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Higaki-Yamanaka Lab (Product Design Laboratory / PDLAB)
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The lab explores product design that connects people and technology through prototyping.
AboutAbout the lab
Product design that connects people and technology
The Higaki-Yamanaka Lab studies the design of products and services under the keyword "product design that connects people and technology."
By building prototypes, the lab learns about people and explores what society and daily life need.
While designing products and services, the lab also studies how design methods can be applied and how ornamental design works.
Based at the Institute of Industrial Science, the University of Tokyo, the lab also conducts joint research with companies.
Key terms
- Prototyping
- An approach in which ideas are given form as prototypes and developed further by testing them
- Ornamental design
- The visual design of a product, such as its shape, color, and pattern
- 3D printing
- A technology that creates objects by building up material little by little based on 3D data created on a computer
NewsLab news
Held "Prototypes in Stills," an exhibition of results from joint research with Nichicon
Exhibited "Prototypes in Action" at the Komaba Research Campus Open House
Held the lab exhibition "Re charge"
Associate Professor Higaki joined the university, and the Higaki Lab was launched
ResearchResearch themes
Under the keyword "product design that connects people and technology," the lab uses prototyping to explore what society and daily life need. While designing products and services, it studies how design methods can be applied and how ornamental design works.
*Illustrative imageExploring and Engaging Through Prototypes
The lab uses prototypes to talk with people and explore what society and daily life need. In joint research with Nichicon Corporation, it has built prototype after prototype while envisioning the future of EV power stations.
*Illustrative imageApplying Design Methods
While designing products and services that connect people and technology, the lab studies how design methods can be put to good use.
*Illustrative imageThe Relationship Between Materials, Processing Methods, and Ornamental Design
The lab studies how materials and processing methods relate to the form and appearance (ornamental design) of products. In joint research with Ricoh Company, Ltd., it explored the potential of ceramic 3D printing and produced many printed objects.
*Illustrative imageAnalyzing Design Through Observational Sketching
The lab uses observational sketching, in which the subject is closely observed and drawn, to analyze design.
MembersFaculty
The members of the Higaki-Yamanaka Lab include faculty, project researchers, technical staff, academic specialists, joint research fellows, and master's students.As of 2026
- Associate ProfessorMariko HigakiPublications ↗
- Distinguished ProfessorShunji YamanakaPublications ↗
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Report an errorAbout the images
The top and research theme images are illustrative and were not taken at the lab. They are cropped from Wikimedia Commons images. Cropped CC BY-SA images are provided under the same CC BY-SA license as the original (version shown on each line).
- Top image: “Ceramic 3D Printing by Studio Under3” Studio Under / CC BY-SA 3.0 (cropped)
- Exploring and Engaging Through Prototypes: “CHAdeMO connector-side oblique PNr°0522a” D-Kuru / CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped)
- Applying Design Methods: “Double diamond” Digi-ark / CC0 (cropped)
- The Relationship Between Materials, Processing Methods, and Ornamental Design: “3D-printed ceramic parts made from lunar regolith ESA18889804” European Space Agency / CC BY-SA 3.0 igo (cropped)
- Analyzing Design Through Observational Sketching: “Adapter-sleeve DIN5415 complete ex” Silberwolf / CC BY-SA 2.5 (cropped)
- Related lab (Hara Lab): “Design Thinking Workshop WMDE 1” Corinna Schuster (WMDE) / CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped)
- Related lab (Graphics and Interaction Lab (Koyama Lab)): “DBW-Render glass scene, recreated in POV-Ray” Morn / CC0 (cropped)
- Related lab (Umeda-Kishita Lab): “Disassembled laptop” Tulumnes / CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped)
- Related lab (Kishita Lab): “Greenville Public Works, ECVC Recycling Sorting facility - 14” Greenville, NC / Public domain (cropped)
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