We, as the Designer Interviews ("DI") had the distinct pleasure and opportunity to interview award-winning, most creative and innovative Nana Watanabe ("NW").
Nana Watanabe is an award-winning designer that helps make the World a better place with their original and innovative creations and advanced design works.
Nana Watanabe Designs
We are pleased to share with you original and innovative design work by Nana Watanabe.
Nana Watanabe Design - Shrimps Earrings
Designer Interview of Nana Watanabe:
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?
NW : I have loved creating things since childhood. Every time I made something, I received compliments from others, and seeing the joy on people’s faces when I gave them my creations made me feel truly happy.
DI: Can you tell us more about your company / design studio?
NW : I currently operate on my own, and I have recently hired an assistant. I work in an area near the sea.
DI: What is "design" for you?
NW : Design is something that brings smiles to people. It is the way in which I can fully express my abilities and find my sense of purpose.
DI: What kinds of works do you like designing most?
NW : I love creating unique pieces that no one has seen before—designs that appeal intuitively yet are the result of thorough conceptual thinking and are not easy to produce.
DI: What is your most favorite design, could you please tell more about it?
NW : My favorite design is the award-winning SHRIMP earring. It maximizes the properties of the material, featuring an origami-like structure reminiscent of Japanese art combined with the refined fabric handling I developed during my fashion design days.
DI: What was the first thing you designed for a company?
NW : My very first professional design work was when I worked as a designer for ISSEY MIYAKE.
DI: When do you feel the most creative?
NW : I feel most creative in the morning when I’m at my desk in a quiet room.
DI: Which aspects of a design do you focus more during designing?
NW : I pay special attention to whether the design is intuitively beautiful.
DI: What kind of emotions do you feel when you design?
NW : I feel so much joy—it’s incredibly fun.
DI: What kind of emotions do you feel when your designs are realized?
NW : I feel overwhelmingly happy.
DI: What makes a design successful?
NW : A successful design requires a genuine consideration for others.
DI: When judging a design as good or bad, which aspects do you consider first?
NW : I look at whether the idea and aesthetics are well balanced.
DI: From your point of view, what are the responsibilities of a designer for society and environment?
NW : I believe that there is no true value in creating something unless it comes from a place of kindness—towards the environment, society, and people. While environmental consciousness is essential, I also believe that bringing joy to others can help make the world a better place. In that sense, making people smile through design is one of the most meaningful contributions a designer can offer to society.
DI: How do you think the "design field" is evolving? What is the future of design?
NW : With the development of AI, I believe the field is undergoing major changes. AI assists with analysis, thinking, and tasks, paving the way for higher-quality creations. Moving forward, I am convinced that intuition will be the aspect that keeps us truly human. Design that appeals to one’s innate feelings—where the sense of 'liking' is at its core—will become increasingly important.
DI: When was your last exhibition and where was it? And when do you want to hold your next exhibition?
NW : My last exhibition was held in May in Osaka, Japan, and I am planning a solo exhibition in June in Tokyo.
DI: Where does the design inspiration for your works come from? How do you feed your creativity? What are your sources of inspirations?
NW : My inspiration comes from my childhood experiences in nature and the hands-on experiences I had visiting production facilities during my time as a fashion designer.
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?
NW : My design style is all about creating pieces that spark a sense of “I love this” at first glance—something that resonates intuitively. The forms are unique and airy, with a sculptural quality that sets them apart, even within the realm of jewelry. Drawing on my background as a fashion designer, I apply techniques from pattern making and garment construction to develop highly structural and distinctive designs. I don’t rely on sketches; instead, I work directly from inspiration, cutting fabric or paper by hand to create three-dimensional samples.
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?
NW : I live in Japan and have experienced various regions here. The richness of Japan’s nature and cultural heritage greatly influences my work. Japan offers unique cultural perspectives and sensibilities that lend distinct originality to designs influenced by Japanese culture. On the downside, being far from overseas can be a challenge—if I were based in Europe, for instance, I might have broader opportunities for international exhibitions.
DI: How do you work with companies?
NW : Currently, I rarely work on corporate projects, although I have occasionally designed uniforms for companies.
DI: What are your suggestions to companies for working with a designer? How can companies select a good designer?
NW : I believe strong communication skills are essential.
DI: Can you talk a little about your design process?
NW : I don’t usually create design sketches. Instead, I go straight from inspiration to cutting paper or fabric to make samples. Since my final pieces are three-dimensional, I don’t feel that preliminary sketches are necessary.
DI: What are 5 of your favorite design items at home?
NW : Some examples include an object made by my child, vintage sunglasses, the Nothing smartphone, RIKI clock, Fellow Carter Move Mug
DI: Can you describe a day in your life?
NW : Since my child is young, I go to bed at 8 p.m. and wake up at 4 a.m. Before breakfast, I devote time to stretching, meditation, and study, then work from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. On my days off, I spend time with my child and husband.
DI: Could you please share some pearls of wisdom for young designers? What are your suggestions to young, up and coming designers?
NW : I believe that gaining as much experience as possible through sheer volume of work will not only broaden your design range but also improve its quality.
DI: From your perspective, what would you say are some positives and negatives of being a designer?
NW : I think it’s the best job ever, so I can’t really point out any negatives.
DI: What is your "golden rule" in design?
NW : First and foremost, create something that genuinely excites you.
DI: What skills are most important for a designer?
NW : Not giving up until the very end.
DI: Which tools do you use during design? What is inside your toolbox? Such as software, application, hardware, books, sources of inspiration etc.?
NW : I use my MacBook, pencils, a cutter, copier paper, Photoshop, Illustrator, scissors, and glue.
DI: Designing can sometimes be a really time consuming task, how do you manage your time?
NW : I work until I am completely satisfied with the result.
DI: How long does it take to design an object from beginning to end?
NW : Approximately six months.
DI: What is the most frequently asked question to you, as a designer?
NW : How did you create it?’
DI: What was your most important job experience?
NW : Last year, I had the opportunity to sell my work directly overseas at the MAD Museum in New York.
DI: Who are some of your clients?
NW : Many of my clients are creative professionals, such as artists and musicians.
DI: What type of design work do you enjoy the most and why?
NW : I particularly enjoy the process of choosing colors."
DI: What are your future plans? What is next for you?
NW : I’m interested in designing not only jewelry but also bags.
DI: Do you work as a team, or do you develop your designs yourself?
NW : I work on my own.
DI: Do you have any works-in-progress being designed that you would like to talk about?
NW : I’m currently working on a large octopus brooch.
DI: How can people contact you?
NW : They can reach out via email or through social media.