Taketoshi USHIAMA

My name is Taketoshi Ushiama, and I am honored to serve as the new President of ADADA - Asia Digital Art and Design Association.

I am a Professor at Kyushu University, specializing in Content Environment Design, with a background in computer science. Throughout my career, I have been drawn to the space where technology and human creativity meet.

We are at a remarkable turning point. AI and digital technologies are advancing rapidly, and their impact on creative expression is profound. AI now enables new forms of interaction that were previously unimaginable. It also allows people without deep technical expertise to produce sophisticated, interactive works. The barriers between technology and creative expression are coming down.

As technology takes on more technical tasks, what becomes truly essential is what only humans can bring: the sensibility of Art and the problem-solving power of Design. The fusion of technology, Art, and Design is the central challenge of our time, and it is precisely what ADADA exists to explore.

At the same time, something important is emerging in our digital world. As AI-powered translation breaks down language barriers on platforms like X (formerly Twitter), international exchange has become more immediate than ever. But this new openness has revealed something unexpected: when language is no longer a barrier, local culture and regional identity become more important, not less. What makes each community distinct, its traditions, aesthetics, and ways of seeing, is what makes cross-cultural exchange genuinely meaningful.

This is the heart of Art and Design: not just technical skill, but the expression of lived human experience. And it is where cultural exchange holds its greatest value.

ADADA was founded in Asia, and we are proud of that foundation. But our vision is not limited to Asia alone. We are committed to Art and Design that is rooted in the diverse cultures of communities around the world. Asia is our starting point, and from here, we reach out to the world.

I look forward to building this community with all of you.

With warmth and enthusiasm,

Taketoshi Ushiama
President of ADADA, Professor of Kyushu University