Bringing Gen Z Sensibilities to Business! New Souvenirs Realized Through the 'Konan Women's University x Labo Network' Industry-Academia Collaboration Project
Labo Network has partnered with Konan Women's University to develop and realize Gen Z-focused photo souvenirs: 'Shaka-Shaka Stickers' and 'Korean-style Self-Photos.'
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: March 28, 2026 at 16:52
- 🔍 Collected: March 28, 2026 at 21:59 (5h 7m after Published)
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: April 15, 2026 at 08:03 (418h 3m after Collected)
Labo Network Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Kita-ku, Tokyo; President: Yusuke Tanaka), part of the Kitamura Holdings Group which operates Camera no Kitamura, has successfully completed an industry-academia collaboration project with the Yoshida Seminar of the Department of Living Environment, Faculty of Human Sciences at Konan Women's University (Higashinada-ku, Kobe), which began in April 2025 to conceive 'new souvenirs' using photography.
In this project, the team co-developed business models for 'Shaka-Shaka Stickers' and 'Korean-style self-photo booths for graduation ceremonies' as new souvenirs leveraging the perspectives of current university students, successfully bringing these concepts to life at graduation ceremonies and workshops.
About the Konan Women's University x Labo Network Industry-Academia Collaboration Project
This project aims to re-examine the charm and value of 'tangible' photographs in an era where saving photos on smartphones has become the norm. Labo Network utilized its long-standing expertise in the photo business to support students in conceiving better products and business models, encouraging Gen Z students to engage in product development with fresh ideas unconstrained by traditional frameworks.
Leveraging its business resources, sales network, and an integrated manufacturing-sales system in collaboration with group company Labo Production Co., Ltd., Labo Network worked alongside students from the Yoshida Seminar to realize product development and business models that bring new value to photography.
■ Student Feedback
'It was a very meaningful experience to work together as a team to create something over the course of a year. The exchange of ideas was particularly stimulating and served as a catalyst for broadening my own thinking.'
'The feedback on our slide presentations and the precise guidance on how to proceed gave us a clear direction, which boosted our motivation!'
'When we hit a wall, they helped us reorganize from the beginning. Despite many stumbles, I felt a great sense of accomplishment in the end.'
Shaka-Shaka Stickers
These stickers, which were a huge hit among 'Heisei girls,' have been updated with modern sensibilities. Students conducted their own surveys to thoroughly analyze needs. To achieve their ideal vision of 'cute,' they went through repeated trial and error, handling everything from mold design to prototyping from scratch. The product became so popular during workshops that all tickets were sold out.