Learning from Design Maestros

21_21 Design Sight invites you to reflect on the essence of design and its human spirit through this exhibition directed by design journalist Noriko Kawakami and curator-writer Kaoru Tashiro. In an age of accelerating change and overflowing information, the exhibition looks back to six visionary 20th-century figures who shaped modern design thinking: Bruno Munari, Max Bill, Achille Castiglioni, Otl Aicher, Enzo Mari and Dieter Rams.

Spanning Italy, Germany and Switzerland, these masters transcended aesthetics to forge ethical and philosophical foundations for design, each emphasizing creativity, clarity and social purpose. Their influence endures through their iconic works as well as through their teaching and writing, which encouraged independence and critical reflection among generations of designers.

Complementing their works is a special focus on Japanese designer Shutaro Mukai (1932–2024), whose exchanges with Max Bill and Otl Aicher helped lay the groundwork for what’s called the ‘Science of Design’ in Japan. Through rare documentary footage, archival materials and seminal creations, the exhibition explores how these pioneers of modern design envisioned the discipline as a dialogue with life itself, inspiring reflection on how creativity can shape a more thoughtful and humane society.