Takahiro Sato

LEGENDARY INTERVIEW

Design Legends ("DL") had the distinct honour to interview legendary designer Takahiro Sato ("TS") 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?

TS : I like creating something since I was child. I wanted to go to college to study product design but I started working when I was 19 years old because of family reasons. So I gave up once. I studied the structure and maintenance of car own school of some Japanese automobile manufacturer. Learning structure of car affects on the philosophy of my design. But I drop out it too and when make my living with another dream, musician, I worked at some companies for game and toys. My job title was not designer but designed, did direction, made plans and project. I have been in those entertainment business world. After many experience, now I , 43 years old, overcome my complex , call myself “designer” first time and apply for this A’DESIGN AWARD by my first work as designer.

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

TS : Why I started KUDEN is making the place to work with my son. I decide to make the brand for all over the world and found her kimono.

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

TS : I decide to call my self designer for my son so I can say I chose.

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

TS : I like product design especially Fashion. Also like to think of strategy as design. I may like the most the design that we can’t see, like strategy and gimmick to make people feeling happy. I’m sure I like what can see, e.g. structure.

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

TS : Don’t just stare your laptop, go out and touch, see, feel many things and have a lot of experience. Try first even if you like it or dislike. Don’t lose your curiosity. Don’t stop your growth by yourself with small success, in the field that only you can do. Become sensitized to feeling and niceties of the human spirit. Even though, have a dream you strongly want to actualize. And, keep balance of them.

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

TS : I focus on only one thing strongly, that is “this design is as means for who and what.” so great designer can describe those factor, I think.

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

TS : What decides whether design is really is smile of clients and customers.

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

TS : Value of good design is what people can feel and understand intuitive regardless of different of language, age and any other border between us. The reason people should invest in good design is, it makes better society and relationships by good design because people understand and expand rules even people has each values in global world.

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

TS : I want to design what my son want for him and with him. My son draws very well.

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

TS : Make the salon that communicate with people in the world and they order Samurai Mode Series in Europe and other country. Not only Japanese traditional one, use traditional pattern and fabric in each country. Talk with people by mix each culture. I call it “GOFUKUYA 3.0” .

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

TS : The most important ingredient for me is thinking to lead feeling and action without words.

DL: Who are some other design masters and legends you get inspired from?

TS : Mr.Setsu Nagasawa who is fashion illustrator.

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

TS : A kitchen knife that my master of smith, Mr.Hideo Yuzawa (Horyusai Hidenobu)

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

TS : Samurai Mode Series, maybe. Because customer, people in sewing factory including ex-partner company now closed their business like this clothes and also support our message that we keep 40-50% cost rate and protect the working environment of sewing factory. So this is not just a product, also put hopes from many people around me in. No such an experience ever, create products and people love it, it’s happy and precious for me.

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

TS : For example, I don’t graduate from design school but some game company in Tokyo recruited me, it was a walk-in visiting company. For that time, I didn’t have Educational background so I entered to lobby of some game company and got free-pamphlet about new game title, took it to game store and toy store, ask them and people about games, made report and turned in it to company. Like this, I , minority and not in privileged family, advanced my career with hungry spirit by design thinking that how to archive my aim and challenge. This may grow my creativity most.

DL: If you hadn’t become a designer, what would you have done?

TS : Just a business manager.

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

TS : I believe it’s one of means to make people happy.

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

TS : Asami、Sena、Shinji、Takayuki、Haruka、Irene. Wonderful staff, friends and my son with mental disability. If I lose even one person, I never been here.

DL: What helped you to become a great designer?

TS : Experience that have the project that you’re responsible for the result of your design to the end, even it’s small. For this time, I paid by myself for award and project, regard myself as client. Through those experience, I leant what I don’t in work for client. I’m sure it’s also great experience that design with ample funds by client. But the experience that customer gives feedback about my design directly, design is good or not for them, is unforgiving but also exciting. I think it’s a valuable experience.

DL: What were the obstacles you faced before becoming a design master?

TS : When I managed ex-company, I called me producer and CEO myself at that time, I collapsed because of hard work. Then I live apart my dearest son. I started company again to make the place to work with my son with disability. This is my biggest obstacles.

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

TS : First, think if your design makes your important people smiles. After that, think your strategy to present your work to where there are people you can make them happy, affected place to who like that.

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

TS : I plan to make Next Kimono up grade and expand many kinds of products and service according to KUDEN’s concept.

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

TS : Making place to work with my disabled son, it means to actualize employment of disabled. Supporting the life of who get involved with my design, making happy who pick my product and service up, and continue this brand over 100 years. This is my ultimate goal as designer.

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

TS : Ummm, to be good father, friend, boss and senior. Maybe not special one. I think being good man is one of the conditions to be good designer.

DL: How does design help create a better society?

TS : I think design has a power to be able to suggest, communicate , call to action by feeling without words. We designer must use this power to make and keep the better society and environment for next generations, our children, not only for consumption and commerce. If so, I think design helps create a better society.

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

TS : The Samurai Mode Series that receive the award this time will be upgraded like the function that becomes modern kimono if wear all 3 pieces. Also take the function traditional kimono originally has , can adjust for people all over the world even it's a one-design, makes more easy and comfortable to wear with remaining traditional kimono looks but also add a new function.

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

TS : Samurai Mode Series. I wear every day. Some customer has many jacket and some customer come to Japan and wear it while they traveling. There are a lot of those precious customers, they always loves it.

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

TS : Because of those world situation, not a mass production and mass consumption as before, not too much gorgeously, not a fake design looked better than real, only designer and design has real power remains, I think.

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

TS : The design by my definition covers a lot of stuff, I think. For this time, I’m so glad that KUDEN is evaluated as social design, not only clothes design but also branding. I think it’s because what we can’t see like strategy and design thinking will be evaluated more and more in the future. So from now on, not a what we can see, thinking that makes positive impact to better sustainable world is becoming “design field”, I think.

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

TS : It’s my first time to make the clothes and called me designer so what I did first was buying a sewing machine and tried to sew shirt, made patterns so I spent 1 year for complete.

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

TS : "First, make the target and aim clear, consider the condition I should take into account like cost, age, environment and human resource.　Within the limit, think what I can do for making the result and customer smile, gather information and make draw rough draft. Then narrow down the options, make sample and do test marketing , get the feed back by them and make design better or narrow down more. After repeat this some times and finish."

DL: What is your life motto as a designer?

TS : Good design tells us the aim that is for who and what.

DL: Do you think design sets the trends or trends set the designs?

TS : Depends on ages. When/where economic is good, they have leeway so design may set trend but I think originally role of design is means for some aim. So I don’t think that design becomes a goal is not good things and don’t have interests on. In my opinion, commercial designer like me, it’s power that the art has. So I pick the latter.

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

TS : Rather than for design product, it’s on branding side. I can make people know and deliver to all over the world by technology. I call it GOFUKUYA3.0, people can order as they like even from far away. People experience the joy of Japanese traditional GOFUKUYA online. It’s very practical.

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

TS : Paper, fountain pen, iPad and pencil, Adobe Illustrator.

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

TS : The interface for people to recognize the design thinking, strategy and concept. The medium, in other words. So we should pick these 3 factor up to be suitable for what and who deliver to.

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

TS : I’m happy if you wear Samurai Mode Series, more than asking me something. I want to see your feelings and face when you wear. After that if you have something to ask, it’s welcome but first of all I want you to experience it.

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

TS : My thoughts goes to who makes it, their effort, how many people involve in work until release this design to the world.

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

TS : I believe. I think every works and things are not completed by only one people. Whatever it’s small or big, creating with other people is a real creative, I think.

DL: Which people you interacted had the most influence on your design?

TS : My mother, raise me when I was child. She gave me a deeply positive impact , for Next kimono is also affected by her sense.

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

TS : Not directly but when I was child I’m affected by Japanese poetry and tale by Chuya Nakahara and Kenji Miyazawa.

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

TS : Through my many experience in society. I touched a lot of kinds of business world, people, position so I learnt marketing insight and customer insight by those experience. According to those insight, think about how to tell and catch their heart by design. Still I keep studying, try my best from now on too.

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

TS : My mother who passed away. She tried her best for me to go to future course I want even she was in poverty. I think she has regret about this so I want to tell her that even it’s not fast and easy way but many people support me and finally “ I made it, receive it.” She may be glad it. She likes kimono so I think she may wear my Samurai Mode Series.

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

TS : I’m really happy from bottom of my heart and very honored about A’DESIGN AWARD evaluate my work. It’s not because I want to be famous. I think it’s return the favor for everyone who believe me and support, staff, friends, people in factory, customers who spend their precious time and money to us. I want to tell them that “What you support is honest , great designer and creator like win A’DESIGN AWARD and jury of it evaluate. You select and wear such a thing.” I think, it’s a prize for not only me but also everyone support me.

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

TS : Favorite color is black. Food is Japanese cuisine. Season is summer and place is where full of nature.

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

TS : When I designed clothes first time , also called myself designer first time, I couldn’t show it readily because I was embarrassed. Then, staff scold me and said “I know you already finish. SHOW US PLEASE.” I unwillingly showed my design, of course. It’s funny memory for me.

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

TS : Most is my belief that make the place to work with my son. And also I don’t take in extra-things in my daily life. Very simple lifestyle. For designer, it’s a great because we spent our time for thinking more. I like this style.

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

TS : No, I have a lot of dreams. Through many experience, meet many people and other stuffs, I turned designer before I knew it.

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

TS : I keep design thinking, strategy and of course design to remain my brand over 100 years after. I’ll do my best for it so you may see KUDEN 100 years after too. In thousand years, as same as now, people do their best, love others, raise their child and there are design in their life. The design is universal factor, don’t you think so?

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

TS : I design Next Kimono as one of kimono so people especially Japanese often say “it’s just a kimono” when they see photo. It’s honorable thing for me. Because I design Next “Kimono”. For people know kimono, I want them to wear, they may understand the difference. I design like that. And also I would like to work with who want to make your new business to global, have interests on Ethical and social issues and also collaborate with who have traditional technique of each country. It’s a happy if work with you as designer.