PROJECT

進化思考

學習生物進化的創造性思維方法。已導入70多家企業和大學,榮獲山本七平獎。已翻譯成中文、韓文、印尼文等多種語言,並向世界推廣。

HOW

從生物進化的角度,
將創造性教育體系化。

人類的創造性,似乎是自然界中可說是超常般特殊的現象。在38億年生命史中刻劃的數千萬種生物中,我們找不到其他如此發揮創造性的生物。然而,若從我們人類也是自然一部分的觀點來看,人類所發揮的創造性也應該是自然現象之一。
另一方面,我們有時會對自然物的造形感受到超越人類的創造性。這是為什麼呢?

從這樣的觀點出發,NOSIGNER代表太刀川英輔認為人類的創造性是接近生物進化的現象,持續探求從進化這個現象來結構化創造性。並且,他系統化了將生物進化結構應用於設計和創新的創造性思考法「進化思考」。
生物透過偶然發生的「變異」和環境等條件造成的必然性「選擇」這兩個過程,藉由遺傳反覆多世代而進化。
如果我們的創造性具有相同的結構,那麼實現社會變革的人類發明和創新,大多也應該是從偶然與必然思考的往復中產生的。偶然與必然都沒有意志,只要單純往復就會接近適應。

創造性是不依作者意志而自律發生的現象。基於這樣的想法,進化思考將創造性視為不受常識束縛、產生瘋狂偶然的「變異性思考」,與從狀況觀察必然性適應方向的「選擇性思考」多世代往復的過程。

展示了生物進化與設計的對比(2016, GINZA GRAPHIC GALLERY)
變異:融合
選擇:解剖

長期以來一直研究設計與語言關係的太刀川,認為人類創造性的源泉是「語言」。而掌握生物進化關鍵的,是與語言十分相似的「DNA」變異。
DNA的複製錯誤,與語言的說錯或聽錯非常相似。基於這個前提,太刀川假設進化與創造會產生類似的變異模式。

實際上,與生物進化共通的模式也能在各種發明和文化中看到。進化思考將這種相似的模式應用於創造過程中,將產生創意的錯誤「型」分類為9種。

「變量」「消失」「融合」「逆轉」「分離」「交換」「擬態」「移動」「增殖」這9種變異模式如工具箱般加以運用,大量產生偶然的錯誤,在短時間內高效地創造出許多創意。這就是變異性思考。

那麼,要如何從這些錯誤中選出好的創意呢?在自然界中,生物對環境的適應是可以觀察的現象。如果學習自然科學家在漫長歷史中培養的自然觀察方法,或許就能選擇適應性的發想。

太刀川在考察各種自然科學的觀察手法過程中,發現觀察只有跨越「時間」與「空間」的4個觀點,每個都已確立為生物學觀察的體系。並且,他將把握內部構成要素的「解剖」、理解外部環境的「生態」、回溯過去解讀進化系譜的「系統」、從FORECAST型、BACKCAST型兩種方法考察未來的「預測」這4種「適應」手法體系化,命名為「時空觀學習」。透過從跨越時間與空間的4個觀點分析狀況,能夠理解社會必然的選擇壓力,並選擇能夠對應這些壓力且具有強度的創意。

「進化思考」是運用這些「變異」與「選擇」的思考,在兩種思考之間往復,創造出能夠在漫長時間中存活的創造性概念的思考法。
(在書籍《進化思考》的第一版中,曾以「變異與適應」的往復來表達透過偶然變異和自然選擇而接近的適應,但從改訂版開始,為了提高學術上的準確性,改為「變異與選擇」往復的表達方式)

2021年4月,在日本邊境人口約2,000人的離島、島根縣海士町首次設立的出版社「海士之風」出版了第一本書,進化思考的書籍正式發售。儘管是從邊境地區出版,這本書卻在Amazon商業・經濟書排行榜中獲得第1位的暢銷佳績。發售1週內即達到第3刷3萬冊的紀錄,其後更呈現爆發性的擴展。

此外,這本書籍在日本國內獲得了眾多獎項。其中最顯著的是榮獲了數年才頒發一次、授予代表日本人文科學領域書籍的榮譽學術獎「山本七平獎」。評審委員包括解剖學者養老孟司先生、進化生物學者長谷川眞理子女士這兩位生物學者,以及在社會科學領域活躍的經濟學者伊藤元重先生、政治學者中西輝政先生、法學者八木秀次先生,可說是獲得了真正跨越文理領域的學術評價。

我們希望透過這個進化思考,證明即使從邊境地區也能改變世界,同時向世界發信全新的創造性教育。

VOICE

進化有各種各樣被認可的法則。作者參考這些法則,試圖將其作為所謂創新的參考資料。
關於各論,只能請讀者閱讀本書,但運用進化中諸法則來思考這一構想的新穎性,遠遠超越了單純的技巧書籍範疇。
各項目所述及的事例也十分生動,作為讀物也很有趣。這一點顯示了作者不斷思考的態度。地球上三十五億年的生物進化的答案就是現在的我們,而那個過程造就了我們。既然如此,左右那個過程的法則,對今後過程的進行應該不可能沒有參考價值。
作者的方法基本上是類比,動物行為學者康拉德·勞倫茲在諾貝爾獎受獎講演中表示,自己的方法只有類比而已。在重視所謂「獨創性」的學問研究世界中,很少有人這樣說。然而在像創新這樣重視「獨創性」的局面中,類比所具有的意義是重要的,本作品在這個意義上是珍貴的,可以說值得山本七平獎的榮譽。

有限公司 養老研究所 /
東京大學 名譽教授
養老孟司

海士町的風景 攝影師:香庄謙一

進化思考的書籍設計是由作者太刀川本人親自操刀。
在思考跨越時代持續被愛的書籍應有的樣貌時,受到在悠久時光中不斷堆積的地層所啟發,決定設計一本具有岩石般風味和質感的書籍。這裡蘊含著對據說影響了查爾斯·達爾文進化論的詹姆斯·赫頓地質學研究的致敬。
封面採用了具有礦物般質感的浮雕圖案紙張「岩肌」,並在其上印刷大理石圖案。將同樣的圖案延伸至書口,讓這本超過500頁的著作具有厚重而堅實的岩石般氣質。此外,透過極力排除裝飾的極簡設計統一整體調性,表現出不受潮流左右的永恆魅力。

本書的標題標誌是根據「進化思考」的變異模式「增殖」「擬態」「反轉」「變量」,對「進」「化」「思」「考」這4個漢字進行變化而成的。此外,在取下書套後顯現的封面上,使用同樣的4個漢字,將適應中的「解剖」「系統」「生態」「預測」這4種時空觀學習的思維方式進行了視覺化呈現。
在標誌的印刷方面,採用了村田金箔的「咖啡棕色」進行燙金處理,從正面看呈現黑色,變換角度時則閃耀著棕色光澤,營造出如同大理石中嵌著黯淡發光寶石般的意象。

本文的排版中,充分發揮作者兼任書籍設計師的優勢,實踐了配合圖版讓文字環繞的排版等手法,致力於提供文字與視覺一體化的閱讀體驗。運用大理石圖案的索引提高檢索性,並設置了促進重複閱讀的機制。

這本書源自企業和大學的創造性工作坊,收錄了促進創造性思維的50個練習。不僅可以閱讀,更是一本能夠挑戰創造性思維實踐的教科書。儘管是超過500頁的大部頭著作,本書兼具易讀性和實用性,作為「創造性」和「生物進化」的百科全書,是一本可以反覆閱讀的佳作。

進化學校工作坊 

JIDA學生照明展工作坊
未來百年設計展(2023年,台灣設計館)
進化思考圖書館(2023, Not Just Library)
創造性教育を
更新並超越
不可持續的世界。

WHY

「創造性」是只有具備
才能的人才擁有的嗎。

我們人類為了滿足各種欲求,透過「創造力」創造出各種工具,發展了社會。儘管創造力是如此重要的力量,但至今為止「創造力」多被視為先天能力來討論,人們傾向認為沒有天賦才能就無法發揮優秀的創造力。那麼,創造力真的是無法學習的嗎?

雷蒙德·卡特爾「結晶性智力與流動性智力圖表」

2030議程169項SDGs目標的達成狀況 (2015年時點)

認為自己「有創造力」的日本學生比例

因為美術課畫得不好等簡單的挫折,就放棄自己創造性的人們層出不窮。這種令人遺憾的結果是,根據調查顯示,在日本只有8%的學生認為自己具有「創造力」。
然而,我們真的對創造性有深入的理解嗎?這樣想來,我們會發現自己對創造性這一現象的結構和訓練方法幾乎一無所知。如果能夠掌握創造性的結構,我們或許就能夠後天學會這種能力。

近年來的學校教育開始關注「主動學習」和「探究學習」等尊重學習者主動性,培養不拘泥於學科框架的創造性和探究心的教育。此外,在商業現場,促進創造性思維的思考方法也開始受到關注。

增加能夠產生創造性專案的人才,應該也能連結到可持續社會的構築和各種社會課題的根本性解決。為此,也需要建立能夠理解創造性本身並進行系統性學習的理論和教育。

動物的系統樹模型
交通工具的系統樹模型

WILL

進化思考已開始被日本的大企業和教育機構如松下電器、富士通、積水房屋、慶應義塾大學等採用,並獲得專家們評價為世界最強的創新手法。此外,同志社大學將其選為國語入學考試題目等,顯示出巨大的擴展趨勢。而且,實踐這種創造性思維,為永續發展等新專案帶來社會變革的人們開始大量湧現。
此外,日本頂尖的AI專家開始著手開發融入進化思考機制的人工智慧,國內最大規模生態環境展示的動物園也舉辦運用進化思考的工作坊等,進化思考正逐漸擴大其影響範圍。

然而,真正向自然法則學習創造性教育的專案才剛剛開始。
我們人類在享受科技恩惠的同時持續成長,但作為代價,地質和氣候發生大幅變動,生態系統的崩壞正在進行。據說已進入人類活動對地球造成重大影響的「人新世」。已經超越了具有不可逆且急劇環境變化危險性的臨界點「地球邊界=行星邊界」,在文明據說只能再維持數十年的情況下,我們已經沒有時間上的餘裕了。

人類因為短視地發揮自身的創造性而招致了文明崩壞的危機,但我們為了在地球上生存下去所能使用的唯一武器,也正是我們的創造性。現在正是我們需要深入理解創造性的本質,並為了解決各種課題而最大限度地加以活用,從而實現可持續共生社會的時候。

19世紀活躍的幼兒教育之祖弗里德里希·福祿貝爾,透過從自然科學獲得靈感的創造性教育思想,對後來的包豪斯等產生了巨大影響,奠定了創造性教育的基礎。我們所追求的目標,是讓包豪斯以後100年來無法改變的創造性教育得以進化。

我們希望透過進化思考來更新時代的創造性教育,以創造出這樣的狀況:讓每個人都能在各自的場所最大限度地發揮創造性,讓人類的重大課題——各種社會問題得以創造性地解決。

人類發明的專利圖

預購銷售開始不久便在Amazon商業・經濟書排行榜獲得第1名,瞬間決定發售前重版的《進化思考》。喚醒每個人內心沉睡創造性的全新思考法是什麼。


Book information 書籍資訊 /
Book Name 書籍名:Evolutional Creativity  進化思考―創造生存概念的「變異與適應」
Publisher 出版社:Amanokaze 海士之風
Price 價格:¥3,300 (Tax Included 含稅)
Publisher Date 發售日:2021/4/21


相關網站 /
進化思考特設網站
Amazon
紀伊國屋書店
作者 太刀川英輔的訊息影片

The book ” Evolutional Creativity ” was ranked No. 1 on Amazon’s business and economics book rankings soon after it went on sale for pre-order, and was quickly reprinted before its release. What is this new way of thinking that awakens the creativity that lies dormant within everyone?

Related Sites /
Evolutional Creativity Special Site
Amazon
Kinokuniya Bookstore
Message video from the author Eisuke Tachikawa

The Evolution of “Evolutional Creativity” (Updated November 2025)


November 2025: Keynote Speech at the 9th Leadership Summit 2025 in Bangladesh



Eisuke Tachikawa took the stage as a keynote speaker at the “Leadership Summit 2025” held in Bangladesh. Held under the theme “Resilient Leadership – Thriving Amid Uncertainty,” this international conference explored the sustainable and ethical leadership required in a rapidly changing society. Tachikawa delivered a speech on the nature of leadership in addressing social issues and environmental changes from the perspective of Evolutional Creativity.


November 2025: Online Presentation at the 12th Anniversary Commemoration of Typhoon Yolanda


Marking the 12th anniversary of Typhoon Yolanda—which caused some of the worst damage ever recorded in the Philippines—Eisuke Tachikawa spoke at a commemorative event held at Eastern Visayas State University. He delivered an online lecture on “Evolutional Creativity” to approximately 400 participants, sharing creative perspectives on how to confront disasters.


November 2025: Delivered a Special Lecture to Graduate Students at Minerva University


At Minerva University—known for its unique educational model that involves learning while moving between seven cities worldwide and having been selected as “the world’s most innovative university”—Eisuke Tachikawa delivered a special lecture on “Evolutional Creativity” to approximately 20 graduate students majoring in “Decision Science.” Students from diverse backgrounds, including current politicians and corporate leaders, visited the Yokohama studio of NOSIGNER—the firm led by Tachikawa—and the lecture lasted three hours due to a lively Q&A session.


October 2025: Presentation at the “Cities of Design Subnetwork Meeting” Conference Hosted by the UNESCO Creative Cities Network (UCCN)


Eisuke Tachikawa spoke at the “Cities of Design Subnetwork Meeting” hosted by the UNESCO Creative Cities Network (UCCN)—which aims to harness culture and creativity for sustainable urban development—at the Bandung Institute of Technology. He participated in a panel discussion themed “Creative City 2.0,” exchanging views on approaches to creativity based on “Evolutional Creativity” and the future of cities adapting to climate change.


September 2025: Keynote Speech at the International Design Conference (IDC) 2025 in the Philippines


Eisuke Tachikawa delivered a keynote speech at the International Design Conference (IDC) 2025, organized by the Design Center of the Philippines, the government agency responsible for promoting design in the Philippines. Invited as a keynote speaker to the conference, which featured a diverse lineup of speakers including consultants, designers, researchers, and business executives under the theme “Holding the Whole,” he delivered a keynote address on creativity education based on “Evolutional Creativity” and the ideal form of cities adapting to climate change.


July 2025: Received the Highest Academic Award from Bandung Institute of Technology


He was awarded the “GANESA WIDYA JASA ADIUTAMA Award,” the highest academic honor bestowed by the Bandung Institute of Technology (ITB) in Indonesia for outstanding contributions to knowledge and education. This prestigious award is granted to only two individuals following a rigorous selection process from candidates nominated by each faculty; he was selected based on a nomination from the Faculty of Art and Design (FSRD).


November 2024: Publication of the Indonesian Edition of *Evolutional Creativity*


The Indonesian edition of the book *Evolutional Creativity* was published by the Indonesian publishing house “SiMPUL” under the supervision of the Bandung Institute of Technology (ITB), one of Indonesia’s leading universities. 
Additionally, to commemorate the book’s publication, an exhibition and commemorative lecture were held at the ITB Design Center, and an exhibition and workshop were also held at the Jakarta art space “ Dia.Lo.Gue. ,” run by graphic designer Hermawan Tanjil.


April 2024: 3rd Anniversary of the Publication of “Evolutional Creativity”


“Evolutional Creativity,” systematized by its proponent, Eisuke Tachikawa, after years of exploration, has continued to evolve even today, having received a wide range of feedback—including support, encouragement, criticism, and suggestions—from many people since the first edition of the book was published.
Furthermore, a reader community formed by over 100 enthusiastic readers remains actively engaged, and the principles of Evolutional Creativity are being put to practical use in the work and daily lives of its practitioners.




March 2024: Lecture at the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry for Stanford Business School Students


Tachikawa delivered a lecture on Japanese design and Evolutional Creativity to approximately 30 students and faculty members from Stanford Graduate School of Business at the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry. This lecture was part of the school’s study tour to Japan, a program designed to explore the relationship between Japan’s rapid economic growth and design, as well as the current state of startups.


December 2023: Publication of *Evolutional Creativity [Expanded and Revised Edition]*


With biological supervision provided by evolutionary biologist Masaki Kawata (Professor by Special Appointment to the President at Tohoku University),  *Evolutional Creativity [Expanded and Revised Edition]* —the result of over a year of discussions with various experts—has been published. Taking into account the criticism and feedback received regarding the first edition, this revised edition has been expanded with new content from the perspective of creativity. It has grown by 50 pages to 560 pages, evolving into a book that is even more readable and substantial.


October 2023: Paper Presentation at the World Design Assembly International Conference


At the  “World Design Assembly (WDA)”  organized by the World Design Organization (WDO)—the first time the event has been held in Japan in 34 years—an international conference (Research and Education Forum) was held. A  paper  based on the expanded and revised edition of *Evolutional Creativity* was accepted, and I presented it. Additionally, Tachikawa, who serves as the Chairman of JIDA—one of the founding organizations of the World Design Organization—was listed as a member of the conference’s executive committee and was elected to the WDO Board of Directors in an election held during the conference.


September 2023: Exhibition Held at the Taiwan Design Museum


Coinciding with the publication of the Taiwanese edition of the book *Evolutional Creativity*, an exhibition by NOSIGNER titled  *DESIGNS FOR THE NEXT 100 YEARS*  was held at the Taiwan Design Museum, managed by the Taiwan Design Research Institute. In addition to an exhibition focusing on the projects NOSIGNER has undertaken and the social issues behind them, a section dedicated to “Evolutional Creativity” was included. Furthermore, with related initiatives such as the “Evolutional Creativity Library”—a collection of valuable documents by natural scientists who influenced Evolutional Creativity—it became an opportunity to introduce “Evolutional Creativity” to the people of Taiwan from diverse perspectives.


September 2023: Publication of the Taiwanese Edition of “Evolutional Creativity”


Following the Korean edition, the  Taiwanese edition (Traditional Chinese version) —translated from the draft manuscript of the book *Evolutional Creativity* currently undergoing revision—was published by the Taiwanese publisher Shuangxi Publishing. This book, which largely reflects the content of the revised edition project we have been working on since 2022, garnered significant attention, including being selected as a September featured title at the popular Taiwanese bookstore Eslite.


June 2023: Publication of the Korean Edition of “Evolutional Creativity”


The  Korean edition  of “Evolutional Creativity,” translated from the manuscript currently undergoing revision, was published by the Korean publisher Next Wave Media. As the book’s first overseas publication, it received a significant response, including numerous positive reviews from readers on book sales sites and coverage in media outlets and blogs.


May 2023: Presentation at a Conference Hosted by UNESCO-MGIEP


Tachikawa was invited to speak at the conference “Education for Flourishing in a Mixed Reality,” organized by UNESCO-MGIEP (the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization’s Mahatma Gandhi Institute of Education for Peace and Sustainable Development), which brought together renowned scholars, researchers, teachers, policymakers, and representatives from the private sector from around the world. He delivered a presentation on “Evolutional Creativity” during the “Design Thinking and Creativity in Education” session. This conference was also the first international conference based on the Sustainable Flourishing Goals.


March 2023, August 2023: Lecture at the Bandung Institute of Technology (ITB), Indonesia


Tachikawa delivered a lecture on Evolutional Creativity at the Bandung Institute of Technology (ITB), Indonesia’s premier institution of higher learning. Due to the positive reception of this content, it was decided to publish an Indonesian-language edition of “Evolutional Creativity.” Following the  special lecture  held in March, the lecture delivered in August served as the inaugural session of the newly established “Design Leadership” program, which aims to cultivate leaders capable of making a social impact through the power of design.


March 2023: Chaired the “Thinking About the Future of Higher Education” Forum


Eisuke Tachikawa served as chair of the “Thinking About the Future of Higher Education” forum, organized by the Benesse Educational Research Institute, where members engaged in cutting-edge educational practices discussed the future of university education. After four rounds of roundtable discussions with committee members, a proposal outlining a vision for university education that envisions a hopeful future was compiled. Under the new educational guiding principle, “ GROWING AMBITION—Students, Embrace Ambition ,” the proposal put forward a new model of university education that fosters the “ambition” to drive social change, along with a creative curriculum designed to realize it.


November 2022: Received the “Shu Yamaguchi Award” at the Pen Creator Awards


Eisuke Tachikawa received the “Shu Yamaguchi Award” at the “ Pen Creator Awards ,” established by the monthly magazine ‘Pen’ to honor the year’s most active creators, including artists, creative directors, and musicians. His recommender, author and public speaker Shu Yamaguchi, praised him, stating, “It was truly groundbreaking in that he comprehensively structured the phenomenon of biological evolution—a process whose effectiveness has been proven—and linked it to the principles of innovation.”


November 2022: Appeared in an NHK program for a dialogue with anatomist Takeshi Yoro


He appeared alongside anatomist Takeshi Yoro on the popular NHK program “Switch Interview,” in which two people working in different fields visit each other’s workplaces and conduct a dialogue while “switching” between the roles of speaker and listener. In the second part of the program, I invited Dr. Yoro—who has spent nearly 60 years since his student days exploring “the forms of living things”—to the NOSIGNER studio. While introducing the concept of “Evolutional Creativity,” I spoke about my work as a designer who has pursued form through various approaches.


June 2022: Project to Launch Revised Edition of


A project to publish a revised edition has begun, aiming to further refine the book as a method of creative thinking and accurately incorporate scientific insights. For this revision, we invited Professor Masaki Kawata, a professor on special assignment to the President at Tohoku University and an expert in evolution and ecology, to serve as supervising editor, accompanying the evolution of the “Evolutional Creativity” book. A new book by Professor Kawata explaining evolutionary biology was recently published, so please take a look at that as well.
For the author as well, this was an invaluable opportunity to deeply re-learn evolutionary biology from such a distinguished expert as Professor Kawata.


May 2022: Dialogue with Nobel Laureate Dr. Akira Yoshino


At an event commemorating Asahi Kasei’s 100th anniversary, I had the honor of engaging in a dialogue with Dr. Akira Yoshino (Asahi Kasei Honorary Fellow), the inventor of the lithium-ion battery and Nobel Laureate in Chemistry. The video of Tachikawa’s lecture on “Evolutional Creativity” and his dialogue with Dr. Yoshino was streamed to approximately 40,000 Asahi Kasei Group employees. This event not only fulfilled Tachikawa’s long-held wish to engage in a dialogue with Dr. Yoshino but also served as an opportunity to convey the message to everyone at Asahi Kasei that “it is the ‘curiosity’ and ‘knowledge’ of each individual that enriches imagination and shapes the next 100 years.”
Dialogue Video: “AK Talk Vol. 2: Between ‘Creation’ and ‘Imagination’ — Asahi Kasei”


March 2022: Appeared on NHK E-Tele’s “Night of Radical Modifications: Engineer Training School”


Eisuke Tachikawa appeared as a “Design (Creation) Instructor” on NHK E-Tele’s popular program “Night of Radical Modifications: Engineer Training School.” With the theme of “Magic Modification of a Blender,” he led a brainstorming workshop to create a “blender that shoots juice far away,” introducing the nine “mutation” patterns from “Evolutional Creativity” as hints for generating ideas. 
Official Article: How to Generate “Ideas” Learned from NHK’s “Magic Modification Night” Episode 7: “The Long Jump of the Cleaning Robot”
 


February 2022: Received a Special Award at the “IT Engineer Book Awards 2022”


In the business book category of the  “IT Engineer Book Awards 2022” —an event where IT engineers select recommended books—*Evolutional Creativity* was selected as one of the top 10. Furthermore, I was presented with a Special Award by art director Yumiko Hidaka, who participated as a special guest.


2022–2023: Adopted in School Entrance Exam Questions


Excerpts from *Evolutional Creativity* were adopted as material for entrance exams at several schools, including as a topic for the Japanese language entrance exam at Doshisha University.


November 2021: Winner of the Yamamoto Shichihei Prize


We received the  “Yamamoto Shichihei Prize” , an academic award given to works in the humanities and social sciences that demonstrate imaginative concepts and accessible expression.
While “Evolutional Creativity” has garnered attention as a method for fostering innovators and driving innovation, winning this prestigious Japanese academic award—whose selection committee includes anatomist Takeshi Yoro, evolutionary biologist Mariko Hasegawa, economist Motoshige Ito, political scientist Terumasa Nakanishi, and legal scholar Shuji Yagi—has allowed it to gain recognition from an academic perspective as a new way of thinking that unravels creativity from an evolutionary viewpoint.




April 2021: Publication of the book *Evolutional Creativity*


We published this book with the aim of conveying the concepts and methodology of Evolutional Creativity to a wide audience, including the business sector, and encouraging its application to idea generation across all fields, such as business development, design, and art.
The book *Evolutional Creativity*  was published as the first title by “Ami no Kaze,” a publishing house based on a small, remote island in the Oki Islands of Shimane Prefecture.
Packed with a wealth of photographs and illustrations on biological evolution and human creativity, as well as 50 “Evolutional Creativity Works” that readers can practice while reading, this book—which comprehensively covers the concepts and practical methods of Evolutional Creativity—became a bestseller. The Evolutional Creativity methodology has spread to major corporations and educational institutions and has even been adopted in entrance exams for universities and high schools.




Pre-Publication History


“Evolutional Creativity” is a concept that Tachikawa had been nurturing for many years prior to the book’s publication in 2021. Below is a summary of the journey leading up to the publication of *Evolutional Creativity*.


2021: Collaboration with NHK’s TV Program “The Direxon”


We collaborated on a project for NHK’s TV program  “The Direxon” , working on “Asobo!”, a project that used “Evolutional Creativity” to “evolve” disaster preparedness drills. We provided creativity education based on “Evolutional Creativity” to members who had experienced the Great East Japan Earthquake during their junior high school years, supporting them in brainstorming, concept design, and content creation.


August 2020: “School of Evolution” Launches


An online course was launched through the voluntary efforts of Takashi Yamada and other members who had studied Evolutional Creativity. The “School of Evolution” began as a course designed to plant the seeds of creativity across various sectors of society. This school is a training program that helps participants refine new ideas for business creation through lectures and workshops on Evolutional Creativity.
The “School of Evolution” has attracted a diverse group of participants, including corporate executives, employees aiming to drive innovation, and school teachers and public servants seeking to engage in creative practice. To date, the program has produced approximately 1,000 graduates.
The program is offered to a wide range of participants, from corporations and organizations to individuals, and is utilized for product development and human resource development. Many graduates continue to meet weekly to explore creativity education through Evolutional Creativity.


2019: Began writing the book *Evolutional Creativity*


After meeting Mr. Abe and Mr. Harada at “Kokuri! Camp,” they decided to launch the publishing house “Ami no Kaze” in Ami Town, Shimane Prefecture. They approached me with the idea of making *Evolutional Creativity* their first book, and thus began a three-year writing process.
September 2018: Paper on “Evolutional Creativity” Published in *DIAMOND Harvard Business Review*
A paper of approximately 10,000 characters summarizing the overview of “Evolutional Creativity” was published in  *DIAMOND Harvard Business Review* . Although the concept was still in its early stages, this marked the first opportunity to articulate the philosophy of “Evolutional Creativity”—which draws lessons on creativity from the process of biological evolution—in written form.


2018: Launch of the “Evolutional Creativity” Workshop


Having gained many insights through the exhibition, Tachikawa developed “The Grammar of Design” and launched “Evolutional Creativity,” a workshop designed to learn the creative process from biological evolution. At the first workshop held at “Cocri! Camp”—a gathering of leaders and experts from various sectors and fields—he met Takashi Yamada, who would later launch “The School of Evolution”; Yuji Abe, the publisher of *Evolutional Creativity*; and Eiji Harada of Eiji Publishing. Subsequently, the workshop was held at various companies, and “Evolutional Creativity” began to be adopted as an innovation methodology.


September 16–October 31, 2016: Exhibition “No-Designer: Form and Reason”


Tachikawa, who had become interested in the creativity of natural forms—which possess no language—that surpasses that of humans, began exploring the commonalities between biological evolution and human creativity. In the exhibition “No-Designer: Form and Reason,” held at the Ginza Graphic Gallery (ggg), he presented works that contrasted evolution and creation, delving into the reasons behind forms and methods for conceiving design.


2012 Began teaching the course “The Grammar of Design”


After entering the workforce and fully committing to his career as a designer, Tachikawa began teaching “The Grammar of Design” at Musashino Art University, a course that expanded upon the content of his master’s thesis. The course, which later expanded to include sessions for working professionals, gained a strong reputation, leading to its adoption at the University of Tokyo’s i.school and its application in innovation initiatives at various companies.


2006: Wrote Master’s Thesis “Linguistic Cognition of Design”


The origins of Evolutional Creativity lie in Tachikawa’s master’s thesis, “Linguistic Cognition of Design,” which he completed while studying architecture as a graduate student. Focusing on the process by which ideas and concepts emerge—a topic he had long been interested in—the thesis examined this process from a linguistic perspective, based on the assumption that language serves as the trigger for inspiration.

INFORMATION
What
Evolutional Creativity 
When
2016-
Where
Japan
Scope
Branding / Branding Strategy / Logo / Edition / Business card / Motion logo / Promotional items / Infographics / Photograph / Book cover and inner page design / Exhibition / Poster / Concept Development
Award
  • The 30th Shichihei Yamamoto Prize​​​​​​​2021
  • ITB GANESHA WIDYA JASA ADIUTAMA2024
SDGs
  • 質の高い教育をみんなに
  • 働きがいも経済成長も
  • 気候変動に具体的な対策を
  • 海の豊かさを守ろう
  • 陸の豊かさも守ろう
  • 平和と公正をすべての人に
  • パートナーシップで目標を達成しよう
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