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At the School of Design, more than half of our students go on to pursue a master’s degree. Many other students find positions at private companies and government agencies. Each course prepares students for work in different industries, and many of them create careers where they make use of what they studied at university.
Many students who obtain a master's degree go on to pursue careers in the private sector or in government, where they can make direct use of the expertise they acquired in their graduate studies.
Students wanting to acquire an even higher level of expertise go on to pursue a doctoral program and pursue careers as cutting-edge researchers, designers, creators, and artists.
Career Paths after Graduation FY2018 - FY2023
Department of Design, School of Design
| Department | Graduates | Schooling | Employment | Other |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Environmental Design Course | 29 | 21 | 8 | 0 |
| Industrial Design Course | 43 | 25 | 16 | 2 |
| Design Futures Course | 24 | 12 | 11 | 1 |
| Media Design Course | 41 | 23 | 16 | 2 |
| Acoustic Design Course | 32 | 26 | 5 | 1 |
School of Design Enrollees before 2019
| Department | Graduates | Schooling | Employment | Other |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Department of Environmental Design | 191 | 103 | 82 | 6 |
| Department of Industrial Design | 248 | 145 | 95 | 8 |
| Department of Visual Communication Design | 199 | 77 | 98 | 24 |
| Department of Acoustic Design | 183 | 117 | 55 | 11 |
| Department of Art and Information Design | 204 | 87 | 100 | 17 |
Department of Design, Graduate School of Design
| Major / Course | Graduates | Employment | Schooling | Other |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Strategic Design Course | 12 | 9 | 1 | 2 |
| Environmental Design Course | 17 | 16 | 1 | 0 |
| Human Life Design and Science Course | 18 | 15 | 2 | 1 |
| Design Futures Course | 24 | 20 | 2 | 2 |
| Media Design Course | 31 | 28 | 2 | 1 |
| Acoustic Design Course | 28 | 27 | 0 | 1 |
Graduate School of Design Enrollees before 2021
| Major / Course | Graduates | Employment | Schooling | Other |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Department of Design Human Science Course / Human Science International Course | 127 | 100 | 9 | 18 |
| Department of Design Communication Design Science Course | 174 | 150 | 10 | 14 |
| Department of Design Environment and Heritage Design Course | 140 | 106 | 8 | 26 |
| Department of Design Content and Creative Design Course | 214 | 150 | 11 | 35 |
| Department of Design Strategy | 206 | 159 | 5 | 42 |
Department of Design, School of Design
This information also includes the employment destinations of students from the former departments who were supervised by faculty members affiliated with each course.
Department of Design, School of Design Environmental Design Course
Career Paths after Graduation
Career
About half of environmental design graduates go on to graduate school, and the other half go on to find employment soon after graduation. The majority of these graduates find work at housing companies, design offices, or construction companies, and many others go into furniture and fixtures, interior design, office equipment, information technology, civil service, real estate, or landscaping-related companies. Other students choose to study abroad every year. Upon entering graduate school, students develop their design expertise and specialize in fields of their choosing.
Prospective Occupations
These students go on to become architects, landscapers, urban planners, environmental consultants, and more.
■Graduates are eligible to take the examinations for first-class architects and building engineers (Ikkyu-kenchikushi)
Career
Architectural Design
Kajima Corporation (Design Department) , Takenaka Corporation (Design Department) , Nikken Sekkei, Nihon Sekkei, NTT Facilities, JR Kyushu, Jun Mitsui & Associates Inc. Architects, NAYA Architects, Yasutaka Yoshimura Architects, Tadao Ando Architect & Associates, YU Momoeda Architects, INTERMEDIA, Kawamura Sato Design, Studio of ShotaroOkada
General Contractors and Others in the Construction Industry
Shimizu Corporation, Taisei Corporation, Obayashi Corporation, Konoike Construction, ICHIKEN Co.,Ltd., Kajima Corporation
Real Estate
Nomura Real Estate Development
Various Design-Related
YKK AP, LIXIL, Nomura Co. Ltd., Toshiba Lighting & Technology, Koizumi Lighting, ModuleX Inc., DNP Media Create, Lighting Planners Associates, Shiseido, Mist Light Design, LLC, Yu light
Interior Design
Okamura Corporation, Uchida Yoko, Zycc, Sangetsu, SPACE
Media, Information and Publishing
Fujitsu, IBM Japan, TBS-Vision, Nishinippon Shimbun
Landscaping
Lan's Inc., PREC Institute, Seibu Landscape, Uchiyama Landscape-Construction
Consulting
Pacific Consultants, Kokusai Kogyo, Landbrains, Yachiyo Engineering, Kozo Keikaku Engineering, Oriental Consultants
Technology Development
Techno Ryowa, Takasago Thermal Engineering, Saibu Gas Living, JDC Corporation
Government
Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, Japan Patent Office, Fukuoka Prefectural Office, Saga Prefectural Office, Urban Renaissance Agency, Fukuoka City, Kasuga City
Housing Industry
Misawa Homes, Sekisui House, Daiwa House, Panasonic Homes
Advertising Agencies
Dentsu, Hakuhodo
University, Research
Kyushu University, The University of Tokyo, Tohoku University, Hokkaido University, Yamaguchi University, Shinshu University, Kobe Design University, Shijiazhuang University
Others
Nomura Research Institute, JTB, Daimaru, Mitsubishi UFJ Bank, Shinkenchiku-sha, Osaka Gas, Kubara Honke
Department of Design, School of Design Industrial Design Course
Career Paths after Graduation
Career
Around half of these graduates go on to graduate school and another half go on to employment in their respective fields of study. Our graduates go on to successful careers in a variety of industries that include home appliance and automobile design and furniture manufacturing; space design, architecture, and urban planning; trading; advertising; printing and publishing; information technology; banking; and government and public service. Those who go on to complete their graduate studies often become researchers, either in-house at private research institutes or at educational and research institutions such as universities, or pursue careers in the industries listed above.
Prospective Occupations
Industrial designers (product/public/interior/brand/service/business)
Creators (planning/research/engineering)
Ergonomists
Career
Automobiles / Motorcycle
Toyota Motor Corporation, Nissan Motor Co., Ltd., Honda Motor Co.,Ltd., Mazda Motor Corporation, Yamaha Motor Co., Ltd., Suzuki Motor Corporation, DAIHATSU MOTOR CO., LTD., Namura Shipbuilding, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries
Home Appliances, Information, Medical and Precision Instruments
Daikin Industries, Hitachi, Panasonic, Mitsubishi Electric, Toshiba, IRIS OHYAMA, Fujitsu, NIDEC Instruments, Canon Inc., Olympus, Seiko Epson, Omron, Paramount Bed, Tokyo Electron
Housing and Equipment
TOTO, LIXIL, Takara Standard, YKK AP, Rinnai
Office, Furniture & Interiors
KOKUYO, Itoki, Okamura, Karimoku Furniture, Nomura Co. Ltd., Nitori, IKEA Japan, Nishikawa, FELISSIMO
Toys and Games
Takara Tomy, EPOCH Company, The Pokémon Company, Bandai Namco Entertainment, Sega
Sports and Fashion
Asics Corporation, MoonStar Company, Shimano, JACKALL, Shiseido
Design Firms and Offices, Urban Development
Pacific Consultants, GK Design Group, nendo
Consulting firm
Accenture Japan, Nomura Research Institute, Hitachi Consulting, Goodpatch
Software, Information & Communication
OBIC, ZENRIN, Cookpad, Seiko Solutions, NTT DoCoMo
Advertising, Printing, Publishing and Broadcasting
Dentsu, Hakuhodo Products, ADK Holdings, Recruit, Dai Nippon Printing, TOPPAN, Benesse, Japan Broadcasting Corporation (NHK), Kagoshima Television Broadcasting (KTS)
Infrastructure, Transportation & Travel
Kyushu/ The Chugoku Erectric Power, Fukuoka Bank, Daiwa Securities, West Japan Railway/ Kyushu Railway, JTB
Research Institutes and Researchers
National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry, National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health, Japan
Education and Research
Kyushu University, Yamaguchi University, The University of Shimane, Chikushi Jogakuen University, Huazhong University Of Science And Technology
Public Administration
Hyogo Prefecture/ Hiroshima Prefecture/ Fukuoka Prefecture/ Saga Prefecture, Fukuoka Prefecture Police
Department of Design, School of Design Design Futures Course
Career Paths after Graduation
Career
Students can expect to find employment in areas related to social design upon graduation. Specific examples of potential careers are: creators and design consultants involved in the creation of services, experiences, and systems; planners who create new types of value in lifestyle and product design; UX designers who implement service design for manufacturers; researchers and planners who conduct investigative analysis for manufacturers; data scientists who analyze social and biometric data at research institutes; public servants and administrators involved in policy design at the local and national level; and globally-minded managers. We also expect many students to pursue research careers by continuing their studies at graduate school.
Prospective Occupations
Designers (experience/vision, etc.)
Creative directors
Data scientists (social data/biometrics, etc.)
Consultants
Administrative officer
Art managers
Creators
Entrepreneurs
Career
Planning, development, sales, etc
Dentsu, Dentsu Live, Hakuhodo, NTT Communications, NTT Facilities, NTT Data, CyberAgent, Nomura Real Estate Development, Isetan, Uchida Yoko, Bandai, Ryohin Keikaku, TOPPAN, LIXIL, Zebura, Nitori, Yohji Yamamoto, JR Hakata City, UNIQLO
Broadcasting
Japan Broadcasting Corporation (NHK), RKB Mainichi Broadcasting Corporation, JCOM
Advertising, Editorial and Exhibitions
JTB Publishing, LINE, BenesseDaiko Advertising, Tanseisha, Hakuten, BBDO, BAKERU, Nishitetsu Agency, Planmake, SEPTENI Holdings
Designer
Toyota Motor Corporation, Nissan Motor Co., Ltd., Mazda Motor Corporation, Suzuki Motor Corporation, Denso, HITACHI(Design), Panasonic, Canon, RICOH, Recruit, Sharp, Komatsu, Fujitsu Design Center, EPOCH Company, LTD., Tohato, GANBARION, Okamura, GK Graphics, Nippon Design Center, ADK Holdings, BALMUDA, MOTHERHOUSE, Toyama Design Center, Daiwa House, Sankyo Frontier
Manufacturing
Hakuhodo Products, ROBOT Communications Inc., Daikin Industries
Information
Rakuten Group (Data Analyst), Fujitsu (SE), IBM, FICC (Web Master), NTT Data, Kyushu NS Solutions, KDDI, e-Seikatsu Co., Ltd.
Research
National Institute for Environmental Studies, Itochu Fashion System, HITACHI(Design Researcher), Fukuoka Asian Urban Research Center, Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology, Other Universities
Bank
Mizuho Bank, Sumitomo Mitsui Banking, The Nishi-Nippon City Bank, The Norinchukin Bank
Ministry, Municipality
Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, Japan International Cooperation Agency（JICA）, Oita Prefectural Office, Kitakyushu City Office, Munakata City Office, Karatsu City Office, Beppu City Office, Minamiminowa Village
Faculty
Kyushu University, Wako University, Nakamura Gakuen University, Nagasaki Institute Of Applied Science, Beijing Institute of Technology, China Academy of Art
Public facilities, arts organizations, etc.
Fukuoka City Science Museum, Fukuoka Asian Art Museum, Nagoya City Cultural Promotion Agency, Artium(Director), Shiki Theatre Company, ACROS Fukuoka Foundation, Filmmaker (freelance)
Establishment of companies, organizations, etc.
donner le mot, Fukushigoto, Entrepreneur, Self-employed (design, consulting)
Venture Businesses
each company
Department of Design, School of Design Media Design Course
Career Paths after Graduation
Career
Graduates of the Department of Visual Communication Design and the Department of Art and Information Design— the two courses that now comprise the Media Design Course —go on to have successful careers as creators and engineers in mass media, gaming, IT, film, advertising, printing, and other related industries. More than a few graduates have also gone on to become researchers at universities and research institutes. The graduates of the Media Design Course are also expected to play important roles in and beyond those industries mentioned above.
Prospective Occupations
Designers/Engineers (media-related, interaction design-related)
Creators (media art/games/video/advertising, etc.)
Career
Telecommunications
Nippon Telegraph and Telephone, NTT DoCoMo, NTT Communications, NTT Data, KDDI, SoftBank, JCOM Co., Ltd., JustSystems, IBM Japan, Nomura Research Institute
Advertising & Planning
Dentsu, Hakuhodo, ADK Holdings, Daiko Advertising, Nishitetsu Agency
Broadcasting and Media Content
Japan Broadcasting Corporation, TV Asahi, Nippon Television Network, TV TOKYO, WOWOW, Tohokushinsha Film, Pony Canyon, Toei Animation, Nishinippon Shimbun, TBS-Vision, Saga Television Station
Web and ICT Service
Yahoo, KAYAC, Rakuten Group
Game and Entertainment
Nintendo, SQUARE ENIX, Sega, KONAMI, GREE, CAPCOM, Bandai Namco Entertainment, LEVEL-5, CyberAgent, GANBARION, teamLab
Video / CM Production
KOO-KI
Printing, Publishing, and Information Services
TOPPAN, Dai Nippon Printing, Recruit, ZENRIN, General Asahi, Benesse
Information Equipment and Electrical Equipment
Panasonic, Hitachi, Fujitsu, Sony, NEC, Sharp, Mitsubishi Electric
Manufacturing
Kansai Paint, Kao
Transport Industry
All Nippon Airways, Japan Airlines, East Japan Railway
Government and Public Institutions
Kyushu Erectric Power
Universities and Research Institutions
Kyushu University, Tokyo Metropolitan University, Kyushu Sangyo University, Kobe Design University, Hyogo University, Sapporo City University
Others
Nomura Co. Ltd., Fukuoka Bank, The Nishi-Nippon City Bank, Tokio Marine & Nichido Fire Insurance
Department of Design, School of Design Acoustic Design Course
Career Paths after Graduation
Career
More than half of our graduates go on to graduate school to deepen their expertise and further their research. After graduation from the undergraduate program or completion of graduate school, many students go on to successful careers in a variety of roles related to sound, including the manufacturing of audio communication equipment, electrical equipment, musical instruments; architectural acoustics and noise control; software production; communications; or as in-house researchers at corporate research institutes.
Prospective Occupations
Research and development into audio equipment, architecture, information and communications
Acoustics consultants
Sound engineers for broadcasting stations
Sound designers
Media artists
Career
Acoustic Communication Equipment, Hearing Aids and Electrical Equipment
ALPS ALPINE, Audio-Technica, Ono Sokki, Canon, Sony Group, Sony Global Manufacturing & Operations, DENSO TEN, TOA, Toshiba, NEC, Pioneer, Panasonic, HARMAN International, Hitachi, Foster Electric, Fujitsu, Hosiden Kyushu, RION, JVCKENWOOD
Musical Instrument Manufacturing
Yamaha, Kawai Musical Instruments Manufacturing, Roland, CASIO
Acoustic Measurement, Architectural Acoustics, and Noise Control
Spectris (HBK Division), Sona, Nagata Acoustics, Nihon Onkyo Engineering, Obayashi Corporation, Kajima Corporation, Taisei Corporation, Takenaka Corporation, Kobayasi Institute of Physical Research, News Environmental Design, Yotsumoto Acoustic Design Inc.
Automobiles
Toyota Motor Corporation, Honda R&D, Nissan Motor Co., Ltd., Mazda Motor Corporation
Software and Systems Engineering
NTT Data, CAPCOM, DigiOn
Transport Industry
All Nippon Airways, Narita International Airport
Broadcasting & Telecommunications
Japan Broadcasting Corporation (NHK), TBS TV, TV Asahi, Mainichi Broadcasting, NHK Media Technology, WOWOW, Nippon Telegraph and Telephone (NTT), NTT Communications, NTT East Japan, NTT DoCoMo, SoftBank
Performing Arts & Art Management
Shiki Theatre Company, Sapporo Cultural Arts Foundation
University, Research
Kyushu University, Kyushu Institute of Technology, Fukushima University, Tokyo University of the Arts, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo University of Information Sciences, NTT Research & Development, Institute of Advanced Media Arts and Sciences
Department of Design, Graduate School of Design
Department of Design, Graduate School of Design Strategic Design Course
Career
Graduates are expected to find employment in a variety of companies, such as manufacturers of home appliances, furniture, and toys; space, architecture, and urban planning-related companies; information and media-related companies; advertising agencies; trading and retail companies; infrastructure companies; and government agencies. They can also enter doctoral programs at graduate schools. After completing the second semester of the graduate program, they are expected to work as researchers in the companies' research institutes or educational research institutions such as universities.
Prospective Occupations
Industrial Designer, Product Designer, Service Designer, Design Strategist, Business Designer, Design Manager, Vision Designer, Entrepreneur, Design Researcher, Government Official, Researcher, etc.
Department of Design, Graduate School of Design Environmental Design Course
Career
Our goal is to develop human resources with comprehensive research and design skills to be leaders in designing a better environment in the future.
Prospective Occupations
Research positions in universities, research institutes, museums, etc.; administrative positions in engineering, architecture, landscape architecture, urban planning, cultural promotion, environmental policy, etc.; planners in community development, village revitalization, etc.; managers in heritage protection, heritage restoration, etc.; designers in architecture, landscape architecture, landscaping, etc.; engineers in architecture, landscape architecture, etc.
Department of Design, Graduate School of Design Human Life Design and Science Course
Career
Based on a deep understanding of human life design and specialized knowledge, we aim to nurture human resources who will be active in a wide range of fields.
Prospective Occupations
Research positions at universities, civil servants, IT-related companies, manufacturers of home appliances, automobiles, furniture, etc., designers (product, public, interior, UX, graphic, etc.), advertising, mass media, entertainment-related, creators, planners, consultants, R&D, etc.
Department of Design, Graduate School of Design Design Futures Course
Career
Our goal is to nurture human resources who have the design skills and challenging mindset to design, plan, and implement products using innovative methods and play a leading role in the real world.
Prospective Occupations
Designers (experience, vision, etc.), design directors, data scientists (social data, life information, etc.), consultants, government officials, art managers, creators, entrepreneurs, etc.
Department of Design, Graduate School of Design Media Design Course
Career
Graduates of this course are expected to be active as researchers, artists, designers, directors, and educators in content design, information design, and media communication.
Prospective Occupations
Designers, Planners, Directors (graphic design, advertising, etc.), Engineers (network engineers, data scientists, design engineers, visual scientists, etc.), Creators (media art, games, video, etc.), Artists, Science journalists, Intermedia Communicators, Researchers, Educators, etc.
Department of Design, Graduate School of Design Acoustic Design Course
Career
They are expected to play an active role in various companies related to sound, such as manufacturers of acoustic and communication equipment, electric appliances, musical instruments, etc., architectural acoustics and noise control-related, software and communication-related, and companies' research laboratories.
Prospective Occupations
Acoustic communication systems, hearing aids, electrical appliances-related, musical instrument manufacturing, acoustic measurement, architectural acoustics, noise control, automobiles, software and system engineers, transportation industry, broadcasting, performing arts, telecommunications, universities and research institutes.