Design Magazine Vol.236 on Sale April 1！

AXIS Inc (Minato-ku, Tokyo; President and Representative Director: Mitsuhira Shimazaki) has released  Design Magazine AXIS (vol. 236) published on April 1, 2026.

COVER STORY

Satoshi Yoshiizumi (TAKT PROJECT)

An attitude that questions assumptions and explores every possible way of perceiving the world.
That, I believe, is the essence of design.

Questioning fixed "values" and returning to the state before meaning is assigned. TAKT PROJECT is a design studio that quietly questions the assumptions embedded in society, starting from Self-Driven Research. Its founder, Satoshi Yoshiizumi――who began his path in engineering――has practiced design as an "attitude" toward engaging with the world, moving back and forth between design thinking for optimal solutions and values that resist quantification, such as aesthetics and philosophy. This approach remains consistent in his direction of the 21_21 DESIGN SIGHT exhibition Material, or as well as in collaborative projects with companies. He leads with questions, loosens existing meanings, and lets form emerge from relationships. Yoshiizumi's thinking and practice quietly and steadily expand the possibilities of design in this age of saturation.

Feature
PRODUCT DESIGN 2026
A changing society and the current state of product design

Technology is evolving, environmental awareness is growing, and a greater focus is being placed on human emotions and experiences. As society's values fluctuate, the role played by product design is also quietly shifting with them. Mobility, medical equipment, AI devices, daily necessities, leisure goods, and all the products you'll find here go beyond the mere concepts of function and form. They allow us to re-examine the relationship between people and things, as well as the very nature of living and society. This special feature puts the spotlight on products that aim to rewire the very context of how we live through their shape, material, presence, and usage.

TOYOTA: walk me
Toward mobility that overcomes everyday barriers and emotional barriers

In December 2019, then-President (now Chairman) Akio Toyoda released a statement titled "Full Model Change Toward a Mobility Company." It signaled a commitment by Toyota Motor Corporation to take on the role of moving people and goods in every possible environment. Their efforts extend as far as lunar exploration vehicles, yet at the same time, they have been devoting significant attention to the commercialization of personal mobility closely tied to everyday life. The device introduced here, walk me, is one example of the personal mobility solutions Toyota is developing.

Flos: Maap　
Evoking intuition and instinct――A lamp with endless forms

Maap is a large wall-mounted lamp co-created by designer Erwan Bouroullec and the Italian modern lighting brand Flos. This lamp, made of thin, lightweight, and highly enduring Tyvek, is characterized by the ability to be freely shaped by hand. It is a product that reflects contemporary values by inviting active participation from the end user, rather than presenting a finished form unilaterally.

Karimoku Furniture: UP　
A Walking Stick That Lifts Body and Spirit

In today's aging society, walking sticks are becoming an increasingly essential tool for supporting mobility. Yet many people associate growing old and using a walking stick with a negative image. What would a walking stick look like if it helped people live more authentically and positively? We trace the development process of UP, a walking stick that designer Keiji Takeuchi spent six years developing.

Beyond the right product design
――Romance explored by in-house designers

For the exhibition Industrial Romanticism, held in autumn 2025 (featured in AXIS Issue vol.235), in-house designers stepped beyond the bounds of their everyday work to create experimental prototypes. This issue presents twelve products each holding its own romance envisioned by fifteen designers from seven companies.

Google: Gboard Dial Version
The Gboard DIY Project: A Philosophy of Going All In on "Uselessness"

Every year on October 1, Google unveils a new keyboard through its Gboard DIY Project. The tradition dates back to 2010, and many fans eagerly await each installment's unexpected ideas. The latest edition, released in 2025, is the Dial Version, modeled on a rotary telephone. We spoke with members of the team about the philosophy behind a project that takes "uselessness" to its extreme.

ITOKI: CONNEXA(NII)
Poetic sensibility resonates with engineering

Amid a global trend in redefining workplace setups, Itoki's new brand, NII, unveils its collection, including the CONNEXA table system. How did Japan's precision engineering bring the poetic design by architect and designer Rodolfo Agrella to life? We explore the story behind the scenes.

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