We, as the Designer Interviews ("DI") had the distinct pleasure and opportunity to interview award-winning, most creative and innovative Natsuyo Ozawa ("NO").
I actually have an experience of work as a graphic designer in Tokyo for 6 years. But I was not going to any university in Japan and my design skill was not so strong. However, I would like to work abroad. Therefore, I decided to get bachelor degree of design at university. In addition, because I'm quarter Taiwanese. So I decided to come to Taiwan to study basic design skills and Chinese language.
Natsuyo Ozawa Designs
We are pleased to share with you original and innovative design work by Natsuyo Ozawa.
Designer Interview of Natsuyo Ozawa:
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?
NO : Since when I was high school student, I know that each color has each meaning and can tell some message by colors and shapes, I would like to use those elements and communicate with a society.
DI: Can you tell us more about your company / design studio?
NO : Now I work myself and work for one dress shoe brand to built up their brand style.As much as possible, I trying to do co-creation with my client, not design 100% own style.I would like to enjoy the communicate with the client until the finish that works.
DI: What is "design" for you?
NO : The design is the tool to communicate with someone.and I prefer to put some surprise or enjoyment in my design.
DI: What kinds of works do you like designing most?
NO : I use to work editorial design before and I like to make some story with editorial design.But I also like to design some sweets package and sweets itself contain some messages,then present to some of the friends.
DI: What is your most favorite design, could you please tell more about it?
NO : I really like some design which could see some logic and have some wonderment.
DI: What was the first thing you designed for a company?
NO : Company brochure.
DI: What is your favorite material / platform / technology?
NO : I like paper material. If it the platform, "Pinterest" are very good to find some new idea.
DI: When do you feel the most creative?
NO : Come down to child's level and play in nature.
DI: Which aspects of a design do you focus more during designing?
NO : Each color or shapes element of meaning.
DI: What kind of emotions do you feel when you design?
NO : For the client work, fun and kind of tense feeling.
DI: What kind of emotions do you feel when your designs are realized?
NO : Happy. :)
DI: What makes a design successful?
NO : Good communication with the clients.
DI: When judging a design as good or bad, which aspects do you consider first?
NO : I will see, how achievement of the design purpose.Because the design might have some purpose of communicating with someone to tell something.
DI: From your point of view, what are the responsibilities of a designer for society and environment?
NO : As much as possible, design to make the better world.So we might shouldn't work with some company which you can't agree with their product or service.Because most of the designs are designed or spread to the world that existence.
DI: How do you think the "design field" is evolving? What is the future of design?
NO : Some said the design became an easy to make for everyone on the development of the new applications or technologies, however, I have no idea.
DI: When was your last exhibition and where was it? And when do you want to hold your next exhibition?
NO : I haven't had any exhibition yet.My first exhibition will be the final project exhibition in my university.
DI: Where does the design inspiration for your works come from? How do you feed your creativity? What are your sources of inspirations?
NO : I love to get some inspiration from the nature rulesor physics and science books. However, I'm not familiar with physics and science, I like to read those kinds of books.
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?
NO : My design style or stance is, To the one case, through the hearing with the client message,I built up one design by my knowledge of the colors and shapes, so on.Therefore, modify with the client that base design, one by one.
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?
NO : I born in Japan and since 29years old, I live in Taiwan which my grandfather's home countryto get the university degree for 5 years. Thought, wherever I live, my background is more influenced my design I think.
DI: How do you work with companies?
NO : Now I work in one dress shoe company to build up their brand style.Yet sometimes I take cases from out of that company.
DI: What are your suggestions to companies for working with a designer? How can companies select a good designer?
NO : Most important thing to co-work designer and client is, The designer can agree that client vision or not at first meeting.If can get compathy each other, can make good design.And who can make good design, might be a good designer for that companies.
DI: Can you talk a little about your design process?
NO : 1. I ask the client what is the purpose of that case,and I hearing the client background too.2. Start to collect idea source along the hearing from the client.3. Start to design.4. Presentation several ideas.5. Modify it 2 or 3 times.6. Finish
DI: What are 5 of your favorite design items at home?
NO : 1. Work table, which I bought in working house. This has several sizes of drawer case under the table board, very convenient to store something, and can look simple on the to of table.2. broom and dustpan Especially, broom has a nice angle to swipe floor. so I like cleaning with this.3. log I bought one log as my homework before, though this is very useful to be as the table or chair. Chamaecyparis obtusa brings me nice smells sometimes and makes me feel nature.4. binder it's good to stock unused paper as the memo pad.5. mt tape Good to decorate small things.
DI: Can you describe a day in your life?
NO : 8:45- arrive at the office and clean a bit work space.9:15- check the e-mail or news9:30- check my work the day9:45- do small tasks10:15- do high priority task12:00- lunch with my co-workers and converse each work progress13:00- work again18:30- go back home
DI: Could you please share some pearls of wisdom for young designers? What are your suggestions to young, up and coming designers?
NO : To think the meaning of each element and which elements are fit to express client purpose.
DI: From your perspective, what would you say are some positives and negatives of being a designer?
NO : Depend on what kind of designer, this definition will be changed.so, I can't say anything for that.
DI: What is your "golden rule" in design?
NO : While the design process is fun, it could be a good achievement.
DI: What skills are most important for a designer?
NO : Observance and to know the each meaning.
DI: Which tools do you use during design? What is inside your toolbox? Such as software, application, hardware, books, sources of inspiration etc.?
NO : Pen and Paper.Illustrator, Photoshop, InDesign.ruler, cutter, tape.
DI: Designing can sometimes be a really time consuming task, how do you manage your time?
NO : Keep input from every life and as much as possible,to short your output time.
DI: How long does it take to design an object from beginning to end?
NO : it depends on cases.
DI: What is the most frequently asked question to you, as a designer?
NO : Why I came to Taiwan.Everyone wondering why I came to Taiwan to study design at university.It's is just because I would like to have experience at my part of roots country.
DI: What was your most important job experience?
NO : To know how to co-work with different section co-workers,
DI: Who are some of your clients?
NO : Now is only one client, dress shoe brand.Sometimes from my friends.
DI: What type of design work do you enjoy the most and why?
NO : If I can interesting that client of work, I can enjoy that work.
DI: What are your future plans? What is next for you?
NO : I would like to design something to make a good society.
DI: Do you work as a team, or do you develop your designs yourself?
NO : I design myself now.
DI: How can people contact you?
NO : https://www.linkedin.com/in/%E5%A5%88%E6%B4%A5%E4%BB%A3-%E5%B0%8F%E6%B2%A2-58388093/