We, as the Designer Interviews ("DI") had the distinct pleasure and opportunity to interview award-winning, most creative and innovative Tomohiro Kaji ("TK").
Tomohiro Kaji is a former creative director for UNIQLO Co., Ltd. He graduated from Academy of Art University, San Francisco and joined UNIQLO Co., Ltd. in 2008 as the first graphic designer in its communications field. He’s built and managed an in-house creative team contributing global branding projects including HEATTECH and Ultra Light Down product branding, product marketing and digital integraded campaigns. He founded TOMODACHI Ltd. (https://tomodachiltd.com) in 2019, an independent creative agency to create art + strategy for branding, and became its representative director. Tomohiro has opened Kishu-Ann, a renovated villa built in Edo period – about 200 years ago to provide a private stay of classic Japanese experience. (kishu-ann.com)
Tomohiro Kaji Designs
We are pleased to share with you original and innovative design work by Tomohiro Kaji.
Tomohiro Kaji Design - Dotline Corporate Identity
Designer Interview of Tomohiro Kaji:
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 3 huge inspirations in my life. The first one is by my grandfather who was a calligrapher. He had been drawing calligraphies mixing letters and any shape by painting or paper material. Often he had made sculptures. The second one is some advertisings created by John C Jay. He has been a huge inspiration for me, always. Lastly, El Lissitzky. His graphic designs shocked me out from a ob of typical poster design. Their art inspired me to become a designer.
DI: Can you tell us more about your company / design studio?
TK : TMDCH Ltd is an independent creative agency focusing in branding started from 2019. Our uniqueness is we are a hybrid of an award wining design studio and a branding agency which builds a creative strategy committing on business growth.
DI: What is "design" for you?
TK : Design means an inevitable and inspirational result from a creative process based on a rational choice with clients.
DI: What kinds of works do you like designing most?
TK : Building and designing brand strategy and identity system including launching program for a good client to become a great brand.
DI: What is your most favorite design, could you please tell more about it?
TK : Producing an all sustainable restaurant, called Nœud. TOKYO. It is one of a remarkable project I had been led at the beginning of my company building from strategy, team and its execution with a great result to the client as well as they have been earning the Michelin Star for 3 years after the launch.
DI: What was the first thing you designed for a company?
TK : Nœud. TOKYO
DI: What is your favorite material / platform / technology?
TK : Material—Physical materials such as wood, rock, paper and soil used for space design, especially relevant ones with its business and its location.
DI: When do you feel the most creative?
TK : Finding a better solution than before, especially facing any complicated issue / challenge.
DI: Which aspects of a design do you focus more during designing?
TK : Process for the best solution for clients' success.
DI: What kind of emotions do you feel when you design?
TK : Climbing on a huge mountain with steps one by one.
DI: What kind of emotions do you feel when your designs are realized?
TK : Never leave a client or their business’ growth behind especially the design fells great.
DI: What makes a design successful?
TK : A great relationship with its client.
DI: When judging a design as good or bad, which aspects do you consider first?
TK : If it is unique enough to get a strong attention.
DI: From your point of view, what are the responsibilities of a designer for society and environment?
TK : Work and contribute to a good client for society and environment. If not, educate them to be so. Or leave from the project.
DI: How do you think the "design field" is evolving? What is the future of design?
TK : Wether we like it or not, AI and new technology push us out from existing roll like steam power or computer have done. The more technology evolving, the more our creativity become important for making a better world.
DI: Where does the design inspiration for your works come from? How do you feed your creativity? What are your sources of inspirations?
TK : Culture and people are the great sources of inspirations.
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 : What's your approach to design? Inspirational design that contributes a business growth. We bridge business strategy and creative strategy so the design works for them.
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 : In Japan, there are so many cultural, historical aspects behind us. It inspires a lot as well as new technology and digital solutions. There are also a critical issues are in front of us. Especially, aging and luck of human resources are really critical. Some of Japanese don’t realize, or don’t want realize it.
DI: How do you work with companies?
TK : I will be a CEO counterpart to discuss their business strategy and creative strategy with building an appropriate creative team to execute their creative programs.
DI: What are your suggestions to companies for working with a designer? How can companies select a good designer?
TK : Please produce a good product and be a good client. And good designers will come to the company.
DI: Can you talk a little about your design process?
TK : Discussing product or business model to understand how unique and how good enough in a market or a society with unique. If it is not yet, we start improving it before design.
DI: What are 5 of your favorite design items at home?
TK : A book designed by John C Jay. A kitchen knife shaped by MASAMUNE. A calligraphy by my grand father. A Russian poster designed by Stenberg brothers. A jacket and pants designed by Keizo Shimizu. Rolex Date Just.
DI: Could you please share some pearls of wisdom for young designers? What are your suggestions to young, up and coming designers?
TK : Always ask if it is the best for for them, and for you.
DI: From your perspective, what would you say are some positives and negatives of being a designer?
TK : You will inspire the world with good clients, or you will just make garbages.
DI: What is your "golden rule" in design?
TK : Never stop studying until you are happy.
DI: What skills are most important for a designer?
TK : Speed and imagination
DI: Which tools do you use during design? What is inside your toolbox? Such as software, application, hardware, books, sources of inspiration etc.?
TK : Sketchbook, a fountain pen, laptop PC, some white copy paper, and EarPods.
DI: Designing can sometimes be a really time consuming task, how do you manage your time?
TK : Work as a team with people, and with a good project manager to identify what I am supposed to do by when.
DI: How long does it take to design an object from beginning to end?
TK : It depends on how complex the object to be solved is.
DI: What was your most important job experience?
TK : Any experiences I failed.
DI: What are your future plans? What is next for you?
TK : My company's growth as a global creative agency.
DI: Do you work as a team, or do you develop your designs yourself?
TK : Both. But. I will do less by myself for education.
DI: Do you have any works-in-progress being designed that you would like to talk about?
TK : Yes. But, I cannot by October 2024.
DI: How can people contact you?
TK : By e-mail: info@tomodachiltd.com or message via instagram.