Atsuki Kikuchi is an art director and designer whose major works include VI planning for Aomori Museum of Art, brand planning for the Sally Scott and mina perhonen fashion brands, and editorial design for “Shun ga marugoto” and “So-en” magazines. He became involved in the art and design worlds early on, producing contemporary art and doing graphic design work during his student days studying sculpture at an art university. Today he continues his unique activities with a focus on the relationship between the arts and society.

This exhibition – titled “Creation Is Free. Production Needs Fee.” – will take place at two venues: a specially created website and Creation Gallery G8. On the website, Mr. Kikuchi will offer data, available for download, of design objects that can be customized in size, color, etc. At the gallery, goods created using that data will be on display: posters, T-shirts, notebooks, drinking mugs, totebags, matches, etc. All of the items on display in the gallery will be available for purchase.

Today, thanks to the spread of the Internet and social networking services, visuals and data can be shared quite simply, going worldwide in no time at all. Mr. Kikuchi’s exhibition is designed to make us ponder whether creation should be free – in both the artistic and monetary senses – and the meaning of graphic design.