Unique Sabae

Service Design

Sabae City, Fukui Province, Japan, 2015

A group from Pratt Institute's Global Innovation Design Program studying at Keio Media Design in Tokyo were brought to Sabae City to work on a complex question:

How may we boost tourism in the goal of retaining the traditional craft work of the region?

Our team offered the concept of the "Unique Thing" that many successfully jump-started tourist destinations have - a singular, attractive object that names a place, places a person, and serves as a focus to tie a locale together in the mind of a foreigner.

There are plenty of reasons to visit Sabae: the incredible craft goods, the unique food, the beautiful green mountains, the onsen, and the quiet spiritual places and temples steeped in history. However there is still a need for something to tie it all together. A sight that will draw new people and give them something to photograph to share with other travelers. The following (appended) slides were presented to the Mayor and Sabae City Council. The presentation was broadcast on local television throughout Fukui Province.