We, as the Designer Interviews ("DI") had the distinct pleasure and opportunity to interview award-winning, most creative and innovative KEIJI HARADA ("KH").
As a commercial designer, he seamlessly bridges architecture, spatial design, and product creation—not merely to craft beautiful forms, but to evoke joy, comfort, and deep emotional connection through every experience. He approaches each project with a holistic vision, carefully considering context, materiality, and human interaction to create meaningful and enduring design solutions.
KEIJI HARADA Designs
We are pleased to share with you original and innovative design work by KEIJI HARADA.
KEIJI HARADA Design - L Company Guest House
Designer Interview of KEIJI HARADA:
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?
KH : From an early age, I was fascinated by space, light, and the relationship between people and architecture. I chose architecture to create quiet and enduring value through design.
DI: Can you tell us more about your company / design studio?
KH : Based in Fukuoka, Japan, I design residential, hospitality, and commercial architecture with a focus on calmness, simplicity, and material expression.
DI: What is "design" for you?
KH : To me, design is the process of carefully shaping relationships between people, place, light, and time in a natural and meaningful way.
DI: What kinds of works do you like designing most?
KH : I especially enjoy designing houses and small-scale architecture because they allow close attention to atmosphere, detail, and everyday human experience.
DI: What is your most favorite design, could you please tell more about it?
KH : I admire architecture that creates depth and emotion through proportion, light, materials, and silence rather than excessive visual expression.
DI: What was the first thing you designed for a company?
KH : Early in my career, I worked on small residential and renovation projects where I learned the importance of detail, proportion, and construction.
DI: What is your favorite material / platform / technology?
KH : I prefer natural materials such as wood, plaster, stone, and concrete because they age beautifully and express honesty through texture and light.
DI: When do you feel the most creative?
KH : I feel most creative when I discover a unique spatial possibility within practical limitations such as site conditions, structure, or budget.
DI: Which aspects of a design do you focus more during designing?
KH : I focus on creating calm spaces with natural light, thoughtful proportions, honest materials, and an atmosphere where people feel comfortable naturally.
DI: What kind of emotions do you feel when you design?
KH : During the design process, I experience deep concentration, tension, and quiet excitement while carefully shaping space and architectural relationships.
DI: What kind of emotions do you feel when your designs are realized?
KH : When a project is realized, I feel relief and gratitude more than excitement, especially when the architecture feels naturally connected to its place.
DI: What makes a design successful?
KH : Successful design requires a clear concept, careful observation, consistency, and sincere attention to every detail throughout the entire process.
DI: When judging a design as good or bad, which aspects do you consider first?
KH : I first consider whether the space feels natural, comfortable, and emotionally balanced for the people who will use it every day.
DI: From your point of view, what are the responsibilities of a designer for society and environment?
KH : Designers have a responsibility to create architecture that contributes positively to society, respects the environment, and remains valuable over time.
DI: How do you think the "design field" is evolving? What is the future of design?
KH : I believe design will become more essential, sustainable, and emotionally meaningful, focusing less on excess and more on lasting quality.
DI: When was your last exhibition and where was it? And when do you want to hold your next exhibition?
KH : Although I have limited exhibition experience, I hope to share my architectural work internationally through future exhibitions and publications.
DI: Where does the design inspiration for your works come from? How do you feed your creativity? What are your sources of inspirations?
KH : My inspiration comes from everyday life, natural light, landscapes, traditional Japanese culture, materials, and the subtle movement of people.
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?
KH : My design style is quiet, restrained, and minimal, emphasizing proportion, materiality, light, and the atmosphere created by spatial balance.
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?
KH : Japanese culture strongly influences my work through its appreciation for simplicity, subtlety, craftsmanship, silence, and sensitivity toward nature.
DI: How do you work with companies?
KH : I collaborate with companies through open dialogue, mutual trust, and a shared understanding of the essential values behind each project.
DI: What are your suggestions to companies for working with a designer? How can companies select a good designer?
KH : Companies should choose designers based not only on appearance, but also on philosophy, consistency, communication, and long-term architectural thinking.
DI: Can you talk a little about your design process?
KH : My process begins with carefully understanding the site, context, and client needs before gradually developing the spatial concept and details.
DI: What are 5 of your favorite design items at home?
KH : I appreciate architectural books, handcrafted furniture, lighting, ceramics, and simple everyday objects that reveal beauty through long-term use.
DI: Can you describe a day in your life?
KH : My daily life moves between design work, site visits, drawing, research, and quiet observation, which continuously influences my architectural thinking.
DI: Could you please share some pearls of wisdom for young designers? What are your suggestions to young, up and coming designers?
KH : I encourage young designers to trust their own sensibility, observe carefully, and pursue depth rather than simply following trends or styles.
DI: From your perspective, what would you say are some positives and negatives of being a designer?
KH : One advantage of being a designer is shaping meaningful environments. One challenge is constantly thinking about architecture beyond working hours.
DI: What is your "golden rule" in design?
KH : My golden rule is to remove unnecessary elements and focus clearly on what is truly essential within the architecture and the space.
DI: What skills are most important for a designer?
KH : Observation, patience, communication, and the ability to think deeply about details are among the most important skills for a designer.
DI: Which tools do you use during design? What is inside your toolbox? Such as software, application, hardware, books, sources of inspiration etc.?
KH : I use hand sketches, CAD software, physical models, photography, books, and site observation throughout different stages of the design process.
DI: Designing can sometimes be a really time consuming task, how do you manage your time?
KH : I manage time by organizing priorities carefully, maintaining focus, and allowing enough time for reflection and detailed architectural thinking.
DI: How long does it take to design an object from beginning to end?
KH : Depending on the scale of the project, the process from concept to completion can take anywhere from several months to several years.
DI: What is the most frequently asked question to you, as a designer?
KH : I am often asked why my architecture feels so quiet and restrained, and how I create such calm spatial atmospheres.
DI: What was your most important job experience?
KH : The most important experiences in my career have been projects where I could sincerely engage with both the client and the place.
DI: Who are some of your clients?
KH : My clients are often people who value the quality of space and wish to use architecture carefully over a long period of time.
DI: What type of design work do you enjoy the most and why?
KH : I enjoy small but highly detailed architectural projects because they allow me to focus closely on the essence of space.
DI: What are your future plans? What is next for you?
KH : Going forward, I hope to continue creating timeless and quiet architecture, especially in residential and hospitality projects.
DI: Do you work as a team, or do you develop your designs yourself?
KH : I usually develop the core architectural concept myself while collaborating closely with specialists, engineers, and craftspeople when necessary.
DI: Do you have any works-in-progress being designed that you would like to talk about?
KH : I am currently exploring projects that respond carefully to local context, natural light, materials, and the relationship between architecture and daily life.
DI: How can people contact you?
KH : I can be contacted through my official website, social media platforms, or email for architectural inquiries and collaborations.
DI: Any other things you would like to cover that have not been covered in these questions?
KH : Beyond physical form, I believe architecture should quietly support memory, time, atmosphere, and the emotional experience of everyday life.