Saki Kato

Saki Kato works in direction and design, focusing on digital creativity, such as in apps and websites. She excels at comprehensive designs, including the processes from project proposals and planning to UI designs and graphic production.

Credits

Director / Designer : Saki Kato
Programmer : Takeshi Funatsu
Executive Producer : Hiroshi Takahashi
Producer : Takuya Inagaki
Planner : Moe Goto
Planning Cooperation : Makoto Yabuki (TANGRAM), Discover Japan inc., VERTERE

WOW25 “UNLEAN BEER” from Unlearning the Visuals

WOW25 Unlearning the Visuals|2022


About the work
A project to UNLEARN the relationship between taste and sight. By drinking the WOW original beer created for this project and expressing the taste you experienced through the app, you can rediscover your taste buds.

Package
Only a white circle is printed on the beer packaging at the time of distribution. By pasting stickers generated from the app, you can create your original label and bring it home.

App
An original app was developed and created for one to express the taste they experience while drinking the beer by arranging components of various shapes and colors that were prepared in advance. Each component was prepared in the form of illustrations, using fruits, plants, and onomatopoeia as motifs, and based on words that brewers usually use to express flavor. Since texture, which has a big impact on taste, cannot be expressed using just colors and shapes, a filter function was added as a feature unique to digital apps. The app experience was designed based on the offline workshop done in advance.

Exhibition
The project was presented from October 15th (Saturday) to October 30th (Sunday), 2022, during WOW's 25th Anniversary Exhibition titled "Unlearning the Visuals" which was held at Terrada Warehouse E HALL. From December 2022 to January 2023, we also set up sales and original label production content at Discover Japan Lab. in Shibuya PARCO.

Credits

Director / Designer : Saki Kato
Programmer : Takeshi Funatsu
Executive Producer : Hiroshi Takahashi
Producer : Takuya Inagaki
Planner : Moe Goto
Planning Cooperation : Makoto Yabuki (TANGRAM), Discover Japan inc., VERTERE

Credits

Director / Planner : Saki Kato, Takafumi Matsunaga, Takeshi Funatsu
Producer : Yasuaki Matsui
Assistant Producer : Kanako Kaeriyama

ZONE 01
Director : Takafumi Matsunaga
Designer : Takafumi Matsunaga, Yutaro Mori, Kazunori Kojima, Tsutomu Miyajima

ZONE 02
Visual Engineer / Programmer : Takeshi Funatsu
UI Designer : Saki Kato
Designer : Haruka Kanno, Saki Kato

ZONE 03
Director : Saki Kato
Director / Set Design : Takafumi Matsunaga
Designer : Rin Matsunaga, Kazunori Kojima
UI Designer / Designer : Mayu Kobayashi
Technical Director / Programmer : Takeshi Funatsu
Programmer : Yuki Horikawa, Seiya Takasawa, Yuta Nakano(raw Inc.)

ZONE 04
Director / Art Director / UI Designer : Saki Kato
Technical Director : Takeshi Funatsu
Programmer : Yuya Umeta
World Design : Takafumi Matsunaga
Bird Design - Illustration : Sayaka Maruyama, Haruka Kanno, Yutaka Kadota
Bird Design - 3D Modeling / Animation : TANGE FILMS
Device Development (Binoculars) : siro Inc.
Device Development (Printer) : STUDIO DESSERT

Sound Design : Masato Hatanaka
Narrator : Shohei Tou

Client : JERA Inc.
Agency : HAKUHODO Inc.

JERA museum HEKINAN

JERA|2024
WOW has taken on the planning, direction and production of all four of the permanent exhibits at JERA museum HEKINAN, one of the community facilities of JERA Co., Inc., which has undergone an extensive program of refurbishment. The museum is adjacent to Hekinan Thermal Power Station (Hekinan City, Aichi Prefecture) and is designed as an experience-based museum, where visitors can enjoy learning intuitively about the latest power generation technologies and the path to zero-carbon emissions, which JERA aims to achieve by 2050.


ZONE 01 | Vision Theater

An immersive panoramic theater that introduces JERA’s vision and a roadmap to a zero-emissions society of the future. The dynamic 180° screen measuring 16m by 4m introduces JERA’s business, solutions to energy issues, and methods of generating power. The scientific and experimental tone of the film describes JERA’s dedicated efforts to achieve zero emissions. In addition, by combining 3DCG/2D motion graphics with live-action images, and creating animations that utilize the mega-wide screen to its fullest extent, complex content is presented in a way that is accessible and easy to understand for the viewer.


ZONE 02 | Data Sphere

This interactive exhibit visualizes JERA’s business operations in Japan and around the world based on data. Information is displayed on a globe-like sphere which is operated using a hand-held device. The visuals were produced to have a look evocative of a clean global environment. What’s more, the device was designed with a simple layered structure to enable intuitive operation. Contents for which knowledge is required were carefully animated one by one, so as to make the explanation easier to understand.

ZONE 03 | Hekinan Thermal Power Station 3D Projection

This model projection exhibit explains everything about Hekinan Thermal Power Station, a cutting edge zero-emissions power station, recreating the power station on a 1/700th scale. The animations projected on the wall and on the model itself work in tandem to give visitors a more detailed idea about the routes by which coal and ammonia are transported, as well as the relationship between the position of the boilers and turbines. The projection highlights the scale of the plant, which is one of the largest coal-fired power plants in Japan, and its importance in supporting daily life and industry in the Chubu region, as well as its innovative initiatives that are capturing global attention.


ZONE 04 | JERA forest 2050

This hands-on exhibit enables visitors to interact with a variety of wild birds in a beautiful natural environment of the future where zero emissions have been achieved. A rich natural environment is displayed on the large screen and wild birds follow you as you approach the screen. Visitors can learn through observation by moving around the binocular-shaped devices, and can even take home stickers of their favorite birds. The species of birds that appear on screen are based on records of wild birds that live in the nearby JERA forest HEKINAN, and the birds you see are designed to change with the seasons. Based on JERA’s commitment to environmental preservation, this exhibit has been created to make learning about ecosystems fun.


▶︎ JERA museum HEKINAN Official Website

Credits

Director / Planner : Saki Kato, Takafumi Matsunaga, Takeshi Funatsu
Producer : Yasuaki Matsui
Assistant Producer : Kanako Kaeriyama

ZONE 01
Director : Takafumi Matsunaga
Designer : Takafumi Matsunaga, Yutaro Mori, Kazunori Kojima, Tsutomu Miyajima

ZONE 02
Visual Engineer / Programmer : Takeshi Funatsu
UI Designer : Saki Kato
Designer : Haruka Kanno, Saki Kato

ZONE 03
Director : Saki Kato
Director / Set Design : Takafumi Matsunaga
Designer : Rin Matsunaga, Kazunori Kojima
UI Designer / Designer : Mayu Kobayashi
Technical Director / Programmer : Takeshi Funatsu
Programmer : Yuki Horikawa, Seiya Takasawa, Yuta Nakano(raw Inc.)

ZONE 04
Director / Art Director / UI Designer : Saki Kato
Technical Director : Takeshi Funatsu
Programmer : Yuya Umeta
World Design : Takafumi Matsunaga
Bird Design - Illustration : Sayaka Maruyama, Haruka Kanno, Yutaka Kadota
Bird Design - 3D Modeling / Animation : TANGE FILMS
Device Development (Binoculars) : siro Inc.
Device Development (Printer) : STUDIO DESSERT

Sound Design : Masato Hatanaka
Narrator : Shohei Tou

Client : JERA Inc.
Agency : HAKUHODO Inc.

Credits



Director / Designer / Programmer / Conceptor : Takeshi Funatsu
Planner / Editor / Designer : Keisuke Suzuki
Art Director / Web / Graphic Designer / Planner : Saki Kato
CG Designer:Takuma Sasaki, Hironobu Sone, Yutaro Mori
Music:Masato Hatanaka
Producer:Shinichi Saeki, Takuya Inagaki

InfoTexture - Minor Metals Situation

“InForms” Project


About the Work
We propose InfoTexture, a design approach that recaptures the context and materiality behind the data as texture. As the first study, we made a video focusing on the volume of minor metals produced. We explored the visual beauty of rare metals as minerals; at the same time, we attempted to visualize them to consider the unbalance in the countries that produce minor metals.


“InForms” Project
This video was produced as part of an original project “InForms”. “InForms” is a project that explores the visual representation of “information” for an aesthetic experience of it. Rather than cutting and symbolizing information to directly transmit the intention, this approach is to explore the visualization of information that triggers creative thinking through a visual experience. This is our approach as a visual design studio WOW.

Project Web Site : informs.design/

Credits



Director / Designer / Programmer / Conceptor : Takeshi Funatsu
Planner / Editor / Designer : Keisuke Suzuki
Art Director / Web / Graphic Designer / Planner : Saki Kato
CG Designer:Takuma Sasaki, Hironobu Sone, Yutaro Mori
Music:Masato Hatanaka
Producer:Shinichi Saeki, Takuya Inagaki

Credits

1F / 2F Contents
Producer: Go Hagiwara
UI/UX Designer:Sayaka Maruyama, Saki Kato, Takaaki Morita, Yutaka Kadota, Mayu Kobayashi, Reiko Katayama
Movie:Shigeru Makino, Misaki Horai
Programming:D1、TASKO、office FA
Body Design:DC International
Body Design /Programming:V-SYNC
Interior Design:NOMURA Co., Ltd.
SE:Yusuke Tamaki
Store System Design / Implementation:NRI

Installation
Concept / Design / Program: Yuki Tazaki, Takuma Nakazi, Shunsaku Ishinabe, Daisuke Moriwaki
Lighting Design / Production:Tokyo Lighting Design
Water Landscape Design:Bellrx
Art Department: Gendai Koubou
Interior Design:NOMURA Co., Ltd.

Promotion Contents
Producer: Go Hagiwara
Director: Shigetaka Makabe
Motion Graphic Designer: Kazunori Kojima
Photographer: Toshimi Narikami
Gaffer: Yuichi Kato
DIT:Hiroyuki Watanabe
Casting: Kettle inc.
Stylist: Yoppy
Hair&Make-up: Rie Aoki
Retoucher: Kazuya Tomabechi
Editor: Sony PCL
Music:daji studio
Copy Writer: Atsushi Katayama

SHISEIDO GLOBAL FLAGSHIP STORE

SHISEIDO | 2020
SHISEIDO, already present in 88 countries and regions worldwide, celebrated the grand opening of its SHISEIDO GLOBAL FLAGSHIP STORE in Ginza, where the company was originally founded. This flagship store spans three floors of the building, making it the largest branch operated by the brand. Its primary goal is to enhance awareness and understanding of the SHISEIDO brand through beauty-centric experiences, and WOW played a key role in its development.

UI/UX Design for Products and Services on 1F and 2F
WOW was entirely in charge of the UI/UX design of the technology-intensive store fixtures on the first and second floors at the flagship store. Since store fixture location and enclosure design are closely associated with UX, in order to achieve the best UI/ UX, WOW has worked with companies on co-creation from interior design to store fixture design and backend development.

Planning, Directing, and Producing Installation Works That Embody the Brand
Water is the source of makeup, and as it pours down from the ceiling onto the water feature, ripples of “light” emerge fluidly with it, circulating and changing as if water and light were always breathing. The water droplets are computer-controlled, mimicking heartbeats. SHISEIDO’s skincare technology helps with nerve transmission and immunity activation within the skin. The ripples on the ceiling are supposed to resemble both of these.

Planning, Direction, and Production of PR Tools (Video and Graphics)
WOW planned, directed, and produced introductory videos, graphic tools, and various other flagship store contents.

Here at the SHISEIDO GLOBAL FLAGSHIP STORE, with all its partnering businesses gathering, you will see digital contents that you won’t be able to find anywhere else. WOW spent time and had a discussion with SHISEIDO and its partnering businesses, allowing our collaboration to proceed smoothly. WOW applied SHISEIDO’s positioning ideas to the store’s UI/UX design, installation, and PR tools to create an integrated design and user experience.

Project Overview▶Case Study SHISEIDO GLOBAL FLAGSHIP STORE Vol.1
Content Details▶ Case Study SHISEIDO GLOBAL FLAGSHIP STORE Vol.2

Credits

1F / 2F Contents
Producer: Go Hagiwara
UI/UX Designer:Sayaka Maruyama, Saki Kato, Takaaki Morita, Yutaka Kadota, Mayu Kobayashi, Reiko Katayama
Movie:Shigeru Makino, Misaki Horai
Programming:D1、TASKO、office FA
Body Design:DC International
Body Design /Programming:V-SYNC
Interior Design:NOMURA Co., Ltd.
SE:Yusuke Tamaki
Store System Design / Implementation:NRI

Installation
Concept / Design / Program: Yuki Tazaki, Takuma Nakazi, Shunsaku Ishinabe, Daisuke Moriwaki
Lighting Design / Production:Tokyo Lighting Design
Water Landscape Design:Bellrx
Art Department: Gendai Koubou
Interior Design:NOMURA Co., Ltd.

Promotion Contents
Producer: Go Hagiwara
Director: Shigetaka Makabe
Motion Graphic Designer: Kazunori Kojima
Photographer: Toshimi Narikami
Gaffer: Yuichi Kato
DIT:Hiroyuki Watanabe
Casting: Kettle inc.
Stylist: Yoppy
Hair&Make-up: Rie Aoki
Retoucher: Kazuya Tomabechi
Editor: Sony PCL
Music:daji studio
Copy Writer: Atsushi Katayama

Credits

Art Director : Saki Kato
Designer : Takaaki Morita, Saki Kato, Mayu Kobayashi, Sayaka Maruyama, Haruka Kanno
Producer : Yasuaki Matsui, Masahito Kodama
Project Management / Front Development : Futurek

Renewal of ISSEY MIYAKE's official website

ISSEY MIYAKE|2023
In March 2023, ISSEY MIYAKE renewed its official website. The online store and other related service sites, which were previously operated individually, will be integrated into a single site to provide the latest information on each brand and its approach to craftsmanship, as well as a seamless shopping experience. WOW was in charge of the design and production of this new site.

ISSEY MIYAKE INC.

■ Modern design that reinterprets the ISSEY MIYAKE style
For the renewal that integrated the entire ISSEY MIYAKE website (corporate, brand, and online store), we aimed to unify the design with a renewed awareness of the ISSEY MIYAKE style.

In terms of visual design, we minimized the use of gray and black to bring out the beautiful visuals of the brand and made it in a more modern and simple direction than the old site.

In terms of interface design, the design and layout of components such as menus, breadcrumb navigation, and footers were made more generic than the old site, and emphasis was placed on the ease of navigation and access to pages.

■ Brand pages that appropriately convey and deliver the worldview of each brand
The aim of each brand page was to create a structure that would allow each brand to express its individuality while ensuring a sense of unity as "ISSEY MIYAKE." The main visuals, product images, and images of models wearing the products are kept to a minimum so that the beauty of the visuals will stand out. The design of each content is modularized to ensure ease of operation and to provide a certain degree of flexibility in the modules so that each brand can have its own identity.

■ Product pages for a seamless shopping experience
The integrated website provides a more seamless shopping experience than ever before by creating a user flow from the look images on the brand pages to the product pages in the online store. In addition, the layout and operability have been optimized for each display device, such as smartphones and PCs, to improve the overall UX.

Credits

Art Director : Saki Kato
Designer : Takaaki Morita, Saki Kato, Mayu Kobayashi, Sayaka Maruyama, Haruka Kanno
Producer : Yasuaki Matsui, Masahito Kodama
Project Management / Front Development : Futurek