alter. 2025 NOV Nihonbashi, Tokyo
ABOUT
alter. is a project / event that challenges conventional notions surrounding the creation of products, with its aim to redefine the value and creativity of design.
STATEMENT
alter. – Transformation as Liberation
As technology refines the world into seamless efficiency and optimization reduces creativity to a matter of selection, how can culture reassess and renew its intrinsic value?
One’s sense of self is sharpened through encounters with others, shaped by exposure to the unfamiliar.
It is in the recognition of irreconcilable differences between oneself and the other that a profound anticipation for creation—and a sense of wonder—emerges.
alter. is a collective of "irreplaceable egos"—an assemblage of singular perspectives that form the foundation of creativity.
What must be transformed? What must remain untouched? What is beyond the realm of change?
By relentlessly interrogating these questions, alter. seeks to redefine the creative landscape of product design, forging new values and aesthetic possibilities.
EVENT
| Name : | alter. 2025, Tokyo |
|---|---|
| Dates : | November 7 (Fri) – November 9 (Sun), 2025 *Press Preview / Reception on November 6 (Thu) |
| Venue : | Nihonbashi Mitsui Hall |
| Organizer : | alter. Executive Committee |
APPLICATION
Exhibition Categories
Applications are open to creators and projects from any genre or industry showcasing products.
At alter., exhibitors are responsible for designing and constructing their own exhibition space in a raw venue. Therefore, not only the attractiveness of the product itself but also the exhibition method and communication approach are evaluated. Applications may include both new and past works, but "a fresh perspective" will be required.
Exhibition Fees & Support
alter. will provide financial support for exhibition and presentation costs, covering up to 3 million yen (tax included), depending on project scale.
※ Financial support will not be available for SOLO applications
※ Applicants must prepare exhibition materials such as pedestals, walls, and lighting on their own.
| Category | SOLO | PROJECTS S | PROJECTS M | PROJECTS L |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Exhibition Space | 5㎡ | 15㎡ | 50㎡ | 100㎡ |
| Team Size | 1 person/group | 3-5 people/group | 5-8 people/group | 8+ people/group |
| Exhibition Fee | 100,000 JPY | Free | Free | Free |
| Exhibition Support | None | 100,000 JPY | 1,000,000 JPY | 3,000,000 JPY |
Application deadline
April 30th, 2025 Noon Japan time
Results
Applications will be screened by our selection committee. Results will be notified by mid June.
COMMITTEE
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Andrea Trimarchi / Simone Farresin Design Studio / FormaFantasma
A research-based design studio established in 2009 by Andrea Trimarchi and Simone Farresin. They develop diverse projects across disciplines, ranging from product design to spatial design, strategic planning, and consulting. Their approach, which emphasizes the exploration of new materials and technologies while valuing culture and tradition, has earned them high acclaim both domestically and internationally.
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Keisuke Nakamura Architect / DAIKEI MILLS | SKWAT
Founded DAIKEI MILLS in 2011, undertaking the design of various spaces including commercial and office environments. In 2020, he launched SKWAT, a movement that temporarily occupies urban voids (idle facilities and social gaps) and opens them to the public. Since 2021, he has also served as a part-time lecturer in the Department of Architecture and Environmental Design at Tama Art University.
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Kristen de La Valliere SAY HI TO
Creative consultant and curator. Founder of KdlV Creative. Based in Paris, she established the digital platform "say hi to" in 2015, focusing on design and architecture. Through interviews with designers and architects from around the world, she has built an alternative creative community.
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Olivier Zeitoun Centre Pompidou
Associate Curator in the Design Department at Centre Pompidou. He has served as curator and co-curator for numerous exhibitions, including "La Fabrique du Vivant" (2019), "Réseaux-Mondes" (2022), and "Mimésis, un design vivant" (2022). He also works as an independent curator and critic.
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Tanja Hwang MoMA
Curator in the Department of Architecture and Design at MoMA (The Museum of Modern Art, New York). She served as Associate Curator in the Design and Architecture Department at M+ in Hong Kong from 2021 to 2023, and has held her current position since 2024. Her research focuses on modern design from a global perspective, including the Asian region. In 2022, she was selected as a finalist for the Hyundai Blue Prize Design.
Organizing
Committee
Kensuke Kidani, Masaaki Ando, Sang-ai Kim, Shunta Ishigami, Taku Sato, Takuto Imagawa, Yuta Takeda