Prof. Dr. Keisuke Takayasu is a professor of aesthetics at the Graduate School of Humanities at Osaka University (Japan), specialising in design philosophy. After studying sociology at Hitotsubashi University, he obtained a doctorate in art history from Osaka University. He initially taught at Ehime University before being appointed to Osaka University in 2016. Research stays took him to Heidelberg University (2010/11) and the Sainsbury Institute for the Study of Japanese Arts and Cultures in Norwich (2013).

His research deals with aesthetic and ethical issues in various fields of design, from architecture to visual communication. In his book Aesthetics of Modern Design, published in Japanese in 2015, he analysed key concepts such as ‘design,’ ‘construction,’ ‘form,’ and ‘space,’ which were emphasised in modernism in order to reveal the ‘aesthetics’ of modern design.

He is currently focusing on ‘social’ design with the aim of redefining design history while capturing the transformations in contemporary design practice. In this context, he reflects on the aesthetics of non-physical design, the social responsibility of today's designers, and current discourses on well-being. Since 2023, Takayasu has been president of the Japan Society of Design and is committed to promoting humanities-oriented design research.