Design as a Dialogue. How Does Kenya Hara’s Philosophy Change the Perception of a Designer’s Role?

Kenya Hara, a renown Japanese designer, presented his works at the National Museum in Poznań in 2023. Hara believes in the power of simplicity and encourages designers to question conventional design practices. His concept of emptiness emphasises the meaning of leaving space for interpretation and the user’s engagement. Hara’s works, commented with kōan, invite designers to go beyond thought patterns and re-design what is seemingly known. Keywords: Kenya Hara, sense-driven design, ex-formation, emptiness, Japanese design, user experience