Things to ask faculty members from Faculty of Design about “What is good design?”

Department of Human Science, Faculty of Design
Physiological Anthropology Research Center（Resilience Design Research Group）
Professor Shigeki Watanuki
Amenity Planner: Japan Society of Physiological Anthropology

　As a faculty member from Faculty of Design, we always wonder about “What is good design?” If we fuse other disciplines and technical fields, that melding will lead to technological innovation and help to foster a more humanistic culture.

　When human expose to stressors, the HPA system (hypothalamus / pituitary / adrenal cortex system) and SAM system (hypothalamus, sympathetic nerve, adrenal medulla system) are activate to protect human from stress. The level of the HPA system increases as stress increases and it slow down the response of the SAM system, and cause body exhaustion. To me, good design is to lower the level of the HPA system and return the reaction of the SAM system to an appropriate level, and optimize activity of the immune system. Based on this idea, we have studied comfortable underwear development, Frequency ranges at full body vibration, drying temperature of cedar wood, scent, fragrance, opening and closing sound of automobile doors, etc, in collaboration with companies and local governments.

Figure 1. There was no significant difference between the genotypes and they were correlated (Figure A). However we found significant correlation among L-allele (Figure C).

　In order to further advance good design, we have researched several genetic polymorphisms (mitochondrial DNA, oxytocin receptor (empathic), serotonin transporter (anxiety and attention, Figure 1, papers 1)), UCP 1 (cold resistance, Fig. 2, Fig. 3, Article 2)) and the relationship between physiological response and character. In this way, the legacy factors of Japanese and Westerners will be met, so design exports will be further promoted taking these differences into account.

■Literature
1) Kishida B, Choi D, Watanuki S; The effect of a serotonin transporter gene polymorphism on praise seeking need and rejection avoidance need in young Japanese males; Journal of Japan Physiological Anthropology Association Vol. 21, No. 3, p.p.115-119, Aug. 2016

2) Takayuki Nishimura, Takafumi Katsumura, Midori Motoi, Hiroki Oota, Shigeki Watanuki, Experimental evidence reveals the UCP1 genotype changes the oxygen consumption attributed to non-shivering thermogenesis in humans. Scientific Reports, 2017; 7: 5570, Jul. 2017

■Related Sites
Watanuki Lab.
PHYSIOLOGICAL ANTHROPOLOGY RESEARCH CENTER

■Inquiries
Department of Human Science, Fuculty of Design
Professor Shigeki Watanuki