Taku Hibino

LEGENDARY INTERVIEW

Design Legends ("DL") had the distinct honour to interview legendary designer Taku Hibino ("TH") for their original perspective and innovative approach to design as well as their creative lifestyle, we are very pleased to share our interview with our distinguished readers.

DL: Could you please tell us a bit about your design background and education?

TH : The most important thing is I love nature. The education I have got, has respected me always. So, I was able to create and take action by myself, then my experiences have been piled. These experiences influent what I think and take action now.

DL: What motivates you to design in general, why did you become a designer?

TH : To enrich people’s life.

DL: Did you choose to become a designer, or you were forced to become one?

TH : I decided.

DL: What do you design, what type of designs do you wish to design more of?

TH : Whenever the design is connected to children, the elderly, and the disabled, I want to be engaged in anything.

DL: What should young designers do to become a design legend like you?

TH : To love people.

DL: What distinguishes between a good designer and a great designer?

TH : Whether they love people or not.

DL: What makes a good design a really good design, how do you evaluate good design?

TH : The evaluation point is whether the design is created for people or not.

DL: What is the value of good design? Why should everyone invest in good design?

TH : To enrich people’s life.

DL: What would you design and who would you design for if you had the time?

TH : For much more children, the elderly and the disabled.

DL: What is the dream project you haven’t yet had time to realize?

TH : It’s that there are many regions which we have not been engaged in.

DL: What is your secret recipe of success in design, what is your secret ingredient?

TH : Because we are professionals specializing just in children’s facility and welfare facility.

DL: What are your favorite designs by other designers, why do you like them?

TH : Peter Zumthor’s “Therme Vals” The way to connect inside and outside is wonderful.

DL: What is your greatest design, which aspects of that design makes you think it is great?

TH : The way to connect inside and outside.

DL: How could people improve themselves to be better designers, what did you do?

TH : To love people and design for them.

DL: How do you define design, what is design for you?

TH : To enrich people’s life.

DL: Who helped you to reach these heights, who was your biggest supporter?

TH : All staffs.

DL: What helped you to become a great designer?

TH : Everyone who interacted with us.

DL: How do you think designers should present their work?

TH : To tell the reason of the design.

DL: What’s your next design project, what should we expect from you in future?

TH : We have many projects. Please expect our appropriate answer to the given environment and conditions.

DL: What’s your ultimate goal as a designer?

TH : To be involved in much more children, the elderly and the disabled.

DL: What people expect from an esteemed designer such as yourself?

TH : People who love others.

DL: How does design help create a better society?

TH : By enriching people’s life.

DL: What are you currently working on that you are especially excited about?

TH : To make people smile.

DL: Which design projects gave you the most satisfaction, why?

TH : I can’t choose one from many projects. Whenever I can see people’s smile, I get satisfied.

DL: What would you like to see changed in design industry in the coming years?

TH : The consciousness of the national border gets much weaker.

DL: Where do you think the design field is headed next?

TH : As long as design is for human, the excessive change will not be occurred. But the superficial high-technology will be introduced more and more.

DL: How long does it take you to finalize a design project?

TH : Making decision quickly.

DL: When you have a new design project, where do you start?

TH : Whenever we get requests from clients, we start. Design is started from questions to clients.

DL: What is your life motto as a designer?

TH : To be conscious of people.

DL: What is the role of technology when you design?

TH : To realize design, the technology is necessary.

DL: What kind of design software and equipment do you use in your work?

TH : CAD and BIM. Before using, it’s more important to use brain at first.

DL: What is the role of the color, materials and ambient in design?

TH : We use natural materials mainly. They express the region and the color the nature has is always beautiful and sometimes it shows a little change to us.

DL: What do you wish people to ask about your design?

TH : Before asking, I want people to feel by themselves.

DL: When you see a new great design or product what comes into your mind?

TH : Whether it will enrich people.

DL: Who is your ideal design partner? Do you believe in co-design?

TH : All staffs in my office.

DL: Which books you read had the most effect on your design?

TH : “Praise of Shadows” Junichiro Tanizaki

DL: How did you develop your skills as a master designer?

TH : To be involved in many actual projects.

DL: Irrelative of time and space, who you would want to meet, talk and discuss with?

TH : To meet, talk and discuss with children, the elderly and the disabled around the world.

DL: How do you feel about all the awards and recognition you had, is it hard to be famous?

TH : I will be glad for many people to know our design philosophy and activity.

DL: What is your favorite color, place, food, season, thing and brand?

TH : All colors in nature world. Small islands in Thailand, Vals in Switzerland and Franciacorta in Italy. I like vegetables. Each season has each beautiful scenery and good points.

DL: Please tell us a little memoir, a funny thing you had experienced as a designer?

TH : When I heard these episodes after completing projects. For example, the exercise and food quantity were increased, foods children can’t eat were decreased and then mother sent messages for saying thank you.

DL: What makes your day great as a designer, how do you motivate yourself?

TH : Smiles of children, the elderly and the disabled motivate me.

DL: When you were a little child, was it obvious that you would become a great designer?

TH : At the age f 15, I decided to become a designer.

DL: What do you think about future; what do you see will happen in thousand years from now?

TH : Human and nature live and survive while changing always. Thousand years later, people live in adopting the changes at the time, as it is.

DL: Please tell us anything you wish your fans to know about you, your design and anything else?

TH : For children, it’s important not to give too much. Because with shortage or lack, they begin to create to make up for. For the elderly and the disabled, love and kindness in design are necessary. I want to tell it’s important to design essential kindness, not superficial one.