We, as the Designer Interviews ("DI") had the distinct pleasure and opportunity to interview award-winning, most creative and innovative Naoya Katagami ("NK").
Naoya Katagami is a visual designer and photographer based in Hiroshima, Japan. Working across poster design and monochrome film photography, his practice explores how visual language can articulate emotional depth and distill complex realities. Katagami focuses on expressing essential truths through form, contrast, and silence—pursuing clarity without simplification. His work has been recognized by international design institutions and featured in exhibitions that explore social narratives and visual culture.
Naoya Katagami Designs
We are pleased to share with you original and innovative design work by Naoya Katagami.
Naoya Katagami Design - Hiroshima Peace Song Exhibition
Designer Interview of Naoya Katagami:
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?
NK : I’ve always had a passion for creativity. I decided to pursue design as a career after getting involved in related work opportunities.
DI: Can you tell us more about your company / design studio?
NK : I’m based in Hiroshima, Japan, and I operate my own independent design studio.
DI: What is "design" for you?
NK : Design is something that connects people with things and events.
DI: What kinds of works do you like designing most?
NK : Designs that contain essence and depth.
DI: What is your most favorite design, could you please tell more about it?
NK : Hiroshima Peace Song Exhibition #164704 — This is a poster design I created for an exhibition held in Hiroshima ahead of the 80th anniversary of the end of the war. I believe it represents the deepest essence I could express through design at this point in my journey.
DI: What was the first thing you designed for a company?
NK : It was promotional advertising materials for a Japanese company.
DI: When do you feel the most creative?
NK : When the image I have in mind starts to take shape.
DI: Which aspects of a design do you focus more during designing?
NK : Whether it expresses the essence of the subject.
DI: What kind of emotions do you feel when you design?
NK : After sketching with various thoughts and ideas, I try to empty my mind before fully engaging in the design process.
DI: What kind of emotions do you feel when your designs are realized?
NK : Each time something I envisioned takes shape, I feel a deep sense of attachment and affection toward it.
DI: What makes a design successful?
NK : The essence that emerges after a process of trial and error—revisiting, adjusting, struggling—is what makes a design truly successful.
DI: When judging a design as good or bad, which aspects do you consider first?
NK : The essence that emerges after a process of trial and error—revisiting, adjusting, struggling—is what makes a design truly successful.
DI: From your point of view, what are the responsibilities of a designer for society and environment?
NK : To connect people with things and matters in a better, more meaningful way.
DI: How do you think the "design field" is evolving? What is the future of design?
NK : It will continue to be refined and sharpened.
DI: When was your last exhibition and where was it? And when do you want to hold your next exhibition?
NK : In July 2025, I participated in a group poster exhibition organized by JAGDA Hiroshima. For my next exhibition, I am hoping to hold a solo show.
DI: Where does the design inspiration for your works come from? How do you feed your creativity? What are your sources of inspirations?
NK : I read many books by predecessors.
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?
NK : I always aim to express the essence of things. That’s why my approach is to strip away unnecessary elements from the initial sketches, leaving only what truly matters.
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?
NK : I live in Hiroshima, Japan. Naturally, living in a city deeply connected to the atomic bombing and the legacy of war and peace gives me many opportunities to reflect on those themes. Through my involvement with JAGDA Hiroshima, including projects like the Hiroshima Appeals Poster series and various other initiatives, I feel a strong influence from this cultural and historical context on my design work.
DI: How do you work with companies?
NK : I have been working on the design of promotional materials such as advertisements for many years.
DI: What are your suggestions to companies for working with a designer? How can companies select a good designer?
NK : I have been working on the design of promotional materials such as advertisements for many years.
DI: Can you talk a little about your design process?
NK : I usually start by jotting down ideas and necessary elements on paper, creating rough sketches. Once the concept is somewhat solidified, I move on to working digitally on my Mac. For photography, I work with black-and-white film, developing it myself in the darkroom.
DI: What are 5 of your favorite design items at home?
NK : My favorite design items at home are: •My collection of Rotring pens •Wacom pen display tablet •MacBook Air •Leica camera and lenses •Black-and-white film
DI: Can you describe a day in your life?
NK : I start my day by doing yoga on the balcony while soaking up the sun. Then I eat some pasta, do a training session, take a shower, and begin my work. At night, I wind down with some maintenance time in my massage chair.
DI: Could you please share some pearls of wisdom for young designers? What are your suggestions to young, up and coming designers?
NK : I, too, am still in the process of lifelong growth. Let’s continue growing by seeing as much as we can and experiencing as much as possible.
DI: From your perspective, what would you say are some positives and negatives of being a designer?
NK : It’s a profession where you can imagine and create. If you’re freelance, you also have the freedom to manage your own time. But with that freedom comes full personal responsibility.
DI: What is your "golden rule" in design?
NK : Whether the essence is being expressed.
DI: What skills are most important for a designer?
NK : Whether the essence is being expressed.
DI: Which tools do you use during design? What is inside your toolbox? Such as software, application, hardware, books, sources of inspiration etc.?
NK : Mac, Adobe software, notebooks, and pens.
DI: Designing can sometimes be a really time consuming task, how do you manage your time?
NK : If a design seems like it will take a long time, I plan ahead accordingly.
DI: How long does it take to design an object from beginning to end?
NK : It varies depending on the design. However, I always ask myself whether it’s truly finished or if there’s still something more I can do within the scheduled time.
DI: What is the most frequently asked question to you, as a designer?
NK : What the design is expressing.
DI: What was your most important job experience?
NK : Every single day.
DI: Who are some of your clients?
NK : Major retail companies in Japan, among others.
DI: What type of design work do you enjoy the most and why?
NK : Work that expresses the essence of things.
DI: What are your future plans? What is next for you?
NK : I also shoot black and white photography with an 8×10 Deardorff, and I would like to incorporate it more into my creative work.
DI: Do you work as a team, or do you develop your designs yourself?
NK : I mostly develop my designs by myself.
DI: Do you have any works-in-progress being designed that you would like to talk about?
NK : Since 1983, JAGDA Hiroshima has been engaged in the Hiroshima Appeals Poster project. This year, marking 80 years since the end of the war, we created a postcard set featuring the entire collection of these posters. I served as the art director for the project. The set will go on sale this year, and I truly hope people will take a moment to experience it.
DI: How can people contact you?
NK : I would appreciate it if you could contact me via email. mail@createasensation.jp
DI: Any other things you would like to cover that have not been covered in these questions?
NK : I will continue to pursue and create more essential and meaningful designs. Thank you all for your continued support.