Spice Factory Collaborates with Ritsumeikan University for Design Enablement Research

Spice Factory, a company based in Tokyo's Minato Ward, is embarking on a pioneering joint research initiative with the Ritsumeikan University College of Art and Design. This collaboration focuses on the concept of Design Enablement, aiming to enhance the quality of education and research as well as foster talent development. An official partnership agreement has been signed between both institutions to work in tandem toward these goals.

The Chief Design Officer of Spice Factory, Akira Motomura, will soon take on the role of visiting researcher at the Institute of Design Science at Ritsumeikan University, marking a significant intersection of academia and industry in their efforts. The research promises to utilize the company's unique management framework, known as “Priority5,” which emphasizes addressing pressing social issues like education, healthcare, climate change, and governance through practical digital transformation (DX) implementations.

Background: Addressing the Lack of Design Professionals in Organizations

As organizations increasingly realize the significance of DX, many face the challenge of inadequate specialists in design. This limitation demands a reconsideration of how services, operations, and organizational frameworks are conceived, necessitating that existing staff—be they business professionals, engineers, or frontline workers—engage in design thinking and decision-making processes.

The challenge is therefore not merely increasing the number of trained designers, but rather finding ways to distribute and sustain design implementation capabilities throughout the organization without relying solely on experts. This shift is further intensified as generative AI rapidly lowers the cost of visualization and prototyping, necessitating organizations to reconsider how complex issues are framed and who will carry this cognitive responsibility internally.

Significantly, discussions within the Economic, Trade, and Industry Ministry’s 2025 Task Force on Design Management, chaired by Yaegashi, are already tackling the training and evaluation frameworks for non-designers in design management practices. This dialogue aligns closely with the core questions raised by the Design Enablement Theory being investigated in this collaboration.

Understanding Design Enablement

Design Enablement refers to creating environments and systems that allow everyone—not just select specialists—to participate in the design process. This concept is rooted in accumulated design research since the 1960s from the Royal College of Art (RCA) and frameworks established by Nigel Cross on “Designerly ways of knowing.” The ultimate objective of Design Enablement is to help teams articulate their desired outcomes and engage directly in the design process sustainably, ensuring that lasting value remains within the organization beyond the lifespan of individual projects.

This theory outlines three key processes in achieving Design Enablement:

1. Pulling: Engaging in dialogues to extract the context, interests, and aspirations of others to co-create.
2. Pushing: Transferring formal knowledge about design through lectures and guidelines.
3. Demonstrating: Sharing practical experiences to convey tacit design knowledge.

As generative AI enables more individuals to realize their ideas into tangible forms, it simultaneously elevates the importance of conceptualizing what should be created and what value it should deliver. Design is increasingly accepted as a vital soft skill akin to foundational subjects, emphasizing that Design Enablement provides the framework for its effective implementation.

Components of the Joint Research Collaboration

1. Empirical Research on Design Enablement: The collaboration will observe and document how design knowledge is distributed and functions within local governments, administrative bodies, and private companies engaging in DX practices. Using qualitative case studies that include interviews and participatory observations, this research aims to deepen practical understanding of the Design Enablement Theory while fostering new insights in public and organizational transformation.

2. Research and Development of Organizational Change and Talent Development Programs: Insights gained from the research will be integrated into Spice Factory's services for DX support, organizational development, and talent development programs. They will provide theoretical feedback across four axes of Design Enablement: individual, team, organization, and co-creation. Furthermore, educational collaborations and initiatives related to talent cultivation in the design and art realm are prospective developments within this partnership.

3. Dissemination of Research Findings: Findings from the research will be shared widely through peer-reviewed articles, conference presentations, and events aimed at practitioners, contributing to the formation of common language in DX practices across public and administrative sectors. Spice Factory’s “Design Enablement Forum,” initiated in February 2026, will serve as a continuous platform for social outreach.

Looking Ahead

Spice Factory is dedicated to fostering the enhancement of DX and design practices aimed at solving societal challenges while contributing to education, research, and talent development. By sharing insights from this collaboration back into society, they aim to play a pivotal role in value creation and organizational transformation across various sectors, including public administration.

Comments from Stakeholders

- Akira Motomura, Chief Design Officer at Spice Factory: “The core of Design Enablement research emerges from understanding who in organizations without dedicated design professionals is responsible for decision-making in design. We seek to visualize and return the activities of those who meaningfully engage in design back to practical applications. With generative AI lowering visualization costs, the pressing question is how to cultivate and sustain design implementation capabilities within organizations.”

- Fumiya Yaegashi, Professor at Ritsumeikan University: “Design Enablement draws out the creative potential within organizations, preparing the conditions for individuals to conceptualize and enact their value. This reflects the philosophy of fostering CX (Creative Transformation) talent. As DX transforms society digitally, CX stimulates change through creative thought and action. The practical experiences of Spice Factory in addressing social challenges provide a vital field for our research. We aim to closely examine design practices on the ground while deepening the theoretical framework of Design Enablement.”

For those interested in exploring these concepts further, additional resources and insights on Design Enablement and Spice Factory's philosophy can be found on their official website and associated articles.