We, as the Designer Interviews ("DI") had the distinct pleasure and opportunity to interview award-winning, most creative and innovative Yasuhito Takeuchi ("YT").
VENUE Inc. is a creative design studio in Tokyo, not only from the design but also from the planning stage, providing high-quality creatives. From good old things to new things, not only advertisements and graphics, but also from concept planning to product design and production.The genre of work to be handled is widespread including enterprises, entertainment, education, interior, public facilities. Those jobs will continue to pursue powerful results that explore the client's challenges and go beyond the scope of the task.
Yasuhito Takeuchi Designs
We are pleased to share with you original and innovative design work by Yasuhito Takeuchi.
Designer Interview of Yasuhito Takeuchi:
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?
YT : During my school days, I liked music, fashion and art. Then I studied a lot in books and magazines, shared it with my friends, and deepened knowledge more and more. And what was deeply involved in them was design. I am interested and started a part-time job at the design office.
DI: Can you tell us more about your company / design studio?
YT : I founded a design studio in 2004. I am doing a wide range of work regardless of genre such as entertainment, education, fashion, company, package, branding, etc.
DI: What is "design" for you?
YT : For me, design is what makes the world better, communicates and evokes various emotions.
DI: What kinds of works do you like designing most?
YT : My favorite work is not decided by my likes and dislikes. I like works that survey, analysis, achievement, sense, fold.
DI: What is your favorite material / platform / technology?
YT : My favorite materials are ceramic and fabric. I like technology but I am attracted to these materials. I want to print the graphics as it is, I want to make the product shape with the graphics as it is.
DI: When do you feel the most creative?
YT : I think that it is very imaginative when I wake up. I can think more quickly just after waking up what I usually think. Because it will cut off sleeping time, it is usually sleepy.
DI: Which aspects of a design do you focus more during designing?
YT : We focus on problem solving and design taste. I also place importance on whether it will echo in the world.
DI: What kind of emotions do you feel when you design?
YT : Hope, joy, sense of crisis.
DI: What kind of emotions do you feel when your designs are realized?
YT : Thinking of a pioneer of wonderful design, fulfillment and joy will soon disappear. But many ideas will come up.
DI: What makes a design successful?
YT : Many investigations, many insights, many trials.
DI: When judging a design as good or bad, which aspects do you consider first?
YT : Even if it is a good old thing, is it a cultural step forward?
DI: From your point of view, what are the responsibilities of a designer for society and environment?
YT : In order to make a better society and environment, there are many learnings in the past. It is important to excavate it, do not forget, do not drain it, make it alive.
DI: How do you think the "design field" is evolving? What is the future of design?
YT : The field of design may be evolving more than any industry. The reason is that there are many things that can not be described with only specs. It is also an area where you can think back what was created in the past and lost.
DI: When was your last exhibition and where was it? And when do you want to hold your next exhibition?
YT : I participated in Tokyo Design Week in 2016. I would like to hold a solo exhibit one of these days.
DI: Where does the design inspiration for your works come from? How do you feed your creativity? What are your sources of inspirations?
YT : Manga(cartoon) is popular in Japan from long ago. Many old history cartoons are also made and you can choose from many things. I read comic books and enjoy the books and images further when the interest spreads. The ideas and knowledge gained there are often inspirational.
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?
YT : I am trying to update good old things deeply, reasonably, to Dreamy. I am grateful for participating in good staff and get various opinions, but I think that it is important not to get opinions widely.
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?
YT : I live in Tokyo. I think that Japanese culture heritage often influences me. Japanese good old culture is drawing attention from academics all over the world. But in Japan and around the world, good past culture is not inherited and it is moving forward with desire. It will often be a clue to various solutions. I always think about it.
DI: How do you work with companies?
YT : Where there is a short-circuiting tendency to simply ask for a good design, in order to make it a better process, we often talk about work from the preliminary stage of design.
DI: What are your suggestions to companies for working with a designer? How can companies select a good designer?
YT : It often happens that the company makes designs and makes it to designers. It ends up as a self-satisfying project with little power. I think that it is important not to think about problem solving points alone, but to discover problem solving points by consulting designers.
DI: Can you talk a little about your design process?
YT : Discuss and identify problems with companies. After that, I think flexibly about various ideas. I will negotiate with many staff to realize that idea. That is the most time consuming part and it is an important place.
DI: Could you please share some pearls of wisdom for young designers? What are your suggestions to young, up and coming designers?
YT : I do not seek immediate profits, but I think it is important to look forward.
DI: What is your "golden rule" in design?
YT : I am trying to update good old things deeply, reasonably, to Dreamy. I am grateful for participating in good staff and get various opinions, but I think that it is important not to get opinions widely.
DI: What skills are most important for a designer?
YT : I think that it is important to think flexibly with a broad perspective without thinking from a narrow perspective.
DI: Which tools do you use during design? What is inside your toolbox? Such as software, application, hardware, books, sources of inspiration etc.?
YT : Pencil, Illustrator, Photoshop, Hiroshi Sugimoto's words.
DI: Who are some of your clients?
YT : Norwegian Chamber of Commerce in Japan
DI: Do you work as a team, or do you develop your designs yourself?
YT : Depending on the project, it may work only on your own, and sometimes on a team.
DI: How can people contact you?
YT : http://www.venue.jphttps://www.instagram.com/takeuchi_y/