Ayako Takase’s life is a mixture of east and west. Her early upbringing in Japan led to an appreciation of the minimal but rich forms of that culture and a respect for materials and nature. Her later time in the US brought an education in modern design practices and an empathy for the user. Takase worked under renowned designer Ayse Birsel before becoming director and cofounder of Observatory, a design studio based in Rhode Island where she and her partner Cutter Hutton explore furniture, products and experiences for such international clients as Herman Miller, Proctor & Gamble and Samsonite. Her work has won numerous awards including GIA, Japan’s Good Design Award (G-Mark) and the Chicago Athenaeum’s Good Design Award and has been featured in a variety of publications, such as The New York Times, Metropolis and Wallpaper.
Courses
Fall 2024 Courses
ID 20ST-11 - SPECIAL TOPIC DESIGN STUDIO
LevelUndergraduate
UnitIndustrial Design
Subject Industrial Design
Period Fall 2024
Credits 3
FormatStudio
Mode In-Person
Start date
End date
ID 20ST-11
SPECIAL TOPIC DESIGN STUDIO
LevelUndergraduate
UnitIndustrial Design
Subject Industrial Design
PeriodFall 2024
Credits3
FormatStudio
ModeIn-Person
Start and End2024-09-04 to 2024-12-11
Times: M | 8:00 AM - 1:00 PMInstructor(s): Ayako TakaseLocation(s): Industrial Design Building, Room 500Enrolled / Capacity: 15Status: Closed
SECTION DESCRIPTION
Juniors take two 3-credit Special Topic Design Studios in the Fall semester. Juniors choose one 3-credit option from the Content category such as Packaging, Typography, Play, or UI/UX, and the other option from the "Process" category such as Casting, Soft Goods or Prototyping. Students will gain multiple competencies by utilizing techniques and methodologies through practice and process. Each studio meets once per week.
Majors are pre-registered for this course by the department. Preference is given to Industrial Design Students.
Major Requirement | BFA Industrial Design
Spring 2025 Courses
ID 248G-01 - GRADUATE THESIS STUDIO II
LevelGraduate
UnitIndustrial Design
Subject Industrial Design
Period Spring 2025
Credits 6
FormatStudio
Mode In-Person
Start date
End date
ID 248G-01
GRADUATE THESIS STUDIO II
LevelGraduate
UnitIndustrial Design
Subject Industrial Design
PeriodSpring 2025
Credits6
FormatStudio
ModeIn-Person
Start and End2025-02-13 to 2025-05-23
Times: TH | 1:10 PM - 6:10 PM; T | 8:00 AM - 1:00 PMInstructor(s): Ayako Takase, Jessica BrownLocation(s): Center for Integrative Technologies, Room 217Enrolled / Capacity: 12Status: Open
SECTION DESCRIPTION
This course concludes the Graduate Thesis through iterative prototyping, application and verification that positions and delivers a human-centered, discipline-engaging proposal that will be communicated through an exhibition format, product, product prototype and a final Graduate Thesis document.
Enrollment is limited to Graduate Industrial Design Students.
Major Requirement | MID Industrial Design
ID 248G-02 - GRADUATE THESIS STUDIO II
LevelGraduate
UnitIndustrial Design
Subject Industrial Design
Period Spring 2025
Credits 6
FormatStudio
Mode In-Person
Start date
End date
ID 248G-02
GRADUATE THESIS STUDIO II
LevelGraduate
UnitIndustrial Design
Subject Industrial Design
PeriodSpring 2025
Credits6
FormatStudio
ModeIn-Person
Start and End2025-02-13 to 2025-05-23
Times: TH | 1:10 PM - 6:10 PM; T | 8:00 AM - 1:00 PMInstructor(s): Ayako Takase, Jessica BrownLocation(s): Center for Integrative Technologies, Room 217Enrolled / Capacity: 12Status: Open
SECTION DESCRIPTION
This course concludes the Graduate Thesis through iterative prototyping, application and verification that positions and delivers a human-centered, discipline-engaging proposal that will be communicated through an exhibition format, product, product prototype and a final Graduate Thesis document.
Enrollment is limited to Graduate Industrial Design Students.
