Art & Strategy

A&S見学会 / Get To Know A&S Presentation

Jason Carl Ruddy — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 10:52:41 +0000

Today we gave a presentation about who we are and what we do and how we do it and why you should have us do it for you – all at a venue which is close to where we do it. Nearly 20 people from various parts of Japan attended, with some coming from the Fukushima area. All of them, however, are pretty big players in their industries, so we were really happy to have everything go off without a hitch.

The event was held at a German biergarten / restaurant right across the street from our office. Everyone enjoyed their fair share of beer, and the best damn blue cheese potatoes which ever existed made an appearance. (Jason’s note: If the Chef of a German restaurant in Shibuya is found dead with his recipe for blue cheese potatoes missing, I swear I had nothing to do it.) We also got to sample some delicacies which attendees brought with them, and everyone was given a miniature kaleidoscope made by hand by Tomomi.

Take a look at some pictures after the jump.

Jewelry site now open

Daisuke Nagasawa — Mon, 20 Feb 2012 13:01:29 +0000

On top of doing design, applications and content, we also have been busy producing accessories and starting development on new products. The expert hands of Tomomi Toda have created many award-winning pieces of jewelry – but the real point of promise rests in her many kaleidoscope designs. Now you know why the motif keeps appearing throughout our promotional materials.

She’s made so much in the past few months that we decided to showcase her goods on a special site – which you can see here.

Office brush up

Michela Monterosso — Mon, 20 Feb 2012 06:03:31 +0000

For the better part of 2011, our office had typically 4 people at most on any given day. Then we got busier than we thought we’d be. (Good problem, for sure.) So in the space of a couple of months we needed room for 11 people. So we got some new tables and computers and fancy schmancy chairs. And now we’ve got what you see here.

Say “Buongiorno!” to Michela

Jason Carl Ruddy — Mon, 20 Feb 2012 05:20:57 +0000

A&S is happy to have its newest member, Michela Monterosso, coming to us all the way from Italy.

While she is new to working in design professionally, she has years of experience with print, photography and fine arts. The moment she submitted her portfolio, Jason knew that he wanted her to join the ranks, no matter what. Fast-forward with her freelancing with us for a few months and as of this month she is now a full-time employee, complete with 3 year work visa.

With a great design sense, a proactive work ethic and a lot of humour, she has managed to fill a hole that sorely needed it.

And yes, that’s what she said.

Happy New Year

Michela Monterosso — Sun, 01 Jan 2012 05:21:02 +0000

Art & Strategy wishes you a happy new year!

明けましておめでとう御座います！

Daisuke Nagasawa Introduction on Digital Hollywood Site

Jason Carl Ruddy — Thu, 01 Sep 2011 01:37:58 +0000

Daisuke Nagasawa was interviewed at Digital Hollywood School at Tokyo, the biggest IT education institute focusing on creative works in Japan, as one of core teachers’ profiles. He is mentioning his episode of foundation of Art&Strategy and undertaking his chief curriculum consultant in Digital Hollywood School.

Appearence in “Sugiyama-Style”

Daisuke Nagasawa — Tue, 22 Mar 2011 02:49:52 +0000

On March 22nd, CCO Jason Carl Ruddy appeared on Sugiyama-Style, updated daily (or thereabout) by Principal Sugiyama of Digital Hollywood University.On that day, Jason and Daisuke made a courtesy call to Mr. Sugiyama to explain how they are doing on class material preparations for their newly-established Digital Communication Artist Department.Jason and Sugiyama-san got along quite well, spending as much time discussing music, digital devices, application software and so on from their similar hobby backgrounds, as they did about school-related topics. Oh, and they talked about Lego.

午前11時、デジタルハリウッド専門スクール「本科」デジタルコミュニケーションアーティスト専攻のカリキュラム開発のリーダーであるJason Rubbyさん（写真）が、もうひとりのリーダーの長澤さんといっしょに、現状を報告しに来てくれた。

この4月からの「本科」は、伝統のCGコースをパワーアップさせ、さらにいろいろなアウトプットに対応できるクリエーター育成を目指すデジタルコミュニケーションアーティスト専攻を新設した。

95年、パソコンのディスプレイ上のウィンドウの中にあったWEBサイトデザインから始まったデザイン分野が、今やスマートフォン、電子書籍、パソコン、ハイビジョンテレビ、デジタルサイネージ、AR（オーギュメンテッド・リアリティ）、VR（ヴァーチャルリアリティ）などもカバーするものになり、ますます、すべてのコミュニケーションをデザインするという方向に向いてきている。

ということで企画された新専攻。そのカリキュラムデザインを海外での教育も受け、ウェブ構築の世界で、リーダーとして活躍してきた長澤さんと、その仲間であるJasonさんが全面的にやってくれることになったのだ。

ということで、ここ半年あまり、彼らは相当な力を注いで開発に当たってくれたのだ。「本科」の2年間、これだけ勉強したら、素晴しい基礎力を持ち応用展開ができるプロフェッショナルになると言えるところまで来たとのこと。現在は、テキストを書き下ろしているところとのこと。

さて、Jason Rubbyさんは、PhotoShop 1.0から使っている方。これ80年代の終わりの頃だね。最初のキャリアは、ミュージシャン。アメリカでもイギリスでも、いろいろ拠点を変えながら、デスメタルからヒップホップまで様々なジャンルの音楽のプロデュースしたとのこと。

ご自身の音楽は、どちらかというとクールでエクスペリメンタルなサウンドなのだそうだ。そのキャリアと共にやってきたのが、グラフィックデザイナーとしての仕事。そして95年からは、そちらに専念して、ウェブに軸足を置きながらも、新しい技術と大胆なデザインで、大きなクライアントを納得させてきたキャリアだ。

Jasonさんと長澤さんは、インターナショナルなクライアントに対応できる発想や企画、そして、そこに展開されるデザインプロセスを、なんとか日本のクリエーターたちに伝授したいと思っている。さらに、海外でのインターン先も確保しているのだ。なんかワクワクするね。