The idea that "positivity" is a powerful PR point for "spatial designers."

Store design, exhibition design, and perhaps office design as well.

I don't think this is limited to exhibition designers, but when I am designing for exhibitions on a daily basis, especially when handling sales promotion designs for small and medium-sized enterprises, the "positivity" of that designer is actually what I feel is the most important thing.

I believe this can likely be said for designers of "commercial spaces" in general, such as store designers who design shops and restaurants.

Among them, exhibition booth design is a profession where one feels this acutely.

How to answer a client's "Will this be okay?"

In the case of exhibition design, the "exhibitor" is the client.

For those exhibitors, an exhibition involves investing millions of yen to build a booth for just three days, only to have it dismantled and discarded once the event ends.

On top of that, they must produce "results" that justify the amount invested. It is a "high-risk sales promotion activity," and when entrusted with the design of a booth for such a venue, I think it is quite important how you answer when a client asks, "Will this exhibition be okay?"

"Well, I wonder..."
is out of the question, and

"Well... let's do our best."
is also no good. This would only make the client anxious.
Instead, it should be

"It will be fine! Because..."

I believe you must be able to answer immediately like this.

The point is to confidently assert "It will be fine" and clearly show the basis for that.

Of course, since you are answering immediately like this, you cannot just be optimistic; you need a firm confidence and a response based on predicting what lies ahead.

For example, this applies even when you end up with an extremely disadvantageous booth location, or when an unforeseen situation occurs.

It is precisely at such times that you must confidently convey, "It will be fine."

"Positive thinking" and "positivity" required of commercial space designers

When thinking about these things, I feel it is very important for designers, especially those involved in commercial spaces and sales promotion, to have "positive thinking" and "positivity" to perceive things positively on a daily basis.

Especially in exhibition participation, which requires a large amount of money and is a "momentary sales promotion activity," I think it is a fundamental quality that a designer should possess.

In the case of exhibitions, those who pay large sums to exhibit are often small and medium-sized enterprises participating from all over Japan.

I certainly do not mean that large companies have budgets just because they are large, but for many small and medium-sized enterprises, spending over 1 million yen in promotion costs for just three days is a major project that could determine the fate of the company, and there are many such companies.

Because it is an exhibition participation that bets the company's fate, the thoughts placed on the designer are significant and heavy.

That is why I believe an exhibition designer must respond to the "expectations" that bet the company's fate, and keep them feeling at ease throughout the process.

Couldn't the same be said for store design and restaurant design?

For a shop owner who has opened an independent store, having their store designed should be an investment that bets their life.

They want the person designing that store to be someone who supports them positively.

Can one really "always be positive"?

Some might ask, "Takemura-san, are you really always positive?"

Will the exhibition really be a success?

I should always be positive toward exhibitors who think this way, but in reality, there are times when I see their booth location and realize it is hopelessly bad, or I feel—though I could never tell the exhibitor—that "this product might be difficult..."

At such times, to be honest, I also feel "this is bad..." deep down.

"This is bad... visitors might hardly pass by this spot."
"It's in a disadvantageous location, surrounded only by large corporations..."

These thoughts and

"This product has a somewhat subtle design..."
"The product's level of completion is too low... buyers probably won't react to this."

I often feel this way too.
I am the same.
In fact, I often feel that way.

Because I am in the exhibition venue every day, I can imagine the reality of the venue and the psychology of the visitors, and to some extent, the reactions within the venue.

Therefore, the "result" if they exhibit as is is easy to imagine.
At such times,

"It will be difficult to attract customers in this location"
or,
"Buyers probably won't react to this product"

I might point out calmly.

This might seem good at first glance, but it makes the exhibitor anxious.

The important thing is to make "reframing" a habit.

Just because I am a "positive thinker" or "positive," it doesn't mean I don't see the negatives.
After all, I am human.

Things that seem bad look bad.
I think that's just how it is.

However,the important thing is to re-examine what seems negative at first glance, think about how to perceive it as a "plus," and be able to "reframe" it so that it can be compensated for.

And I feel that being able to do that reframing naturally, and having it become a habit, is what matters.

When faced with a negative situation, everyone tends to perceive it negatively at first.

At such times, instead of just remaining pessimistic, it is important to first "How can I reframe this negative situation to think of it as a plus?" ask yourself.

Most things can usually be perceived as either a plus or a minus.
How can I think about it to perceive it as a plus? I try to explore that first, and try to think about it.

That "reframed positive aspect" might not be a big deal, or it might be something trivial.

However, it is far better than perceiving it as a negative.

If this is applied to exhibition design, it feels like this.

Exhibitors get anxious when their booth location is bad.
Therefore, I tell exhibitors this.

I tell them.

First, while acknowledging the disadvantageous situation, I convey ideas to change the perspective and utilize the space, and then I try to answer calmly and confidently, as if "there is no problem at all."
Never showing that you are anxious yourself is also important.

"Bluffing," "bravado," and "stretching yourself" are also important.

Everyone feels negative about things that feel negative. This is the same for everyone.

"Positive people" or "optimistic" people are those who have made this kind of "change in perspective" a habit, and are always in the habit of doing so.

In addition, "bluffing" or "bravado" to not show the other party that you are anxious is also important.

When facing a negative situation, there are times when a solution is not immediately visible.

Even at such times, I say "it's okay" with certainty.

If you show the client that you are anxious, that alone will make them feel anxious.

Therefore, even if you haven't found a solution yet, first say "it's okay" with certainty.

I think it's fine if this is just "stretching yourself."

Especially for designers with little experience, there are many such situations.

But even if it's stretching yourself, first say it with certainty so as not to make the other party anxious.

The other party might see through your bluff.

But I think it is many times better to have them feel "Oh, they are trying hard" than to make them feel negative.

And, once you have gotten through the situation with "bravado," of course, you will think of a solution with all your might to meet those expectations.

I try to think with all my might about whether I can change my perspective and rethink the disadvantage as an advantage, and how I can make the most of this situation.

The action of "thinking of a solution with all my might" after this "first, it's okay to bluff to provide reassurance" is more important than anything else.

It is often compared to a duck (or a swan??) in a pond; it's like that, where the appearance on the water surface is graceful, but it is paddling with all its might under the water.

And then, you can just confidently convey the solution at the next meeting.

Bravado and efforts under the water surface.
I feel daily that this is also an important quality for a designer.

Anyone can change into a "positive-thinking person."

When I talk about this,
"No way, I'm a negative thinker on a daily basis, so this might be difficult. In other words, I might be disqualified as a commercial space designer..."
you might feel.

But it's okay.

Anyone can change themselves into a "positive thinker."

By the way, I am confident that I am "positive" and a "positive thinker," but when I was young, in my student days, I was an extremely negative and critical person.

When I was in high school, I had no friends in my class, and during breaks, I was the kind of student who would sit alone in the corner of the bustling classroom, looking lost.
That time was truly painful.

In the end, I didn't even go to school in the latter half of my third year of high school, claiming I was studying for entrance exams...

One time in high school, I saw a student teacher appear in class and give a lesson from the podium.

At that time,"There is absolutely no way I could ever stand in front of people and talk in front of a large crowd like that in my entire life." I seriously thought.

Really.
At that time, I thought such a life was impossible.

Now, I even hold seminars several times a month, so you never know what life will bring.

You can change yourself into a positive thinker.
However, unfortunately, you cannot do it immediately.

Realistically, it takes time.
A year, two years, or maybe even longer.

But it is absolutely possible to change.

In my case, because of my failure in high school, I tried various things during my university days.
I might be able to tell you what I was thinking about someday, but first, I made sure to keep one way of thinking in my mind.

That is, when I fell into a situation that seemed like the worst, I tried to think like this.

"What's done is done. If so, is there any way to make the most of this situation?"

I made sure to always keep this phrase in my mind and always remember it when I faced a situation that seemed negative. It might be good to write it down in a notebook or on your smartphone.

One more thing. I also paid attention to my "habitual phrases."

I thought that words like "anyway" or "as I thought" made me negative every time I said them, so I decided "not to say them in the future," and when I fell into a negative situation, I decided to think (mutter in my heart), "Oh well, it can't be helped!"

These are still the same today.

(By the way, the habitual phrase "Oh well" was influenced by the line "Yare yare daze..." (Good grief...) said by Jotaro Kujo in Part 3 of JOJO, which was serialized in "Jump" that I was reading at the time... This is a story from when I was in my 20s. ← Actually, I love manga and anime.)

By doing this in your daily life,
and by imposing this small habit on yourself,you will likely find yourself in a situation where "before you know it, you have changed into someone who is called a positive thinker."

There are still other things you can do besides this, but first,I would like you to remember that negative thinking can be turned into positive thinking..

The "positivity" of a commercial space designer can be one of their selling points.

Getting back to the point, in this way,for a commercial space designer, an important goal of the work is not just to create the space, but also to ensure the success of the client who commissioned it.

Even if only for a short time, a designer is an important partner who will walk the path of the business together with the client.

Since they have chosen us as an important business partner based on our skills and sense, it is very important to be a person who can always put the client at ease during the time we are involved.

To maintain positivity on a daily basis, you need the habit of viewing things positively in your everyday life.

Of course, in addition to that, you need the knowledge, skills, and experience to be able to advise clients with confidence and deal with various situations.

It is often said that for designers, communication skills are just as important as design skills. In addition to that, I have always believed that this kind of fundamental personality is also important.

And I think this can be said to be one of the major selling points for a commercial space designer.

If there are designers who think their experience or technical skills are low, or who lack confidence, and if they are confident in their "positivity," then I think that is something they can be proud of and a valuable selling point.

Today, I talked about the qualities required of a commercial space designer.

When I have another opportunity, I would like to humbly write about the things I have done to become more positive.