Articles

Junichi Yamaoka: Rethinking Our Relationship with Clothing from a Manufacturing Perspective

2021.08.11

What can we do, and what do we want to do, as we integrate computing functions into clothing? While various wearable devices are emerging, it seems the answers to these questions are still unclear.

In this interview, Junichi Yamaoka, a Full-Time Lecturer at the Graduate School of Media Design, Keio University, discusses his research, which presents a range of possibilities for the relationship between humans and clothing. We talk about the process of manufacturing, the introduction of technology into materials, and the philosophy behind it.

PROFILE

Junichi Yamaoka

In 2013, Yamaoka completed his master's degree at the Keio University Graduate School of Media and Governance, and earned his doctoral degree from the same university in 2015. After serving as a Special Researcher (PD) of the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science, a Visiting Researcher at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and a Specially Appointed Assistant Professor at the Graduate School of Interdisciplinary Information Studies, University of Tokyo, he became a Full-Time Lecturer at the Graduate School of Media Design. He conducts research on interactive media and digital fabrication, focusing on the characteristics of materials, and presents his work at international conferences such as UIST and SIGGRAPH. He also produces media art and develops educational toys for STEM education. His accolades include the WIRED CREATIVE HACK AWARD 2014 Grand Prix, Jury Selection in the Japan Media Arts Festival, the Good Design Award (2018), and the ACM UIST Honorable Mention.

Research Born from Artisanal Observation

Firstly, could you tell us about your research interests and field?

Basically, I work in the field of interactive media. In terms of research domains, I work in the areas of HCI (Human-Computer Interaction) and media art, both from the perspectives of research and artwork. Originally, I was involved in computer graphics and creating images. From there, I developed an interest in how to express phenomena that occur only on screens in real life. Now, the focus of my activities lies in how to make the virtual real.

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