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Interview with Yoshihiro Matsuura |
Home > Designer Interviews > Yoshihiro Matsuura |
Editor Frank Scott (FS) from DesignPRWire has interviewed designer Yoshihiro Matsuura (YM) for A’ Design Award and Competition. You can access the full profile of Yoshihiro Matsuura by clicking here.
FS: Could you please tell us more about your art and design background? What made you become an artist/designer? Have you always wanted to be a designer?
YM: My hometown is in the countryside and abundant with nature. Learning from this place, I would like to design an architecture which makes local people’s life more comfortable. I always try to be a helpful designer to them.
FS: Can you tell us more about your company / design studio?
YM: Our company mainly designs dwelling houses. “Planning houses coexist with nature.” is our motto.
FS: What is "design" for you?
YM: “Design” for me is to create something for human, to enrich our lives, and to support our society. I think design without users is meaningless.
FS: What kinds of works do you like designing most?
YM: I like an early drafting stage of the design most, because I don’t have to consider details and restriction of the reality.
FS: What is your most favorite design, could you please tell more about it?
YM: I like Frank Lloyd Wright’s Usonian houses. I think this design is helpful, and was created thinking of people.
FS: What was the first thing you designed for a company?
YM: It was the house with a big balcony.
FS: What is your favorite material / platform / technology?
YM: It is natural materials. I don’t like to depend on machine too much.
FS: When do you feel the most creative?
YM: It is when I take a walk in nature.
FS: Which aspects of a design do you focus more during designing?
YM: I focus helpfulness for people most.
FS: What kind of emotions do you feel when you design?
YM: I feel happy imaging joyful users.
FS: What kind of emotions do you feel when your designs are realized?
YM: I feel the greatest amount of happiness.
FS: What makes a design successful?
YM: I believe it is my passion.
FS: When judging a design as good or bad, which aspects do you consider first?
YM: It depends whether the design is created by teamwork or not.
FS: From your point of view, what are the responsibilities of a designer for society and environment?
YM: I think it is to solve energy problems.
FS: How do you think the "design field" is evolving? What is the future of design?
YM: I think it is unimaginable, but I believe helpfulness will lead human design.
FS: When was your last exhibition and where was it? And when do you want to hold your next exhibition?
YM: I wish exhibition in Italy. If it were in Milano, it would be perfect.
FS: Where does the design inspiration for your works come from? How do you feed your creativity? What are your sources of inspirations?
YM: My designing inspiration comes from nature. To make observation of nature as possible is important for me.
FS: How would you describe your design style? What made you explore more this style and what are the main characteristics of your style? What's your approach to design?
YM: It is my way to make a drafting idea freely without considering restriction of reality or details. This way has built up my style.
FS: Where do you live? Do you feel the cultural heritage of your country affects your designs? What are the pros and cons during designing as a result of living in your country?
YM: I live in the northern most part of Japanese main land, Aomori prefecture. Local abundant nature influences my design, since my place is in the countryside. In my case, the idea of planning always comes from nature.
FS: How do you work with companies?
YM: I work with my colleague friendly, but sometimes we have an argument. However, a good design is often created in such situation.
FS: What are your suggestions to companies for working with a designer? How can companies select a good designer?
YM: It is important to have an unconventional thinking. I think many of unconventional designers are creative designers.
FS: Can you talk a little about your design process?
YM: In an early stage, I create design in my head instead of drawing the blueprint on the desk. I make drawing later as I can, since it makes me more creative.
FS: What are 5 of your favorite design items at home?
YM: car, toothbrush, computer, Japanese-style room, table
FS: Can you describe a day in your life?
YM: When I am off, I only do enjoyable things. I try not to think about my work, but I think about it unconsciously.
FS: Could you please share some pearls of wisdom for young designers? What are your suggestions to young, up and coming designers?
YM: I suggest them to keep a supportive attitude in their mind.
FS: From your perspective, what would you say are some positives and negatives of being a designer?
YM: Positives are that designers can have various experiences.
FS: What is your "golden rule" in design?
YM: It is to be helpful for people.
FS: What skills are most important for a designer?
YM: It is to have doubts about common knowledge.
FS: Which tools do you use during design? What is inside your toolbox? Such as software, application, hardware, books, sources of inspiration etc.?
YM: In my case, the best tool is to learn from “nature.”
FS: Designing can sometimes be a really time consuming task, how do you manage your time?
YM: I just relax and go out to play at the sea or the mountains. I don’t care if it affects my working progress.
FS: How long does it take to design an object from beginning to end?
YM: It takes three years at longest, just one night at shortest.
FS: What is the most frequently asked question to you, as a designer?
YM: “How can you have such an idea?”
FS: What was your most important job experience?
YM: It is to watch and touch the greatest works. In addition, it is to listen to the greatest authors carefully.
FS: Who are some of your clients?
YM: Most are ordinary people.
FS: What type of design work do you enjoy the most and why?
YM: I enjoy to toy with an early idea which is unrealistic and novel.
FS: What are your future plans? What is next for you?
YM: Someday, I’d like to design the architecture which able to solve some problems local people has, using my innovative idea.
FS: Do you work as a team, or do you develop your designs yourself?
YM: I often work by myself, rather than work in team.
FS: Do you have any works-in-progress being designed that you would like to talk about?
YM: I have a lot.
FS: How can people contact you?
YM: Please send me an E-mail.
FS: Any other things you would like to cover that have not been covered in these questions?
YM: Someday, I’d like to implement an innovative design which can enrich the people of the world. Thank you.
FS: Thank you for providing us with this opportunity to interview you.
A’ Design Award and Competitions grants rights to press members and bloggers to use parts of this interview. This interview is provided as it is; DesignPRWire and A' Design Award and Competitions cannot be held responsible for the answers given by participating designers.
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