[Participants Wanted] Dentsu Inc. Design Talk: "The Advantages of Creating Your Own Prototype"

The Dentsu Inc. Design Talk Secretariat will host a talk event on July 31 at Dentsu Inc. Hall in Shiodome, featuring Kyoto-based Seigensha editor Seiji Shinjo and crowdfunding director Hikaru Degawa, a founding member of the crowdfunding service CAMPFIRE, in conversation with Dentsu Inc.'s Ryusuke Nanki.

Applications are being accepted for general audience participation (first 50 applicants). See here for application details.

■From the Secretariat
Mr. Nanki of Dentsu Inc. has long harbored doubts and concerns about "consuming vast amounts of time solely on work, with careers shaped solely by the results of that work." By breaking down and considering the inherent potential of the "self" as raw material, he gradually built up various achievements through projects he initiated and the new connections he made—people he wouldn't typically meet through company tasks—enjoying the process step by step. He then leveraged these outcomes to enhance his work at Dentsu Inc. itself. This time, he invites two such colleagues: Mr. Shinjo, an editor at Kyoto-based publisher Seigensha, and Mr. Degawa, a crowdfunding director who was also a founding member of the crowdfunding service CAMPFIRE. Together, they discuss the secrets to carving out a career using skills and achievements unattainable through company work alone. For those who feel, " " has increased, but you have absolutely no idea where to start! Why not join us and think about it together?

【Event Details & How to Apply】
Dentsu Inc. Design Talk Vol.186 "The Case for Your Personal Prototype"
■Date & Time: Wednesday, July 31, 2019, 1:30 PM - 3:30 PM
■Venue: Dentsu Hall, 1st Floor, Dentsu Inc. Headquarters Building
■Capacity: 50 people (first-come, first-served)
　※Deadline: Monday, July 29, 12:00 PM.
　　Registration will close once capacity is reached.
■Organizer: Dentsu Inc. Design Talk Secretariat
※Registration is now closed. Thank you for your many applications.

【Handling of Personal Information】
The personal information you provide will be used by Dentsu Inc. and Dentsu Live Inc., which operate this office, within the scope necessary for running this event. We will not disclose your personal information to third parties and will delete it without delay once it is no longer needed.

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■Profile of Mr. Shinjo
Graduated from Kyoto University of Art and Design, Faculty of Art, Department of Film and Stage Arts, Film Arts Course. Joined publisher Akakusha upon its founding in 2006. Joined Seigensha in 2010. While handling public relations, he engages in book production without being confined to any specific genre.

■A Message from Mr. Shinjo
I met Mr. Nagi through a book on Japanese sweets called "IKKOAN," and that connection led to the crowdfunding book we're currently producing for Mr. Degawa. I hope we can discuss why Japanese sweets and crowdfunding are connected, and the dynamism that arises from human encounters.

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■Profile of Mr. Degawa
Crowdfunding Director
After graduating from Musashino Art University, he worked at Recruit Communications before joining CAMPFIRE as its third employee. He became independent in 2015. As a crowdfunding director, he has managed projects totaling over 600 cases and 500 million yen. Leveraging his experience in crowdfunding project and promotion design, he specializes in communication design with compelling narratives. He currently also builds owned media for companies.

■Mr. Degawa's "One-Line Message"
Crowdfunding isn't just a tool for raising money; it also propels you into the market. It lets you discover whether people actually want the ideas you've been nurturing or the things you've always wanted to create. Among the project creators I've worked with, many were working at large corporations but took the plunge to compete with their own projects—and found unexpected, huge success waiting for them. Shifting the focus from the company to yourself to create something requires courage. Fortunately, the infrastructure to bring ideas to life, starting with crowdfunding, is now well-established. From my perspective as someone who has supported this infrastructure, I'd be delighted to share insights that might benefit your careers and ideas.

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■Profile of Mr. Minagi
After graduating from architect Shigeru Ban's seminar, he worked in spatial design, exhibition design, product design, and city branding. His projects, often starting as independent initiatives, include designing Europe's first large-scale Rosanjin exhibition in Paris, the globally sold Japanese sweets book "IKKOAN," the "Fukubitsu" gift with a one-year waiting list, and the first chandelier for furniture maker Tendō Mokkō, a pioneer of Japanese modern design.

■Mr. Nanki's "One-Line Message"
There are only two ways to start doing the work you've always wanted to do right now: get invited by someone, or start it yourself. When I first joined a company, I wasn't invited to many things, so I had no choice but to start things myself. Strangely enough, this led to meeting new people, acquiring new skills, and attracting even more new work opportunities. This time, I invited two people who are both work colleagues and dear friends. We started collaborating on a new project after working together on one initiative. I hope this serves as a hint or starting point for anyone struggling like I once did.