate's image, I wanted to create something that lets you feel the Earth itself. Regular globes are color-coded by national borders, right? But borders are man-made lines that don't exist in nature. I wanted to see what it would feel like to remove them and think purely about the "Earth as a sphere."

──What kind of sensation is that?

Kubota: We usually live within various frameworks like "Japan," "Tokyo," "company," "school," or "home." By removing those existing boundaries and converting them into something more intuitive, I hoped we could feel the seamless connection of space. If we could think, "Oh, it's all connected," whether it's this place or the other side of the Earth, I believe it would change many things.

──That's incredibly profound...

Kubota: Yes (laughs). But since this isn't an advertisement, I don't expect it to convey that much. If people look at this globe and think "That's beautiful," that alone makes me happy. Of course, I'd be thrilled if reading this text made you think about things.

I always want people who see my work to take something home with them. Beautiful or cute things can make you happy just from a single glance, right? Even with advertising, I want people to take home not just information, but that "Wow!" feeling of excitement. That's the spirit I create with.

I love things where you can sense the creator's smirk

──Tell us about something or someone you're currently interested in.

Kubota: I'm more the type to dive into everything rather than delve deeply into one specific genre. But whether it's movies, music, clothes, architecture, or anything else, I love things where the creator's passion just spills out. Things where you can feel the creator's grin (laughs). I watch or listen to them imagining that.

──That sense of meticulous craftsmanship connects to the concept of "Globe," doesn't it?

Kubota: For example, when I watch a movie, I end up scrutinizing the set design. You can tell how deeply they've fleshed out the character just from what's in the protagonist's room, right? Like, "This protagonist must have had this kind of childhood, and because they're in this state of mind now, they have these books on their shelf." Works with that level of craftsmanship make me feel happy just looking at them.