FromSHOP at amanai

Apr 01, 2024

From April 13 (Sat) to 29 (Mon) 2024, amanai will hold a pop-up event "FormSHOP".

"Form" is a design research project run by design studio "&Form". They research diverse values from a design perspective and communicates the essence of design and creativity both domestically and internationally. The project has been active since 2019 by Arata Maruyama who is &Form representative. Based on design research in collaboration with designers, embassies, museums, universities, educational institutions, and companies from around the world, they embrace everything from visual communication, products, spaces, education, and technology to ways of living, such as work-life balance. It is a cultural activity forming , thinking and communicating with all together about our future that disseminates information through exhibitions, lectures, book publishing, educational activities, etc.

amanai will be holding a pop-up shop, focusing on the "things" born through Form activities. "Form #1: FormSWISS" which compiles the records of Arata Maruyama's research and interviews during his solo trip to Switzerland, books for designers and antiques collected locally, as well as original goods with printed graphic by designers featured in FormSWISS will be in stock. We decided to hold the event at amanai because we wanted people to know about Form's activities in Kamakura, where Arata Maruyama lives.

We are planning to set up some days during the event period when Mr. Maruyama will be in the shop. Kamakura and its surrounding areas are home for many people who are involved in or interested in creative work, including not only designers but also artists, architects, writers, and others. It would be interesting if it became a place for such people to have a little interaction. We will keep you informed of the date on this page and our social media as well.

We hope that this will provide an opportunity to think about everyday life, such as the relationship between rural and urban areas in work and life, education, and relationships with the local community, from a design perspective.

Arata Maruyama
Representative of Design Studio &Form. After working as a research student at Fabrica in Benetton Italy, moved to England in 2002. After obtaining a BA degree (Hons) from the Department of Graphic Communication Design at Central Saint Martins College of Art & Design, he studied under Hans Dieter Reichert in England and participated in projects such as Phaidon Press. In 2006, he became art director of the Museum of Fine Arts of Chiasso in Switzerland. Returned to Japan in 2012 and established &Form. He is the director of Form, a non-profit organization that spreads the value of design. Major awards include the Typographic Directors Club's "Typographic Excellence Award'' (New York), the Premio Möbius "Gold Award" (Switzerland), the Lahti Poster Biennale "Finalist" (Finland), and the Japan Typography Association "Best Work". Judging experience includes chairperson of UK D&AD "Typography" division. Part-time lecturer at Keio University SFC (2023-)