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Exploratory Exposed
KDDI, the number two carrier here in Japan has obviously invested a large sum of money on their KDDI Designing Studio in Harajuku to show off all things KDDI. The 5 story cylindrical building devotes space to their product line-up, a creation space, a stage for live events, a collaboration studio and on the 5th floor a 'relaxation studio' which is, um, another branch of Wired Cafe. It's unfair to judge from one visit but it was notable how empty the space was, and how little interaction it had and invited from the otherwise teeming Harajuku.
The building devotes some space to future technologies from KDDI R&D Laboratories most memorable of which is the break-dance robot. No that's not it's official name, but the demo from the studio staffer could have come straight out of my highschool playground - only needing a cardboard mat and cheering onlookers to complete the authentic break-dance experience. (Though how much time did the staffer need to have on her hands to hone her bust-a-move-robot-breakdance-skills?)
The serious-fun question in all of this is why and how to engage the public with what's coming out of the research lab?
Wireless watch has a video tour.
Writing from Harajuku | November 14, 2005 | Permalink
Comments
Do these sorts of concept stores ever have thick crowds? The Sony stores and the like that I've seen have never been very full. Might serve most of its purpose just by being there even if the Takeshita-dori crowd doesn't wash in.
At any rate, can I put in a pre-order for that red and white phone at the end of the WW segment?
Posted by: Andrew at November 17, 2005 11:07 PM
I know these stores work on lots of different levels e.g. 'lets schedule a meeting in our Harajuku studio', just being there, but for the hour or so I was there, there were *no* other punters, and no walk-in-browse for 5 minutes that I noticed.
The design of the space - open front, greeters, plus the volume of staff 2 to 3 per story suggested they wanted people to come in and browse.
Posted by: Jan at November 18, 2005 7:43 AM