So Koizumi

LEGENDARY INTERVIEW

Design Legends ("DL") had the distinct honour to interview legendary designer So Koizumi ("SK") 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?

SK : After attending art colleges in Tokyo and Finland, I worked as a designer's assistant in Tokyo for seven years.

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

SK : It is about being able to help others through your designs.

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

SK : I chose to become a designer.

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

SK : The company designs a wide range of areas, including interiors, products and objects.

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

SK : Being able to take responsibility for one's own design.

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

SK : I think it's about having an appropriate sense of the times. This is because no matter how elaborate a design is, if it is out of step with the times and society, it cannot be called good design.

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

SK : The wind chime 'Seven' was awarded the A'Design Award this year.

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

SK : Helping people.
This does not mean designing to make everyday life more convenient, but to enrich it by presenting small emotions such as surprises and discoveries, and ideas that are different from theirs.

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

SK : I believe that through my designs I should express my opinion on society as an individual. It is only a small opinion from the perspective of society as a whole, but I think it is very significant to continue to do so.

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

SK : Fossil-like furniture has been produced. It will be presented soon.

DL: How does design help create a better society?

SK : For example, a project may be able to make a small contribution to improving environmental problems, depending on the materials used. However, this is only a small event in the context of society as a whole and does not represent a dramatic improvement. What is important is to sustain the idea and the activity. As one person's idea spreads to people, another activity is born. By sustaining it, we believe that it has the potential to become a good society.

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

SK : Conversations with craftspeople. They give you knowledge and background on things you didn't know.

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

SK : The wind chime 'Seven' was awarded the A'Design Award this year.

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

SK : Sometimes it takes three months, sometimes a year.

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

SK : It starts with researching the background to the project.

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

SK : I do not follow trends. Instead, I focus on emotions and events that I experience in my daily life.

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

SK : It is an aid to human creation.

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

SK : I want designers to understand what they wanted to convey through their designs. We tend to focus on the phenomena and materials in front of us, but I think the important thing is to know the background of the design.