The works of creators with disabilities are increasingly gaining attention, such as through partnerships with airlines and publishers, highlighting art by people with disabilities.
In Okayama Prefecture, the General Incorporated Association DESIGN GOALs is working on a project where creators with disabilities and designers form project teams to create designs requested by companies.
I received information that products and workshops using original works by artists with disabilities would gather in Kojima during Golden Week, so I went to the Kurashiki DESIGN GOALs Collection 2024.
What is DESIGN GOALs
DESIGN GOALs is a project by the General Incorporated Association DESIGN GOALs, where creators with disabilities and designers form project teams to create designs requested by companies.
Art by people with disabilities often exists within the framework of "leisure support," which is not profit-oriented and is aimed at preparing for employment and social participation.
However, the DESIGN GOALs PROJECT, which the General Incorporated Association DESIGN GOALs is working on, is a project that seeks to find value in the designs of creators with disabilities and guarantees compensation, with the belief that this leads to social participation and income for people with disabilities.
There are also benefits for companies participating in the project, as it leads to social contribution.
What is the Kurashiki DESIGN GOALs Collection 2024
The Kurashiki DESIGN GOALs Collection 2024, organized by the General Incorporated Association DESIGN GOALs, was held on May 3 (Friday, public holiday) at the Kojima Civic Exchange Center in Kojima, Kurashiki City.
2024 marks the third edition of the event, and this year's theme is Takahashi River Basin.
The event took place in two locations: a grassy area and an exhibition hall, featuring not only exhibitions and sales but also workshops and food stalls, creating an event filled with fun things and delicious food.
Please check the images for details about the exhibitors.
The Day's Events
Upon arriving at the venue, the first thing that caught my eye was the colorful "DESIGN GOALs" sculpture.
The handmade warm atmosphere is palpable.
In the grassy area where this sculpture was installed, there were food stalls, while the exhibition hall focused on non-food exhibitions.
Sales and workshops could be enjoyed at both venues.
Below, I will report on the situations regarding food and drink, exhibitions and sales, and workshops.
Food and Drink
For food and drink, 11 shops mainly featuring Okayama Prefecture's ingredients participated.
You can enjoy cotton candy and coffee on the spot.
I was tempted by the juicy aroma and purchased fried chicken.
All food stalls offer takeout, so customers who have difficulty eating in different environments can enjoy themselves.
There were also many baked goods available.
Exhibitions and Sales
The exhibition and sales of completed original works and products as part of the DESIGN GOALs project were a great success.
I was drawn to the word "DESIGN GOALs" and participated in the event seeking various encounters with creators, but many attendees I met at the venue were looking forward to meeting their favorite creators and purchasing their works.
What impressed me was that all attendees expressed, "I support this person not because they have a disability, but because I like their design."
It was a place where people find value in the "works" rather than the "disability" of the creators.
I truly felt it was a place that embodies the entrance to coexistence.
Workshops
In the workshops, there were not only exhibitions using works by creators with disabilities but also welfare nail and hand healing exhibitions that are usually conducted at welfare facilities for people with disabilities and the elderly.
By coloring nails that are always in the line of sight or stimulating the sense of smell that can be felt even when one cannot move, many users feel their spirits brighten.
I remembered when I was a teacher at a special support school, a graduate who had become an adult told me, "After getting my nails done on a holiday, my expression became softer," and I visited the booth of Welfare Nail Candy Slow.
The nail artist who attended to me is also a parent raising a child with disabilities, and she started welfare nails with the desire to "not only be supported but also to be in a position to support someone."
Since I came to Kojima, I got a denim art nail done that day. When my fingertips brightened, my heart also felt lighter, and I couldn't help but take a photo against the blue sky.
Conclusion
When I heard about the exhibition of works by creators with disabilities, I had the impression that many attendees would be people with disabilities or supporters.
However, at the Kurashiki DESIGN GOALs Collection 2024, there were many attendees who came purely to "enjoy the works of the creators," and I saw people enjoying the same "viewing, buying, and eating" as at the markets held in Kurashiki City.
The event DESIGN GOALs Collection, which embodies "coexistence" in the truest sense, where both people with and without disabilities can enjoy a day together, is held every six months. The next event is scheduled for November 4, 2024 (Monday, public holiday).
Why not visit to experience the uplifting feeling?
Kurashiki DESIGN GOALs Collection 2024 Data
| Name | Kurashiki DESIGN GOALs Collection 2024 |
|---|---|
| Date | May 3, 2024 (Friday) 10:00 AM - 3:00 PM |
| Location | 2-2-38 Ajino, Kojima, Kurashiki City, Okayama Prefecture |
| Participation Fee (including tax) | Free admission |
| Homepage | DESIGN GOALs PROJECT |
