Yukino Shunme

LEGENDARY INTERVIEW

Design Legends ("DL") had the distinct honour to interview legendary designer Yukino Shunme ("YS") 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?

YS : I hold a master’s degree in literature and linguistics and completed all the required coursework for a doctoral program albeit without the doctoral thesis completion. After that, I was primarily engaged in university education, translation, and interpretation. From 2017 to 2018, I stayed in Canada, and upon returning to Japan, I formally started my own business, very small one. After receiving interpreter training, I expanded my work in interpreting and translation. Additionally, driven by a desire to introduce Japanese culture to the world, I began designing lacquerware, shikki, around 2020. Since I was born in a region with a connection to lacquerware, I believe I became familiar with it as a matter of course. Although I started as a complete outsider to the field, I was fortunate to meet talented artisans. As of the end of December 2024, I have achieved three entries in domestic public exhibitions in Japan, received the Silver Award at Italy’s A’Design Awards as you already know, been selected for contemporary art exhibitions in Japan and France, and won the Good Design Award from Chicago’s Good Design Awards in the United States.

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

YS : A Designer, which I have never thought of becoming, but looking back on my life, I often looked for the things that I could never find. That is to say, I wanted to design such things.Shikki is no exception.

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

YS : I believe it was a natural course of events.

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

YS : Just Lacquerware, for time being, but in details, I would like to design those of Natsume, i.e. tea caddy, and Oju, i.e. stacked lacquer box.

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

YS : Having the courage to stay true to your beliefs.

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

YS : Being able to create designs that, in addition to fulfilling their functions and roles, possess elements that resonate deeply with the heart—whether by thoroughly pursuing functionality or standing out aesthetically, any point would be the one if it is extremely excellent.

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

YS : Something that captivates people’s hearts while also serving its function, and at the same time, is created in a way that minimizes its negative impact on society and the planet.

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

YS : To soothe people's hearts and contribute to guiding the world toward peace.

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

YS : People who are exhausted from the pressures of daily life. My shikki may be expensive, and I am not wealthy myself, but if I could receive support, I would like to give it a try.

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

YS : To display to show the whole world of my shikki series.

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

YS : Recipe is following my intuition, and ingredient is the craftsman's profound comprehension of my concepts.

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

YS : Some film makers whose view across elements such as what they want to insist, art, and music is consistent.

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

YS : Nature. Everything it shows to us including terrain, scenery, and flora and fauna.

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

YS : The luster of lacquer created by human skill and physical laws.

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

YS : First, appreciating something beautiful. Second, fully communicating your idea to others who are involved in your project. Three, trying to introduce your works to people you do not know.

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

YS : I would have remained to be a translator and interpreter.

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

YS : The thing to enrich people's emotional experiences.

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

YS : My friends and my family. My husband does not hide his objective view toward my works, and my sons support me even financially.

DL: What helped you to become a great designer?

YS : My passion and sometimes even negative experiences have helped me to grow but the key element is the dialogue with my artwork.

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

YS : The economic reasons, which are ongoing, and the lack of communication in the creation of the artwork.

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

YS : I am wondering it now.

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

YS : I wold like to expand the series of my work.

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

YS : The first and most important thing is that I can keep this line without any recession by obtaining more recognition and more audience who would appreciate my pieces of shikki.

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

YS : Silent awe.

DL: How does design help create a better society?

YS : Fostering a culture that values not only people but also things, enriching the heart, which leads to world peace.

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

YS : Unfortunately, I am not trying such things just now. What I spend most of my time on, regarding art, is promotional activities for the award-winning works.

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

YS : 'Tsuzumi Double Sakazuki' and 'Jouer avec Shikki' because the former one is the first work I could realize my idea and the latter one is also the first work to make a set of works that expresses most efficiently what I want to show through my shikki.

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

YS : Of course, it would take direction to more eco-friendly cycles. It might be combined with the cutting-edge technology without any more harmful impact on people and the earth which can be realized through the advanced development for future.

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

YS : Diversity.

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

YS : About a year.

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

YS : Shape of the object.

DL: What is your life motto as a designer?

YS : No compromise and true to myself.

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

YS : It depends which power do you see in the question.

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

YS : Regarding my projects, the only process the technology can be seen is that of the wood turning.

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

YS : I do not use such things except just I do design drawings on the computer.

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

YS : I guess those are not the roles but the important part of design itself.

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

YS : Anything would be great.

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

YS : I guess that is an excellent chef who can see things with their heart or in other words, their five senses plus sixth.

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

YS : 'The Unknown Craftsman: A Japanese Insight into Beauty' by Maha Harada.

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

YS : I did almost nothing, but just think, think, think and enjoy films, reading books, traveling and think.

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

YS : Michel Foucault, my ancestors and my father.

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

YS : Very hard. This sums up everything.

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

YS : My favorite colors are blue and purple. I love to visit the European countries as well as exploring unfamiliar cultures in other areas. I like all seasons partly because I am Japanese. I love horse riding.

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

YS : Initially, I am completely an outsider, so what I wanted to do looks strange to people involved in the industry in many cases. Tsuzumi was no exception. They might have said by themselves 'what is it for?'

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

YS : It's when I see my idea has completely been realised in front of me. I encourage myself by imagining what my future would become of after accomplishing something one by one.

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

YS : I do not think so, but when I told my old friend that Tsuzumi was awarded Silver A'Design Award, she said to me it could happen. She referred to my batik work that I worked on in art class at middle school, and explained how she felt seeing my work - unexpected composition.

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

YS : Hopefully, everyone is shining in their respective places without feeling the threat of losing their lives.

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

YS : I live in Japan, and I like traveling the world. If the environment permits, I enjoy horseback riding at the places I visit. I am currently in a thrilling battle with my finances.