This is Honda Design STUDIO

[Design Top Interview Series -1.3 / DESIGN STUDIO]
This time, the Design Top Interview was conducted in the newly constructed design building within the Honda R&D facility in Wako City, Saitama Prefecture. After the interview, I was given a tour of the design building; however, unfortunately, I am unable to share the details of that experience. Nonetheless, thanks to the utmost generosity of the Design Center, we are able to introduce it through images. With the design division reorganized and the studio newly built, there is nothing but high expectations for the future of Honda.
TEXT: Osamu Namba PHOTO: HONDA

Visit to the Design Studio

I received a sufficient number of images to gauge the inside of the Design Center, so no further explanation from me is needed. Opportunities like this are rare.

Entrance. This floor serves as the sacred barrier connecting external spaces with the top-secret departments.  
PHOTO: HONDA
Entrance floor. When we visited, the T360 K-car truck, Honda’s first four-wheeled vehicle, and the S500 were on display.  
PHOTO: HONDA
The corner of the L-shaped building features an open stairwell that extends from the lowest to the upper floors. This open space prevents each floor from becoming a closed-off area, creating a sense of continuity. The stairwell not only connects all floors but also serves as a flexible space for each level, functioning as a relaxed area to take a break and clear the mind.  
PHOTO: HONDA
The floor where the designers work. There are no fixed partitions throughout the space, creating an open atmosphere filled with greenery.  
PHOTO: HONDA
Top floor. The floor with the presentation room. This is the anteroom before entering the presentation area.  
PHOTO: HONDA
Presentation room. The interview was conducted here.  
PHOTO: HONDA
In this visit, the Honda 0 Series SPACE-HUB was placed in the anteroom.  
PHOTO: HONDA
Model floor. During construction, it was reportedly the world’s longest surface plate, but it has since lost that title. The model room features a high ceiling with full-surface lighting. From the second floor, a glass wall provides a full view of the first-floor model room. There is also a catwalk, allowing for shape checks from above. The model room is spacious with a high ceiling and panel lighting, providing the best environment for model production. However, at times, the even distribution of light can make it difficult to see the subtleties and effects of the surfaces.  
PHOTO: HONDA

A glimpse into the daily life of a designer!

Showcasing designers at work on the newly renovated design floor. Opportunities like this are rare and valuable, so take a good look!  
All photos courtesy of Honda.

[My Opinion]

PHOTO : HONDA

A model floor with ample distance for viewing the models properly. I emphasize this point because this distance is an essential requirement that a studio must meet when developing shapes. However, this necessity is often not understood by the budget management department, as they tend to see it merely as wasted or unnecessary space.
Just like a vast test track or crash test facility, this spatial distance is necessary for developing design. Design is one of the crucial performance aspects of a car, and the space is an essential facility for achieving its performance targets. Unfortunately, this necessity is often misunderstood or overlooked.
Despite Japan’s long history of developing cars, there has been slow progress in understanding that design is a business resource and a performance requirement for cars. I often felt deeply frustrated by the lack of understanding and the frequent need to endure compromises. However, upon seeing this studio, I felt that Japanese manufacturers might finally be starting to change their perception and understanding of the concept of design.

Lastly, 
I would like to express my sincere gratitude not only to everyone at the Honda Design Center but also to the related departments and the public relations team for their tremendous support during this Design Top Interview. Moreover, thanks to the generosity of the Honda Design Center, we were given the rare opportunity to showcase the design field, for which I am truly grateful.

Given the nature of the design field, where tomorrow’s unseen products take shape before our eyes, it is typically a place that outsiders rarely get to glimpse. This made our experience all the more special. 

Although it’s on the web, I would like to extend my heartfelt thanks once again.

Editor-in-Chief: Osamu Namba

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著者プロフィール

難波 治 / Osamu NAMBA 近影

難波 治 / Osamu NAMBA

筑波大学芸術専門学群生産デザイン専攻卒業後、スズキ株式会社入社。軽自動車量産車、小型車先行開発車輌…