We, as the Designer Interviews ("DI") had the distinct pleasure and opportunity to interview award-winning, most creative and innovative Kotoaki Asano ("KA").
KOTOAKI ASANO is an architect, a poet and an artist. He announces the works in many fields. Particularly, the buildings designed by him includes many spaces suggested by poetic sensitivity. Specifically, he's designing small-scale buildings and art works. And, he announced the collection of poems with the architectonic sensitivity.
Kotoaki Asano Designs
We are pleased to share with you original and innovative design work by Kotoaki Asano.
Designer Interview of Kotoaki Asano:
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?
KA : Design and art solve the complicated conditions with clear diagrams.
DI: Can you tell us more about your company / design studio?
KA : My studio is a very small office. My atelier designs architecture and artworks.
DI: What is "design" for you?
KA : Design is to solve complex conditions with simple schemas.
DI: What kinds of works do you like designing most?
KA : It is a house of "Gradation in the forest" which consists of an accumulation of small metamorphosis cubes, designed in the forest.
DI: What is your most favorite design, could you please tell more about it?
KA : It is a house of "Gradation in the forest".I am inspired by Escher 's picture "Metamorphosis".
DI: What was the first thing you designed for a company?
KA : It is a compound building.
DI: What is your favorite material / platform / technology?
KA : It is a fervent iron as it inhaled cold air.
DI: When do you feel the most creative?
KA : I will be creative in the morning when the air is cold.
DI: Which aspects of a design do you focus more during designing?
KA : In terms of architectural design, I emphasize the geometric clarity of plan views in particular.
DI: What kind of emotions do you feel when you design?
KA : It is a refreshing feeling when my design solves complicated conditions.
DI: What kind of emotions do you feel when your designs are realized?
KA : There is a discrepancy between my intention and how it is actually used.That is a very happy miscalculation.
DI: What makes a design successful?
KA : It is very important that I do not design too much.
DI: When judging a design as good or bad, which aspects do you consider first?
KA : It is whether the density of the design is reasonable or not.
DI: From your point of view, what are the responsibilities of a designer for society and environment?
KA : It is to prepare the background of society.I think that it is to arrange the breathing of society.
DI: How do you think the "design field" is evolving? What is the future of design?
KA : Design is not an addition. The design is to subtract.This becomes increasingly important.
DI: When was your last exhibition and where was it? And when do you want to hold your next exhibition?
KA : Last year I exhibited at the Kameyama Triennale 2017.I would like to participate in some art festival this year as well.
DI: Where does the design inspiration for your works come from? How do you feed your creativity? What are your sources of inspirations?
KA : From observing the principle of natural phenomena, I can draw out hints of my design.
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?
KA : Maintaining the diversity of elements. I will try variations of diversity.
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?
KA : I live in Japan.From Japanese tradition, I am trying to use phenomena like ephemeral in design.
DI: How do you work with companies?
KA : In each case, I will cooperate with external companies as necessary.
DI: What are your suggestions to companies for working with a designer? How can companies select a good designer?
KA : Depending on the situation, I think that it is important that you always think about the possibilities of many designs.
DI: Can you talk a little about your design process?
KA : Wait for the core image to come up spending idly time.After that, I draw my sketches by moving my hands, and make that image form.
DI: What are 5 of your favorite design items at home?
KA : Window, table, chair, shelf, objects.
DI: Can you describe a day in your life?
KA : Yes.It is divided from tomorrow and yesterday, but it is a day of itself today.
DI: Could you please share some pearls of wisdom for young designers? What are your suggestions to young, up and coming designers?
KA : Please stop once, thinking that there is nothing to restrict the situation.
DI: From your perspective, what would you say are some positives and negatives of being a designer?
KA : Negative of being a designer is to be bound to the situation.Positive of being a designer is to be able to overcome the situation.
DI: What is your "golden rule" in design?
KA : To make it as simple as possible.
DI: What skills are most important for a designer?
KA : To fairly compare all possibilities and options.To judge calmly merits and demerits.
DI: Which tools do you use during design? What is inside your toolbox? Such as software, application, hardware, books, sources of inspiration etc.?
KA : Actually going to the site.Having a sketchbook, constantly drawing ideas.Drawing drawings on a computer, making models.
DI: Designing can sometimes be a really time consuming task, how do you manage your time?
KA : Schedule conditions are often given by the client.Even so, I will spend time preparing and investigating as much as possible.
DI: How long does it take to design an object from beginning to end?
KA : At least one year.if the project is large and complex, it will take several years.
DI: What is the most frequently asked question to you, as a designer?
KA : What were the past works like?Do you have experiences of similar projects?
DI: What was your most important job experience?
KA : House of "Gradation in the forest".Poetry anthology of "Partition in the Window".
DI: Who are some of your clients?
KA : They are individuals or small corporations.
DI: What type of design work do you enjoy the most and why?
KA : Housings and artworks.The smaller the project, the wider the possibilities of design will expand.
DI: What are your future plans? What is next for you?
KA : It is to do bigger projects which contains plenty of poetic details.
DI: Do you work as a team, or do you develop your designs yourself?
KA : I treasure my idea as a skeleton very much.Based on that, I will realize it with the team.
DI: Do you have any works-in-progress being designed that you would like to talk about?
KA : I am interested in fluid, such as air and solution.
DI: How can people contact you?
KA : Through e-mail etc., everyone can contact me.
DI: Any other things you would like to cover that have not been covered in these questions?
KA : With the above questions, my interests are covered.