We, as the Designer Interviews ("DI") had the distinct pleasure and opportunity to interview award-winning, most creative and innovative MASUO FUJIMURA ("MF").
MASUO FUJIMURA is an award-winning designer that helps make the World a better place with their original and innovative creations and advanced design works.
MASUO FUJIMURA Designs
We are pleased to share with you original and innovative design work by MASUO FUJIMURA.
MASUO FUJIMURA Design - One Stroke Chair
MASUO FUJIMURA Design - Xray Chair
MASUO FUJIMURA Design - Turf rug lounger Lounge chair
Designer Interview of MASUO FUJIMURA:
DI: 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?
MF : When I was 17 years old, I saw mid-century modern design in a magazine, and it made me decide to be a designer in the future.After I started to work, I learned design technique from the products and onsites.
DI: Can you tell us more about your company / design studio?
MF : Fujimura Design Studio creates a wide range of designs from products to interiors.
DI: What is "design" for you?
MF : I believe that through “design” I can express myself.
DI: What kinds of works do you like designing most?
MF : I like designing architecture works.
DI: What is your most favorite design, could you please tell more about it?
MF : I love Katsura-rikyu(Katsura Imperial Villa) in Kyoto, Japan because it includes various kind of tradition Japanese culture.
DI: What was the first thing you designed for a company?
MF : My first designing work for a company was a shopping center.
DI: What is your favorite material / platform / technology?
MF : My favorite medium is the use of paint. I like to choose the best application from various methods for my works.
DI: When do you feel the most creative?
MF : I am the most creative in the morning. After resting I feel fresh.
DI: Which aspects of a design do you focus more during designing?
MF : I usually focus on creating a message while designing my works.
DI: What kind of emotions do you feel when you design?
MF : Designing is very enjoyable and exciting.
DI: What kind of emotions do you feel when your designs are realized?
MF : I am always very happy to see that my idea was materialized.
DI: What makes a design successful?
MF : A great variety of experiences help a lot in developing a successful design.
DI: When judging a design as good or bad, which aspects do you consider first?
MF : I can judge the overall design by looking at the design concepts.
DI: From your point of view, what are the responsibilities of a designer for society and environment?
MF : I believe the responsibility of a designer is to make society and the environment better, more convenient and more comfortable.
DI: How do you think the "design field" is evolving? What is the future of design?
MF : Design should be more human/eco-friendly in the future and improve our living environment.
DI: When was your last exhibition and where was it? And when do you want to hold your next exhibition?
MF : My last exhibition was during Tokyo Designer’s Week in 2013, and the next one is in Milano Salone in 2014.
DI: Where does the design inspiration for your works come from? How do you feed your creativity? What are your sources of inspirations?
MF : My source of inspiration comes from our daily lives.I try to be critical and think “Why” always. It is very important to find inconvenient and uncomfortable things in our lives so that I can come up with ideas about how to improve them.
DI: 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?
MF : My design style is very simple and so-called minimal modern.Japanese traditional beauty influences my design.
DI: 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?
MF : I live in Tokyo, Japan. Japanese cultural heritage absolutely influences my designs.
DI: How do you work with companies?
MF : I highly respect personal relationships. Business is done between people.
DI: What are your suggestions to companies for working with a designer? How can companies select a good designer?
MF : It is very important that companies and designers understand each other.It is ideal to be introduced as a good designer by someone with good taste and you should know them very well
DI: Can you talk a little about your design process?
MF : My design processes are from Sketch to 3D model to drawing.
DI: What are 5 of your favorite design items at home?
MF : My favorite designs at home are my chairs, my tables, my sofas, my kitchens and my rest room.
DI: Can you describe a day in your life?
MF : I design in the morning because I can come up with fresh ideas in the morning. I do paper works on my computer in the afternoon.
DI: Could you please share some pearls of wisdom for young designers? What are your suggestions to young, up and coming designers?
MF : See both the whole picture and the detailed picture.
DI: From your perspective, what would you say are some positives and negatives of being a designer?
MF : One positive aspect of being a designer is to have the fun of creation and negative aspect is to be critical always.
DI: What is your "golden rule" in design?
MF : A flash of inspiration is very important for me.
DI: What skills are most important for a designer?
MF : The most important skill for a designer is to realize the image and idea.
DI: Which tools do you use during design? What is inside your toolbox? Such as software, application, hardware, books, sources of inspiration etc.?
MF : I usually use pencils and a 3D software for designing.
DI: Designing can sometimes be a really time consuming task, how do you manage your time?
MF : I make it a rule to design in the morning.
DI: How long does it take to design an object from beginning to end?
MF : It takes about 10 minutes at shortest and 1 week at longest.
DI: What is the most frequently asked question to you, as a designer?
MF : What is design?
DI: What was your most important job experience?
MF : My most important job experience is to design my home. I could experience a lot of different things from client's side which I can't experience as a designer.
DI: Who are some of your clients?
MF : Some of my clients are the Wedgwood, the Le Creuset and the PARCO.
DI: What type of design work do you enjoy the most and why?
MF : I enjoy products designing. They have clear functions which I can focus on and I can improve myself through designing them.
DI: What are your future plans? What is next for you?
MF : I would like to give my skills to young people.
DI: Do you work as a team, or do you develop your designs yourself?
MF : I own my design company and work alone.
DI: Do you have any works-in-progress being designed that you would like to talk about?
MF : I have nothing, specially.
DI: How can people contact you?
MF : People contact me by e-mail.