Exhibited at Design Festa VOL.49!＜With Exhibition Report＞
I exhibited at Design Festa, or DesFes for short, which was held over two days on Saturday, May 18th and Sunday, May 19th, 2019, at Tokyo Big Sight. The spring DesFes is the largest art fair in Japan, featuring exhibitions, sales, and performances of original works, with approximately 4,500 booths expected each day!
Compared to the mid-summer Design Festa where I exhibited in 2018, the scale of people, shops, and everything else felt much larger.
Design Festa divides exhibitors by work category (illustration, painting, workshop, performance, craft, photography, books, figures, dolls, live painting, accessories, experiential workshops, singing, dancing), and I exhibited in the E floor for painting & illustration on both days. This category can be set by yourself when applying to exhibit at Design Festa.
Exhibition Information and How Visitors Found My Booth
Once the Design Festa exhibition screening is complete, you can post information about your work on the Design Festa official website. A dedicated URL for yourself is created on the Design Festa official website, making it convenient to share exhibition information with friends. Here's what mine looks like.
Once the Design Festa exhibition screening is complete, you can post information about your work on the Design Festa official website. A dedicated URL for yourself is created on the Design Festa official website, making it convenient to share exhibition information with friends. Here's what mine looks like.
Last time, when I exhibited at the mid-summer Design Festa, some people came to my booth after seeing this official page, and this time, some people who came to my spring DesFes booth said, "I saw it on the official website and came because you were exhibiting again!" which I was very grateful for.
Design Festa Official Website
▷Artist Search Page
【"RT Festival"Participation Requirements】
The works exhibited this time included 4 original paintings, 10 types of posters, 10 types of postcards, and other goods such as original tumblers, acrylic screw cans, and hand towels, which were created and sold in response to requests from previous exhibitions for "something practical."
Finally...
Design Festa Official Website
▷Artist Search Page
https://designfesta.com/about-artist/
▷Artist Details Page
https://designfesta.com/about-artist-detail/?md=detail&id=2ZO5yE3DAS65koVhqZFy9w%3D%3D
This time, I tried using the official DesFes "RT Festival". If you post the following 6 items on your account, the official account will retweet them. It's very convenient because it provides an opportunity to deliver information about my work and exhibition details to people who don't follow my account! In fact, some people who came to my booth said, "I saw it on Twitter and wanted a poster, so I came!", which made me very happy＾＾
▷Artist Details Page
https://designfesta.com/about-artist-detail/?md=detail&id=2ZO5yE3DAS65koVhqZFy9w%3D%3D
This time, I tried using the official DesFes "RT Festival". If you post the following 6 items on your account, the official account will retweet them. It's very convenient because it provides an opportunity to deliver information about my work and exhibition details to people who don't follow my account! In fact, some people who came to my booth said, "I saw it on Twitter and wanted a poster, so I came!", which made me very happy＾＾
(I hope they find their favorite Shiba-san...＾＾)
【"RT Festival"Participation Requirements】
・Booth number
・Exhibition date
・Exhibition name
・#DesFes
・Photo
・@designfesta
In my case, it's like this. I'm exhibiting as Yoshie Moriuchi, but since I draw Shiba Inus and my ideal world, I asked Comame-san, my beloved Shiba Inu's account, to spread the word this time.
・Exhibition date
・Exhibition name
・#DesFes
・Photo
・@designfesta
In my case, it's like this. I'm exhibiting as Yoshie Moriuchi, but since I draw Shiba Inus and my ideal world, I asked Comame-san, my beloved Shiba Inu's account, to spread the word this time.
Mameshiba Comame (Goma)
https://twitter.com/comame_mameshib
Introduction of original artworks and details of merchandise
https://twitter.com/comame_mameshib
Introduction of original artworks and details of merchandise
The works exhibited this time included 4 original paintings, 10 types of posters, 10 types of postcards, and other goods such as original tumblers, acrylic screw cans, and hand towels, which were created and sold in response to requests from previous exhibitions for "something practical."
Thoughts on creating and selling merchandise
The E area where I exhibited was an area where many artists selling illustrations and paintings gathered. Exhibitors were selling their original artworks, merchandise, and picture books, and many artists were also spreading out canvases, taking out paints, and doing live painting on the spot. It was a valuable opportunity to see works in progress, and I was deeply moved. I got the impression that many exhibitors are there to introduce their work and gain fans by communicating with visitors, answering questions about their art, and receiving feedback.
Compared to the areas for experiential workshops, dance, and accessory sales, this area had a calm and lovely atmosphere, with many people who wanted to leisurely view paintings or talk with artists. Although foot traffic wasn't particularly heavy, I was still able to chat with about 100 people＾＾
Many visitors to my booth said things like, "It looks like my Shiba-chan＾＾" or "I'm buying it as a gift for a Shiba Inu-loving friend." While buying an original painting as a gift might be a bit too much, hand towels, cans, and posters make for easier gifts. I thought practical items, in particular, would make good presents. I paint a mysterious world where my beloved Shiba Inus live, but some people told me they wanted to give a stylized Shiba Inu rather than a realistic one, and I thought, "Oh, there are people like that too!"
About merchandise production
The web service I used for creating original goods this time was "Original Print.jp for Original T-shirts and Original Items."
As it was my first time producing and selling goods, I had various anxieties, but they accommodated my request for small quantities, allowing for small-lot printing. There was also a trial printing option, which resolved my concerns about printing. Additionally, the website itself had design templates and a design saving function, which was convenient for saving and comparing designs I created, or for reprinting them!
About搬入 (Carry-in/Delivery)
Since I planned to display an F30 size original painting, I used Sagawa Express for carry-in on the day. It's a convenient service where items are collected about two weeks before the event and can be picked up at the venue on the morning of the event. Exhibitors can start preparing from 7 AM, and everyone is carrying in and setting up for the 11 AM opening.
I had a lot of luggage and couldn't move it, so the Sagawa Express staff helped me, which I was truly grateful for. If you have a lot of luggage and can come by car, it seems you can also rent parking.
Interaction and Shopping Time with Exhibitors
And the charm of Design Festa is that you can "purchase one-of-a-kind items while talking with the artists."
In this day and age, many cases involve selling online, but when I asked, almost all items were one-of-a-kind, so they sold out quickly even online, or they were made to order.
Some exhibitors had websites but hardly used them, making me feel that each piece of art is a once-in-a-lifetime encounter. I also wanted to buy gifts to express my gratitude for everyday kindness, so I kept in mind what the recipient would like... and that a one-of-a-kind item would be best... and wandered around the venue.
Thanks to my family's cooperation, I had time to leave my booth and look at other exhibits and other exhibitors' booths, so I was able to enjoy DesFes as a visitor. Especially after 6 PM on the first day, and after 6 PM on the second day, the last hour, the flow of visitors calms down, and booths are relatively free.
This is the time when exhibitors frequently visit other exhibitors' booths to interact. Many other exhibitors came to my booth as well. However, many items are already sold out during this time, so I thought it would be better for those who really want something to act early.
The E area where I exhibited was an area where many artists selling illustrations and paintings gathered. Exhibitors were selling their original artworks, merchandise, and picture books, and many artists were also spreading out canvases, taking out paints, and doing live painting on the spot. It was a valuable opportunity to see works in progress, and I was deeply moved. I got the impression that many exhibitors are there to introduce their work and gain fans by communicating with visitors, answering questions about their art, and receiving feedback.
Compared to the areas for experiential workshops, dance, and accessory sales, this area had a calm and lovely atmosphere, with many people who wanted to leisurely view paintings or talk with artists. Although foot traffic wasn't particularly heavy, I was still able to chat with about 100 people＾＾
Many visitors to my booth said things like, "It looks like my Shiba-chan＾＾" or "I'm buying it as a gift for a Shiba Inu-loving friend." While buying an original painting as a gift might be a bit too much, hand towels, cans, and posters make for easier gifts. I thought practical items, in particular, would make good presents. I paint a mysterious world where my beloved Shiba Inus live, but some people told me they wanted to give a stylized Shiba Inu rather than a realistic one, and I thought, "Oh, there are people like that too!"
About merchandise production
The web service I used for creating original goods this time was "Original Print.jp for Original T-shirts and Original Items."
As it was my first time producing and selling goods, I had various anxieties, but they accommodated my request for small quantities, allowing for small-lot printing. There was also a trial printing option, which resolved my concerns about printing. Additionally, the website itself had design templates and a design saving function, which was convenient for saving and comparing designs I created, or for reprinting them!
About搬入 (Carry-in/Delivery)
Since I planned to display an F30 size original painting, I used Sagawa Express for carry-in on the day. It's a convenient service where items are collected about two weeks before the event and can be picked up at the venue on the morning of the event. Exhibitors can start preparing from 7 AM, and everyone is carrying in and setting up for the 11 AM opening.
I had a lot of luggage and couldn't move it, so the Sagawa Express staff helped me, which I was truly grateful for. If you have a lot of luggage and can come by car, it seems you can also rent parking.
Interaction and Shopping Time with Exhibitors
And the charm of Design Festa is that you can "purchase one-of-a-kind items while talking with the artists."
In this day and age, many cases involve selling online, but when I asked, almost all items were one-of-a-kind, so they sold out quickly even online, or they were made to order.
Some exhibitors had websites but hardly used them, making me feel that each piece of art is a once-in-a-lifetime encounter. I also wanted to buy gifts to express my gratitude for everyday kindness, so I kept in mind what the recipient would like... and that a one-of-a-kind item would be best... and wandered around the venue.
Thanks to my family's cooperation, I had time to leave my booth and look at other exhibits and other exhibitors' booths, so I was able to enjoy DesFes as a visitor. Especially after 6 PM on the first day, and after 6 PM on the second day, the last hour, the flow of visitors calms down, and booths are relatively free.
This is the time when exhibitors frequently visit other exhibitors' booths to interact. Many other exhibitors came to my booth as well. However, many items are already sold out during this time, so I thought it would be better for those who really want something to act early.
I purchased processed glass from Re-glass, a wooden koala from tomizo, an animal goods artist, wooden accessories from Mitsu,
acrylic accessories from Kitano Aya, and a sesame Shiba colored rice bowl.
Finally...
My second spring Design Festa exhibition has successfully concluded! Thank you very much to everyone who visited my booth, purchased original artwork and merchandise, and shared their feedback on my work. It was a fun day filled with learning, inspiration, and new sensations. This feeling of hearing direct feedback on my work is simply irresistible. It was a day when I resolved to gently keep striving so that I can enjoy this fun time again next year, with original paintings of Shiba Inus and other cute dogs＾＾
