We, as the Designer Interviews ("DI") had the distinct pleasure and opportunity to interview award-winning, most creative and innovative Akira Nakagomi ("AN").
Akira Nakagomi, born in 1977,established AKIRA NAKAGOMI DESIGN in 2015. His incorporates new concepts based on the characteristics of materials and manufacturing methods, and her activities range from industrial design products to furniture, graphics, and interior design. His goal is to maximize the characteristics and beauty of project materials to create beautiful product designs that will become family heirlooms. At the same time, they consider new values and their relationship with society through experimental design.
Akira Nakagomi Designs
We are pleased to share with you original and innovative design work by Akira Nakagomi.
Akira Nakagomi Design - Honey Drop Lighting
Akira Nakagomi Design - Object Splash Proof Partition
Designer Interview of Akira Nakagomi:
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?
AN : My father was a carpenter, and I was interested in making things from an early age because I was exposed to tools and other things from a young age.
DI: Can you tell us more about your company / design studio?
AN : Akira Nakagomi, born in 1977,established AKIRA NAKAGOMI DESIGN in 2015. His incorporates new concepts based on the characteristics of materials and manufacturing methods, and her activities range from industrial design products to furniture, graphics, and interior design. His goal is to maximize the characteristics and beauty of materials to create beautiful product designs that will become family heirlooms. At the same time, they consider new values and their relationship with society through experimental design.
DI: What is "design" for you?
AN : I believe "design" they are not only to enrich our lives, but also to be spices that sometimes inspire us, or treasures to be remembered.
DI: What kinds of works do you like designing most?
AN : I like works that I can be moved by and want to cherish for many years.
DI: What is your most favorite design, could you please tell more about it?
AN : This is Tokujin Yoshioka's Honey-pop. By spreading out the layers of paper, a silhouette of a chair appears, and by hardening the seat into your own shape, you can complete the work, which is a surprising and moving experience.
DI: What was the first thing you designed for a company?
AN : This flower vase is completed by bending thin stainless steel.
DI: What is your favorite material / platform / technology?
AN : brass/stainless steel/stone/acrylic/paper
DI: When do you feel the most creative?
AN : I feel most creative in the moments when I come up with fun and interesting ideas.
DI: Which aspects of a design do you focus more during designing?
AN : I goal is to maximize the characteristics and beauty of materials to create beautiful product designs that become heirlooms. At the same time, he considers new values and their relationship to society through experimental design.
DI: What kind of emotions do you feel when you design?
AN : I feel the tension and the anticipation of what is to come.
DI: What kind of emotions do you feel when your designs are realized?
AN : I feel a sense of accomplishment and joy at having achieved what I designed.
DI: What makes a design successful?
AN : Believe in myself. Communicate that feeling to those around you and have them understand it.
DI: When judging a design as good or bad, which aspects do you consider first?
AN : I judge a good design by whether it can make things better, not by its superficial beauty.
DI: From your point of view, what are the responsibilities of a designer for society and environment?
AN : I believe that designers should use their design skills to make things better and avoid making things that are self-indulgent and wasteful. We believe that by creating products that will be loved for a long time, we can avoid wasting resources and take responsibility for the environment.
DI: How do you think the "design field" is evolving? What is the future of design?
AN : New technologies have made it possible to manufacture in small lots and have reduced the difficulty of entering the design field, resulting in an increasing variety of designs. In the future, design will become more segmented, and design skills will be used not only for superficial design, but also for processes and ways of thinking.
DI: When was your last exhibition and where was it? And when do you want to hold your next exhibition?
AN : Exhibition in Tokyo in June 2021. The next exhibition will be held in Tokyo in November 2022.
DI: Where does the design inspiration for your works come from? How do you feed your creativity? What are your sources of inspirations?
AN : Sources of inspiration are not limited to design alone; I record what I experience and what moves me or makes me happy, and then I analyze these elements and how I can reproduce 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?
AN : I goal is to maximize the characteristics and beauty of materials to create beautiful product designs that will become family heirlooms. At the same time, they consider new values and their relationship with society through experimental 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?
AN : I live in Japan. The Japanese culture has greatly influenced my idea of designing with the best use of materials and the simplest structure possible. One of the advantages of designing in Japan is that it is easy to design something that will be loved for a long time, but it may take time for people to find it.
DI: How do you work with companies?
AN : I design, design, present, and check the production process.
DI: What are your suggestions to companies for working with a designer? How can companies select a good designer?
AN : Instead of just choosing a designer with a good design, it is better to listen to the designer's beliefs and choose a designer with whom you can often talk and have an experience that will create new values.
DI: Can you talk a little about your design process?
AN : First, we interview the client about what he or she is trying to achieve, and then we examine whether the goal is correct and whether there is anything the client himself or herself is not yet aware of. Then, we consider the appropriate materials, and search for the essence of the work to reach the feelings of as many people as possible, and repeat many considerations.
DI: What are 5 of your favorite design items at home?
AN : i-mac/Solid brass/Studio Olafur Eliasson(book)/Landi Chair/ TO(watch)
DI: Can you describe a day in your life?
AN : Work in the morning, take a walk or do design research at noon, and work into the evening. In the evening, I also take a walk and think about ideas, etc.
DI: Could you please share some pearls of wisdom for young designers? What are your suggestions to young, up and coming designers?
AN : Young designers are encouraged to experience many things that move and inspire them, not only in design. We believe that those precious experiences will be expressed into your unique and wonderful design.
DI: From your perspective, what would you say are some positives and negatives of being a designer?
AN : It is a good thing to observe things carefully and discover new things. The bad thing is that I think about such things all the time.
DI: What is your "golden rule" in design?
AN : It is whether what you design will impress you or whether you will love it for a long time.
DI: What skills are most important for a designer?
AN : I believe it is a matter of observation.
DI: Which tools do you use during design? What is inside your toolbox? Such as software, application, hardware, books, sources of inspiration etc.?
AN : Rhinoceros/grasshopper/maxwellrender/Studio Olafur Eliasson(book)/Marc Newson(book)/Dieter Rams: The Complete Works(book)/KLIMT(book)
DI: Designing can sometimes be a really time consuming task, how do you manage your time?
AN : We consult with the contractor at the rough design drawing stage, and design the product while listening to the characteristics of the materials and the factory's technology.
DI: How long does it take to design an object from beginning to end?
AN : About 3 months
DI: What is the most frequently asked question to you, as a designer?
AN : How did you think about it?
DI: What was your most important job experience?
AN : The most important experience was when the factory told us it was technically difficult and we had to go through several meetings to get it done with everyone's help.
DI: Who are some of your clients?
AN : Furniture brands and myself.
DI: What type of design work do you enjoy the most and why?
AN : I love beautiful and inspiring design work. Such works of design are not for consumption, but to be treasured for a lifetime.
DI: What are your future plans? What is next for you?
AN : Development of disaster and emergency products
DI: Do you work as a team, or do you develop your designs yourself?
AN : I develop my own designs.
DI: Do you have any works-in-progress being designed that you would like to talk about?
AN : I can't talk yet.
DI: How can people contact you?
AN : You can contact us via email. akira@akiranakagomi.com