HISTORY

History

Founded in 1952, GK Group began with a focus on industrial design and has since evolved into a comprehensive, integrated organization. Each company contributes its own expertise while collaborating flexibly to meet diverse and changing needs. Our structure allows us to deliver holistic design solutions with consistency across disciplines, from software to hardware, while operating on an international scale through overseas bases and partners. Today, design is not only about giving form to function, but about creating new value for the future. Amid the complexity of modern design, our mission is to generate social, cultural, and economic value as a value-creation industry.

1950’s

In 1952 a group of students from Tokyo University of the Arts called for the movement of Industrial Design against the traditional crafts. They gathered around the professor Mr. Iwataro Koike, who deeply understood their call. The group named themselves group Koike (GK).

1960’s

The “Metabolism Movement” began with the “World Design Conference” in 1960. Now Japan was open to the world, and expressed its principles and opinions proudly.

1970’s

In 1973, the Ministry of Trade and Industry promoted the idea of a “Design Year” it was the first time the Japanese government would officially recognize the field of design. The same year the International Council of Societies of Industrial Design Congress was held for the first time in Asia.

1980’s

GK held the exhibition “GK Exhibition 1980’” with the slogan “Toward Creative Industry” looking forward to being a creative industry.

1990’s

GK continued to create products produced by industries. GK introduced new design to the privatized Japan Railway Company (JR) with the intended improvement of passenger service and the planning of a safer urban environment.

2000’s

GK design promoted the way of producing things for the new century. The worldwide speed and scale of Information Technology (IT) was quickly taking a superior position in society.

Current

“Realizing the thoughts on nature,” “Restructuring our view of life,” “Renewal of the thoughts on science and technologies,” “Re-think of our lifestyle” and so on. Dougu Culture would be the very way the “new global environment” might appear through the intention of design and production of things..