We, as the Designer Interviews ("DI") had the distinct pleasure and opportunity to interview award-winning, most creative and innovative Ryohei Kanda ("RK").

The design has its unique character and vision of its own. If you strategically follow the design logic of how to highlight those originalities the answers naturally come to you. There are no absolute rules in design, but the essential design does exist, and it makes the brand’s character and vision stand out when you follow the path. An architect, and an interior design might not be only creating structures of buildings physically and also influencing relationship in between people, their sentiment and experience, miraculous encounters, and more. As long as the design is inspiring people’s imaginations and memories in their life, creating great relationship with them, then it would eventually have a significant connection with the society and community. We believe we can contribute to society with the design.

Ryohei Kanda Designs

We are pleased to share with you original and innovative design work by Ryohei Kanda.

Designer Interview of Ryohei Kanda:

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?

RK : I liked to make things since I was a child.

DI: What is "design" for you?

RK : To say it simple, a positive action.

DI: What kinds of works do you like designing most?

RK : A design that is not influenced by trend, a design being timeless at the same time having originality.

DI: What is your most favorite design, could you please tell more about it?

RK : Timeless and original things concluded itself as a beautiful existence. It is not so different from a piece of art. I like a design that crosses the border of art and design.

DI: What was the first thing you designed for a company?

RK : Designed Italian restaurant.

DI: What is your favorite material / platform / technology?

RK : No specific favorites.

DI: When do you feel the most creative?

RK : Within everyday life.

DI: Which aspects of a design do you focus more during designing?

RK : Not materiality, but the atmosphere.

DI: What kind of emotions do you feel when your designs are realized?

RK : I feel excited at the moment when whatever made within your imagination gradually realize into a real shape.

DI: What makes a design successful?

RK : Patience, endurance.

DI: From your point of view, what are the responsibilities of a designer for society and environment?

RK : One has to have an attitude of justice towards any society.

DI: How do you think the "design field" is evolving? What is the future of design?

RK : The future of design, I think will be equalized. There may be a time where design will eventually derive solely from machine’s calculation. That is why it is important to maintain the value of a designer by each of us believing in your feeling of beauty, and keep on searching for your originality.

DI: Where does the design inspiration for your works come from? How do you feed your creativity? What are your sources of inspirations?

RK : Inspiration comes from the moment watching the blossoms. The scene of blossoms carried away by the wind, falling onto the ground leaving a carpet of petals, is truly beautiful. This was what I wanted to design. I find beauty in little things that happen in everyday life. In a commercial design, it is difficult to challenge on a new material, in terms of cost and construction timelines. It is important to take an existing material and to find a way to give them a new appearance. When one material unites with another material, there may be a chemical reaction, and these are the hints that I find in everyday life.

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?

RK : I would like to design things that cross the border of art and design. This is not something that could be achieved by following a trend or something that other designers do, but it is more about concluding the design into a one beautiful shape. A shape that is good to the society and the clients.

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?

RK : I live in Tokyo but I grew up in Yokohama. I don’t know if Yokohama has a specific characteristic, but there is a notion of wabi – sabi in the Japanese tradition. Something like the simplicity of beauty that exists without arrogance, which could be found in the Japanese people’s lives.

DI: How do you work with companies?

RK : By numerous communication with clients.

DI: From your perspective, what would you say are some positives and negatives of being a designer?

RK : To improve a given condition, in a positive way. The fact that the process leading to the conclusion is often not valued.

DI: What skills are most important for a designer?

RK : The skills to transcend your vision to other. Skecth, CG, words.

DI: Designing can sometimes be a really time consuming task, how do you manage your time?

RK : Design is not born only from desks, so I make time to go out, meet people for input.

DI: What type of design work do you enjoy the most and why?

RK : A client having a similar value towards design. One does not value something by the trend, but from the essence.

DI: How can people contact you?

RK : Through friends.