Toshiba co-creation center Creative Circuit®.

Co-creation space

Area: 508.3㎡/154tsubo
Scale (number of employees): 3,600 persons

Date: February 2021
Type of industry: Digital

A place to co-create the future--Toshiba co-creation center Creative Circuit®.

Toshiba co-creation center Creative Circuit® is a co-creation center for creating new value with customers and partners.
Aiming for a future in which value circulates through the place to people, companies, and society, the design was based on a consistent philosophy from the interior to the fixtures and tools.
It is a new stage for co-creation that draws out creativity and empathy while taking advantage of the high spatial potential.

Co-creation platform that brings out creativity and empathy

Creative Circuit® was established by Toshiba to create value together with diverse stakeholders. As a platform for people to connect across organizational and professional boundaries and to unleash their individual creativity, the space was required to be a place where dialogue, thinking, and prototyping could occur continuously. For this reason, the entire space is not just a communication space, but is designed to support precise operations.

Place-specific design" born from dialogue with existing space

This project was developed on the entrance floor of the entire building. The space had a high ceiling and was surrounded by hard materials such as granite and stainless steel. The project then inserted organically shaped walls and a stage-like floor to give softness and movement to the space. This approach of interpreting the existing space as an “environment” and utilizing its characteristics to shape the individuality of the space supports the uniqueness of the place.

A "circular" structure that creates connection and movement

The space is planned in a circuitous manner, with no dead ends, so that visitors can feel “the other side” wherever they are. The design allows for the flow of people and various operations at the same time by allowing the line of sight to pass through and the lines of flow to naturally intersect. The design allows for a wide range of uses, yet does not compromise the sense of unity of the space.

Inclusiveness" that envelopes people and connects their attention

To encourage co-creation, it is essential to create an atmosphere where everyone can feel at ease. To this end, soft colors and textured finishes were used for materials, and slits and gaps in the walls were used to create visual connections between spaces. The entire space is intended to gently embrace people, allowing them to feel the presence of others through casual glances and signs of presence.

The "co-creation process" achieved by transcending constraints

Even during the difficult phase of the Corona disaster, which occurred midway through the design process, the project team continued to engage in positive discussions and co-creation. While considering the use of a hybrid of online and offline collaboration, the original concept was maintained. This process itself, which transcended the relationship between client and designer, is a true symbol of co-creation. The project also implemented infection control measures incorporating Toshiba’s technology, and became a model for a new co-creation space in the with/after corona era.

The project won the international design award “iF DESIGN AWARD 2022”.

As a Toshiba co-creation center Creative Circuit®, the project is internationally recognized for its efforts to usher in the co-creation space of the future.

Project Members

Design & Construction inter office ltd.

Partner

Sign Design Arata Takemoto Design
Photo Keishiro Yamada
Detail photo Tomooki Kengaku