Mizuguchi Tetsuya is an experience architect who centres his work around synesthesia, a phenomenon in which one sense can evoke experiences in another, leading to multisensory encounters.
A former Sega video game designer, he contributed to Synesthesia X1-2.44, a device developed by the Synesthesia Lab that immerses users with its dual speakers and 44 vibrating actuators, providing an experience that envelops the body with sound, vibrations, and light.
Another notable work of his is Rez (2001), as well as Rez Infinite (2016), an innovative video game that integrates visuals, sound, and tactile sensations, employing the Synesthesia suit to provide users with a complete sensory experience. Mizuguchi also worked on Tetris Effect (2018), the virtual reality extension of Tetris, and HUMANITY (2023).
Design involves creating or facilitating unprecedented emotional experiences.
Mizuguchi Tetsuya
As part of the Design Discoveries exhibition, Mizuguchi was invited to consider what to include in a collection of Japanese design treasures. He researched and presented Yamaha’s TransAcoustic Piano at the manufacturer’s site in Hamamatsu, Shizuoka Prefecture.
A gallery of 1 item.
The piano uses transducers to convert digital audio signals into vibrations, enhanced by the acoustic soundboard’s resonance. This creates a unique sound experience that is not just heard but felt throughout the body.
In acoustic pianos, strings are struck by hammers attached to keys, and vibrations are amplified by a wooden soundboard. The TransAcoustic Piano transmits sound with the aid of transducers: devices fitted to the soundboard to convert the audio signals into vibrations. This causes the whole piano to resonate, enveloping the listener in rich sound.
Each TransAcoustic Piano features a wooden soundboard with distinct acoustic characteristics. The pianos undergo meticulous tuning by skilled technicians, with transducers strategically positioned to measure vibrations and enhance resonance.
In Japan, where living spaces are often compact, the ‘silent piano’, transmitting sound through headphones, is highly favoured. The integration of transducers in the TransAcoustic Piano offers a fresh solution to this approach, providing new ways for musical immersion.
Mizuguchi believes that engaging multiple senses can result in deeper emotional experiences: “Synesthetic experiences through the ears (sound) and the other senses can be truly uplifting.”
Learn more about Mizuguchi Tetsuya and the TransAcoustic Piano in our exhibition Design Discoveries: Towards a DESIGN MUSEUM JAPAN, on display at Japan House London from 15 May to 8 September 2024.