← DESIGN × STORIES

Season 4

15 episodes · 2026

  1. 1Design Hunting in Tottori

    02 Jan 2026 · 28 min

    Today's theme: Design Hunting in Tottori. On the Sea of Japan coast, the Tottori Sand Dunes create unique, everchanging views. Our design hunt explores a culture with deep roots in the natural world.

  2. 2Evolved Kawaii Design

    30 Jan 2026 · 28 min

    Today's theme: Evolved Kawaii Design. An iconic facet of Japanese pop culture, Kawaii design charms people across borders. Explore the people and designs of a new dimension to a Japanese phenomenon.

  3. 3Reimagining Analog Design

    06 Feb 2026 · 28 min

    Today's theme: Reimagining Analog Design. Analog is making a comeback, offering a human appeal to our five senses that digital lacks. Explore designs that reveal the charm and potential of analog.

  4. 4Bodies

    06 Mar 2026 · 28 min

    Today's theme: Bodies. As AI, digital and virtual spaces take over, thinking about physical bodies is more important than ever. Explore the role of designs which are rooted in human physicality.

  5. 5Vanishing Tools

    13 Mar 2026 · 28 min

    Today's theme: Vanishing Tools. As the rising age of artisans puts the survival of certain crafts at risk, we shine a light on the vanishing tools used to keep them alive, and their anonymous designs.

  6. 6Astonishing Stairs

    20 Mar 2026 · 28 min

    Today's theme: Astonishing Stairs. Creators have taken a simple structure that lets us climb, and imbued it with new significance. Explore the surprising beauty of stairs through architecture and art.

  7. 7Parody

    03 Apr 2026 · 28 min

    Today's theme: Parody. In an era of overwhelming, and often fake, information, parody dissects its subject through humor, and breathes new value into the familiar. Explore design through parody.

  8. 8Designing for Portability

    08 May 2026 · 28 min

    Today's theme: Designing for Portability. The spotlight is on portable and mobile designs. From lighting to houses and transport, explore the appeal and potential of designing for portability.

  9. 9Design Hunting in Shiga

    15 May 2026 · 28 min

    Today's theme: Design Hunting in Shiga. This central prefecture is home to Lake Biwa and rich water resources led to a unique regional culture. Our design hunt explores modern updates on tradition.

  10. 10Designs for Touch

    19 Jun 2026 · 28 min

    Today's theme: Designing for Touch. Information today comes from devices, but creatives in various fields are recentering the human sensation of touch. Explore the potential of designing for touch.

  11. 11A New Look at Shadows

    27 Jun 2026 · 28 min

    Today's theme: A New Look at Shadows. Japanese have long found beauty in shadows, but new discoveries still astonish us in art and design. Discover how these designs can change how we see the world.

  12. 12Design Hunting in Yamaguchi

    17 Jul 2026 · 28 min

    Today's theme: Design Hunting in Yamaguchi. Lying at the western edge of Japan's main island, Yamaguchi is home to arts and crafts which draw on its rich natural landscape. Join us on a design hunt!

  13. 13Bringing Dolls to Life

    24 Jul 2026 · 28 min

    Today's theme: Bringing Dolls to Life. To ward off evil, to celebrate a birth, or simply to comfort and entertain - dolls have a long history in Japan. We meet creators bringing those dolls to life.

  14. 14Guruguru Designs

    14 Aug 2026 · 28 min

    Today's theme: Guruguru Designs. Nature's spirals, circles, and swirls are reflected in "guruguru" designs. From prehistoric pottery to modern art and fashion, these shapes still fascinate us today.

  15. 15The New Era of Japanese Modern Design

    21 Aug 2026 · 28 min

    Today's theme: The New Era of Japanese Modern Design. A fusion of rational Western Modernism and traditional Japanese materials and skills. Explore the beauty and potential of Japanese Modern Design.