Spring national conference of Japan Society for the Science of Design was held in Sapporo City University from June 22 to 24. For 60th anniversary of this conference next year, this year the 59th got the largest number of participants in history, 291 presentations and 530 people in participation.

The venue was located in Sapporo City University which carries out education and philosophy of research based on emphasis on human and contribution to community. Aimed of education and research stood on the high level of expertise through collaboration between the Faculty of Design and Department of Nursing, and also with a base of university Sapporo Municipal College of Technology plus Sapporo koutouyougo, this university was established in form of development integration by 2006.

This first president was Professor Akira Harada from University of Tsukuba, and this April, Professor Takashi Hasumi also from University of Tsukuba was appointed. New president Takashi Hasumi has been engaged in regional development over the years since been appointed to the faculty of the University of Tsukuba with experience of designer of the Nissan Motor Co.,Ltd. For a variety of achievement of Professor Hasumi versed in this book 『地域再生プロデュース―参画型デザイニングの実践と効果』.(Regional revitalization Produce - Designing and effectiveness of participatory practice)

For author, it has been three years since last participants, and this time in that University which Professor Hasumi appointed newly and also the venue of conference, the atmosphere of the conference was totally different to imagination. Even it’s such difficult in explanation for the difference, in a word if dared that would be the change of feeling from “painful company's board meeting” to “noisy University seminar”. And why this change could happen after all? Considering this question, the words of Professor Hasumi’s lecture carried out on the first day suddenly floating in my head.  

That lecture’s theme was “Design as cross-functional intelligence of change region”. During his speech, two words “Praxis society” and “Pratique Society” was been using for explanation. 

Praxis society is so called “Business-oriented” society work in an evaluation of “business priority / output importance / value centralization / Win-lose”. On the other hand, Pratique Society is “Walk type” society work in the evaluation of “Living quality priority/process importance/ acceptance of diversity/ symbiosis”.
Major difference between praxis society and pratique society is their purpose. Praxis society has a clear purpose while pratique society is not. For praxis society its purpose is clear because value can be unified, relative merits judgment is possible in the output. On other hand because the objective of pratique society is unclear, diversity values cannot estimate the superiority in output. 

According to the description of difference, it might not sound like such a big deal, but actually important implications are hidden in.  

That is what we called “Fun”. In Professor Hasumi’s speech, he gave tow examples that Praxis type is “Business man walk in street” and Pratique type is “People walk in street”, and then asked this question which one will be “Fun”? And then he pointed out “People are not necessary want to earn money, but they only wanted to be happy with the money. In other words, they ultimately only want to be happy. ”

Actually, what he means is “make means to be purpose”. Purpose of Praxis type is “Everyone can be happiness”, called “Make money” is supposed to be a means only; but themselves became unawares purpose, and the original purpose “Happiness” disappeared. To solve this, Professor Hasumi used Pratique as model and noted that “Original purpose cannot be achieved and not concurrently incorporated with praxis type and the element of "fun"”. And just as same as he said, if other people would enjoy what even I don’t enjoy? I think that would be difficult to be said.

Base on these, Professor Hasumi proposal that it is necessary to make management of design concurrently Pratique type and Praxis type. Incidentally similar to “Message from the President”, certainly comes to reference in here.

When suddenly this story came in my head, it flashed with a pin. “This is not only the community and the same idea can be anything. I wonder if that is based on the idea of this same Society.” Mean that, I ask I asked Professor Hasumi about this conference and received an answer “was actually with conscious”.

The trick is description omitted in so many various, certainly was out to everywhere by changing it. Question and answer session was most noticeable. Most part of questions and answers of announcement I saw was not criticism but consideration. Stated concretely that would be much “Why it is better than these?” than “What is different”.

Considering the purpose of conference presentation “Opportunity to get new hint and knowledge”, there has some extremely good change. Then, It was the most interesting part that a voice of” This Conference was interesting but I do not know what is good” was heard in everywhere during the conference. The point is the part of "I do not know what is good". Since I got the same impression actually, it is difficult to write this article. That feeling of "vitality, enthusiasm" never felt before was felt this time. That’s strange and I thought "I'm looking forward to next time". And I wondered if this strange sensation is the driving force of “Pratique type” pointed out by Mr. Hasumi. And by trying to actually experience can realize the importance of piercing. Considering this a feeling of “Mr. Hasumi is also a Tactician!” came out.

Besides, I think “Praxis type and Pratique type” is a very important concept in design of future. In recent years, various challenges still exist in industry design. Reconsider them in Pratique type, a completely different approach and idea so far comes out.