We, as the Designer Interviews ("DI") had the distinct pleasure and opportunity to interview award-winning, most creative and innovative Takuji Kamio ("TK").
Takuji Kamio is an award-winning designer that helps make the World a better place with their original and innovative creations and advanced design works.
Takuji Kamio Designs
We are pleased to share with you original and innovative design work by Takuji Kamio.
Takuji Kamio Design - Cups Kamakura Cafe and Hotel
Takuji Kamio Design - Villa De Nozomi Senior Care Residence
Takuji Kamio Design - Ching Ming Kyoto Restaurant
Takuji Kamio Design - Garden Love Clue Office
Designer Interview of Takuji Kamio:
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?
TK : I have loved traveling, art, and drawing since childhood. Through those experiences, I always wondered how I can keep and deal the relationship between I and the world. The design was one of my answers.Now I love to have a chance to meet people through my design works.We have built to many walls but not enough bridges. So, I wish I can make the bridges of design for the world.
DI: Can you tell us more about your company / design studio?
TK : Our company is located in Chigasaki, Japan. It's about 1 hour from Tokyo station. Chigasaki is the famous beach town, and there are many companies proposing the high-lifestyle.Our company produce commercial, residence, interior, architecture, and art designs.
DI: What is "design" for you?
TK : Design has to be not only to make a profit but to make the world happy with new values.People have built to many walls but not enough bridges. I would like to make a bridge of design.
DI: What kinds of works do you like designing most?
TK : Something very interactive. Something needed new challenging. Something to have opportunities to work with new ideas and new people. Oversea projects.
DI: What is your most favorite design, could you please tell more about it?
TK : Now I'm more focusing on transforming art works to space designs.Geometric patterns, Graphics, 3D ornament objects, impressive lightings, and so on.Combining all aspects to develop own originalities.
DI: What was the first thing you designed for a company?
TK : Executive spa in Hyatt Hotel, Hawaii.
DI: What is your favorite material / platform / technology?
TK : timber wood, stone, tile, metal, graphics, LED lighting.
DI: When do you feel the most creative?
TK : When I take a walk at my hometown, beach side.When I am driving by myself.Very early morning or late night.
DI: Which aspects of a design do you focus more during designing?
TK : How the consumers may feel through the design works.Functions, approach, visual as much as material textures.
DI: What kind of emotions do you feel when you design?
TK : Complex, Complication, Hunger and Anger.But, also happiness at the same time.
DI: What kind of emotions do you feel when your designs are realized?
TK : Fun and pleasure
DI: What makes a design successful?
TK : Think and think. Plan and prepare enough. Then again, think and think.Keep thinking and trying.Free and open the mind not to be stacked in one place.
DI: When judging a design as good or bad, which aspects do you consider first?
TK : Balances for all......Balance of visual.Balance of colors.Balance of volumes.Balance of technics.Balance of virtues.Balance of feelings.
DI: From your point of view, what are the responsibilities of a designer for society and environment?
TK : Designers have to show and propose new ideas to solve the existing problems.They have responsibilities to be honest and gentle for the society while they also have to be very emotional and powerful.
DI: How do you think the "design field" is evolving? What is the future of design?
TK : I believe the design will be more for human feelings. Not only for something to make profits. In the commercial fields, planning and sales strategies will be still very important, but more that those aspects, the art feeling, which AI cannot produce, will be more important.
DI: When was your last exhibition and where was it? And when do you want to hold your next exhibition?
TK : At Pangkor Island Festival in Malaysia, 2017. Will come back to the festival in 2019 with new installations.
DI: Where does the design inspiration for your works come from? How do you feed your creativity? What are your sources of inspirations?
TK : I always try to pick up and keep any design aspects which I found somehow to the small spaces in my brain. I do not think seriously but just try to keep all interests generally with huge and unframed visions.Once I have a typical project which I have to work on, I also try to keep and think about the project generally in the small spaces of my brain. Again, I first do not think seriously about the project.Just try to keep all considerations together somehow in my brain always.Then, just relax and wait for the answers come out spontaneously.
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?
TK : Simple, graphical, texture style.I wish my design will be something to share our thoughts, feelings, time, and spaces.I am always looking for a very simple answers: simple expressions with more direct design information to our eyes and skins.
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?
TK : I live in Kamakura, Japan.Kamakura is called a small KYOTO. There are lots of temples and shrines while the town is facing to the ocean.I believe the environment somehow effects on my designs.
DI: How do you work with companies?
TK : I'm a president of the company. Also work as the executive designer of teams.
DI: What are your suggestions to companies for working with a designer? How can companies select a good designer?
TK : Do not let the designers stay at office until late night.Let them go back early. Try to keep their privacy and free times.Design never comes out at office.
DI: Can you talk a little about your design process?
TK : First I decide the main concept after client interviews.Then, staff try to research and collect many images concerning to the concept.After a few days, I draw several sketches and make rough 3D images.After my ideas come out, I brush up the details with my team.
DI: What are 5 of your favorite design items at home?
TK : camping tent & shade / car carrier box / ham mock / cooking pot & pan / handy coffee mill
DI: Can you describe a day in your life?
TK : 1: Wake up at 5:30am and leave home at 6:20am.2: Enjoy the 30min beach side driving which is a way to my office.3: Refresh & Free my mind and consider about some projects in the car.4: Arrive and open the office before 7am.5: Do some extra works or something for my own about 2+1/2 hours before staffs coming.6: Start project works with my team from 9:30am.7: Finish work at 5-7pm and drive back to home.8: Have a dinner with family or friends at around 7pm.9: Extra work at home, or free time with my family or friends at 8pm.10: Try to sleep by 10pm-0am.
DI: Could you please share some pearls of wisdom for young designers? What are your suggestions to young, up and coming designers?
TK : There are lots of Entrances.But, Exit is alway only one.When you do not have much, it seems there are too many entrances of life to choose.But, when you look back someday after reaching to some points with lots of efforts, you may realize that actually the exit was only one.Do whatever you like. Put efforts on that.
DI: From your perspective, what would you say are some positives and negatives of being a designer?
TK : Positive : can make new values in the worldNegative : difficult to make money and need long time works
DI: What is your "golden rule" in design?
TK : make it happy
DI: What skills are most important for a designer?
TK : observation
DI: Which tools do you use during design? What is inside your toolbox? Such as software, application, hardware, books, sources of inspiration etc.?
TK : free white papers, black ink pens 0.5 & 1mm thk, camera, MACBOOK and Vectorwroks, Adobe CC, 3D applications
DI: Designing can sometimes be a really time consuming task, how do you manage your time?
TK : Always keep the matters in mind. And consider of solutions during out of office.Try to reduce the actual work time such as drawing, as much as I can.
DI: How long does it take to design an object from beginning to end?
TK : Usually take 3-6months for an interior project.1-2 years for an architecture project.
DI: What is the most frequently asked question to you, as a designer?
TK : What else can you make?
DI: What was your most important job experience?
TK : Oversea projects
DI: Who are some of your clients?
TK : KYOWA / JISEIKAI / ELKEN / BUTBO GROUP / BERNINI
DI: What type of design work do you enjoy the most and why?
TK : I enjoy any types of design.
DI: What are your future plans? What is next for you?
TK : Several restaurant designs oversea and some senior-care-mansions
DI: Do you work as a team, or do you develop your designs yourself?
TK : First I develop my design by myself. And then, share the ideas with my team and work together.
DI: Do you have any works-in-progress being designed that you would like to talk about?
TK : We work a lot over sea especially Asia. Many interesting and dramatic projects are coming to be handle.
DI: How can people contact you?
TK : Please check our website;http://www.kamiodesign.comAlso, please send me an email;contact0467@kamiodesign.com
DI: Any other things you would like to cover that have not been covered in these questions?
TK : Thank you.