NANA WATANABE
LEGENDARY INTERVIEW
Design Legends ("DL") had the distinct honour to interview legendary designer Nana Watanabe ("NW") 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?
NW : I studied fashion design at a university in Japan. After graduation, I joined the design team at ISSEY MIYAKE, where I worked for about four years on collection development. The three-dimensional sense of form and material approach I cultivated there have deeply influenced my current jewelry designs. I later launched my own brand, NANA WATANABE, which focuses on artistic jewelry using embroidery and textiles.
DL: What motivates you to design in general, why did you become a designer?
NW : I’ve been fascinated with creating things by hand since I was a child. I used to gather natural materials to play with or make gifts for people and feel great joy when they smiled. That sense of joy in creation is at the root of my motivation. Designing is the most natural way for me to express myself—it moves people and adds meaning to everyday life.
DL: Did you choose to become a designer, or you were forced to become one?
NW : I chose this path on my own. But looking back, I realize that creating was always a part of me since childhood—so in a way, I may have been guided by something within. While others pursued different careers at university, I never doubted that I wanted to be in a creative field. It wasn’t so much a decision as something that felt inevitable.
DL: What do you design, what type of designs do you wish to design more of?
NW : I design jewelry using embroidery and textile techniques. I draw inspiration from the colors and forms found in nature, and I aim to express them in abstract, poetic ways. Moving forward, I want to go beyond the boundaries of jewelry and explore larger-scale installations and spatial design.
DL: What should young designers do to become a design legend like you?
NW : Stay true to what you love and to the sense of discomfort or curiosity that only you notice. Having your own perspective is key. Don’t rush the results—trust your instincts and keep going, even if it feels like a detour. In the long run, every experience becomes part of your unique design story.
DL: What distinguishes between a good designer and a great designer?
NW : A good designer can create technically excellent work. But a great designer has the power to influence an era and move people’s hearts. It’s not just about beauty or functionality—it’s about raising questions, offering new perspectives, and connecting with society on a deeper level. That’s where greatness lies.
DL: What makes a good design a really good design, how do you evaluate good design?
NW : A truly great design touches people emotionally and withstands the test of time. It’s not about fleeting trends, but about reaching the deeper layers of why we’re drawn to something. When a design resonates with people on that level, it becomes truly meaningful.
DL: What is the value of good design? Why should everyone invest in good design?
NW : Good design enriches our daily lives and emotions in positive ways. It has lasting value because it’s loved over time and doesn’t become waste. I also believe that when our hearts are fulfilled by beautiful things, even conflict can be reduced. Design can make the world a more peaceful place.
DL: What would you design and who would you design for if you had the time?
NW : Good design enriches our daily lives and emotions in positive ways. It has lasting value because it’s loved over time and doesn’t become waste. I also believe that when our hearts are fulfilled by beautiful things, even conflict can be reduced. Design can make the world a more peaceful place.
DL: What is the dream project you haven’t yet had time to realize?
NW : It’s been a dream of mine to develop fabric starting from the thread itself. By designing texture, color, and weaving from scratch, I believe I can expand the expressive range of my work. I want to one day take on a project where the materials themselves are part of the artistic world I build.
DL: What is your secret recipe of success in design, what is your secret ingredient?
NW : I trust my intuition. I treasure the fleeting moments when inspiration strikes, often unexpectedly. Honoring those impulses has led me to my most authentic and meaningful creations.
DL: Who are some other design masters and legends you get inspired from?
NW : Issey Miyake. Although I worked under him only for a short period, it was one of the most formative experiences of my life. His approach to creation was always groundbreaking, and he constantly reminded me of the essence of what design truly is.
DL: What are your favorite designs by other designers, why do you like them?
NW : I’m deeply inspired by Ernst Haeckel’s perspective and observation skills. His ability to capture the structures and forms of nature with such precision—and transform them into art—resonates strongly with the way I approach my own work.
DL: What is your greatest design, which aspects of that design makes you think it is great?
NW : My Shrimps Earrings are one of my most iconic creations. They appear humorous at first glance, yet each detail holds intricate craftsmanship and strong intention. Their lightness and poetic form seem to linger in people’s memories, which makes me believe they’ve achieved something special.
DL: How could people improve themselves to be better designers, what did you do?
NW : To nurture your sensibility, it’s important to look beyond design. Visiting museums, traveling, spending time with children—everyday experiences become your creative toolkit. Personally, I always ask myself: “Am I observing the world closely enough before I start creating?
DL: If you hadn’t become a designer, what would you have done?
NW : I think I would have worked with children—teaching them art. I love seeing how freely they express themselves, completely unbound by rules. Their creativity would have inspired me just as much as I hope I could have inspired them.
DL: How do you define design, what is design for you?
NW : For me, design is a way to communicate emotions and beauty that cannot be fully expressed through words. It’s the act of translating feelings, discomforts, or wonders into tangible form. It overlaps with art, but for me, it’s more like a bridge that connects people on a deeper level.
DL: Who helped you to reach these heights, who was your biggest supporter?
NW : Design, to me, is something that makes people smile. When someone wears my work and lights up, those around them often smile too. That chain of joy becomes a loop that also comes back to me. That sense of shared happiness has supported me more than anything.
DL: What helped you to become a great designer?
NW : I wouldn’t call myself a great designer yet. But what has guided me is the belief in my own instincts. I create not based on trends or external judgment, but on what feels “right” to me personally. That internal compass keeps me grounded.
DL: What were the obstacles you faced before becoming a design master?
NW : I’m far from being a master. But one of the biggest challenges was the fear that my work wouldn’t be accepted. Especially in Japan, where “jewelry” is often equated with precious metals or gemstones, it took time for my textile-based expressions to be understood. But by continuing to share my work without giving up, I slowly found people who resonated with it—and that’s how the path opened up.
DL: How do you think designers should present their work?
NW : I believe it’s essential to share the background and emotions behind the design—especially the feelings that went into it. By expressing the worldview through visuals like photography or video, you can convey emotions that words alone cannot reach. This helps shorten the emotional distance between the work and the viewer.
DL: What’s your next design project, what should we expect from you in future?
NW : In the future, I plan to explore new forms of expression beyond jewelry—such as bags, hats, and other wearable objects, as well as spatial installations. I want to expand from wearable art into art that can be experienced, engaging more senses and emotions.
DL: What’s your ultimate goal as a designer?
NW : My ultimate goal is for my work to quietly warm someone’s heart, regardless of generation or cultural background. I don’t want to simply make “things”; I want to create experiences that resonate with people’s memories and emotions and stay with them for a long time.
DL: What people expect from an esteemed designer such as yourself?
NW : I think people expect “new perspectives” and something that stirs their emotions. That’s why I always try to sharpen my own sensitivity and stay true to my expression without conforming too much to trends. I want to create pieces that offer beauty, surprise, and a gentle question to the viewer.
DL: How does design help create a better society?
NW : What I believe in through design is the power of joyful connection. When a piece touches someone’s heart, that joy spreads to others—and that small ripple of happiness can nourish souls. If we multiply those moments, I truly believe the world can become a more peaceful place. It might sound idealistic, but I believe in it deeply.
DL: What are you currently working on that you are especially excited about?
NW : I’m currently preparing for a solo exhibition at a gallery I connected with through a mysterious and serendipitous encounter. I feel I’ll be able to show work in a way I never have before. I’m excited to explore new forms of expression and create a space that gently loosens the hearts of visitors.
DL: Which design projects gave you the most satisfaction, why?
NW : My exhibition at the Museum of Arts and Design (MAD) in New York was a truly fulfilling experience. Showing my work in a different country and culture, I felt a strong sense that my expression “reached” people. It reminded me of the joy of connecting through sensation rather than language.
DL: What would you like to see changed in design industry in the coming years?
NW : In Japan especially, I sometimes sense an unspoken tendency to form cliques or rigid categories that exclude anything different. I hope the industry will open up more—where freedom of expression is valued, and creators support each other across boundaries and labels.
DL: Where do you think the design field is headed next?
NW : With the rapid evolution of AI, I believe design is about to transform significantly. AI can help analyze, think, and execute at a high level—but that’s precisely why human intuition will become more valuable. I’m convinced that the most human part of us is our ability to say, “I don’t know why, but I love this.” Designs that appeal to that instinct will define the future.
DL: How long does it take you to finalize a design project?
NW : It takes me quite a long time to refine the details after an idea comes to me. It’s common for a piece to take three to six months—or even longer. But for me, what matters most isn’t time—it’s whether I’m truly satisfied with the final piece.
DL: When you have a new design project, where do you start?
NW : I start by shaping something that catches my intuition—like a vague discomfort or a beautiful form or color I encountered in nature. I don’t begin with sketches. Instead, I create with paper or fabric directly, and from there I let the image gradually expand in my mind.
DL: What is your life motto as a designer?
NW : To cherish the perspective only I have, and to trust my intuition. Rather than relying on external validation, I always ask myself whether my heart is moved by what I’m creating.
DL: Do you think design sets the trends or trends set the designs?
NW : I believe both influence each other, but I’m more drawn to design that creates trends. Designers should feel the edge of what’s to come and give shape to feelings that haven’t yet found words. That’s the essence of the job.
DL: What is the role of technology when you design?
NW : I value the warmth of handmade work, but I also incorporate technology, especially in embroidery production. Machine embroidery allows for precision, lightness, and delicacy that are hard to achieve otherwise. Balancing the charm of both hand and machine is a key part of my expression.
DL: What kind of design software and equipment do you use in your work?
NW : I mainly use Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop.
DL: What is the role of the color, materials and ambient in design?
NW : Color and materials are essential to directly communicating emotion and atmosphere. Because they’re sensed before they’re understood, the choices we make with them define the worldview of a piece. I especially focus on lightness, transparency, and the way colors interact.
DL: What do you wish people to ask about your design?
NW : I’m always happy when someone asks, “How did you come up with this?” Behind every piece is a story—a memory from a trip, a moment of discovery in daily life, a fleeting emotional shift. When someone wants to hear those stories, the dialogue deepens and becomes more meaningful.
DL: When you see a new great design or product what comes into your mind?
NW : I feel a pure sense of awe—“How did they come up with this?” And it makes me feel free, like I can let go of my own limitations. I love that moment when someone else’s work makes me realize I can be more open in my own expression.
DL: Who is your ideal design partner? Do you believe in co-design?
NW : One of my ideal partners is the photographer Terukazu Sugino, who I regularly collaborate with. His sharp, intuitive sense beautifully and precisely captures the world I’m trying to express—sometimes even better than I imagined. He often understands the intention behind my work just by seeing it. I truly believe in the creative potential of co-design, where different perspectives merge and elevate the result.
DL: Which people you interacted had the most influence on your design?
NW : The senior designers I worked with during my time at ISSEY MIYAKE, and also the friends and clients who supported me when I first started my brand. The people who offered me honest feedback helped shape who I am as a designer today.
DL: Which books you read had the most effect on your design?
NW : Ernst Haeckel’s art books. He beautifully captured the structures and forms of the natural world at the intersection of science and art. Just looking at his works fills me with endless inspiration. His way of abstracting nature has greatly influenced how I approach my own creations.
DL: How did you develop your skills as a master designer?
NW : By simply continuing to create. Through producing a large volume of work, I began to see my own quirks and tendencies. By refining them, my personal style gradually emerged and evolved.
DL: Irrelative of time and space, who you would want to meet, talk and discuss with?
NW : Taro Okamoto. His words and works deeply resonate with me. I’m always inspired by his ability to break through conventions and express the essence of life itself through art. If I could, I’d love to have a quiet conversation with him, just the two of us.
DL: How do you feel about all the awards and recognition you had, is it hard to be famous?
NW : I’m very grateful for the awards, but what matters even more to me is the feeling that my work has truly reached someone. Being recognized comes with responsibility, but instead of pressure, I try to see it as encouragement—that someone out there is waiting for my next creation.
DL: What is your favorite color, place, food, season, thing and brand?
NW : My favorite colors are yellow and green. I love places like forests, the seaside, and the peacefulness of shrines. I enjoy seafood, and early summer is my favorite season. Naturally, I love jewelry. As for brands, I’m deeply drawn to Dries Van Noten’s use of color and immersive world-building.
DL: Please tell us a little memoir, a funny thing you had experienced as a designer?
NW : At an overseas exhibition, someone mistook one of my earrings for food and nearly put it in their mouth! It looked so realistic to them. I was surprised and delighted—it was a moment where art and humor met in the best way.
DL: What makes your day great as a designer, how do you motivate yourself?
NW : When I see someone wearing my work and smiling radiantly, I feel fulfilled beyond words. When I’m tired, I recharge by spending time in nature or visiting a quiet shrine. That calms my mind and rekindles my creative energy.
DL: When you were a little child, was it obvious that you would become a great designer?
NW : Not at all. But I was always “the kid who was making something.” I wasn’t seeking praise from others—I simply kept creating until I felt satisfied. That mindset hasn’t changed.
DL: What do you think about future; what do you see will happen in thousand years from now?
NW : I hope humanity will live in harmony with nature and value emotional and spiritual richness. Even as technology evolves, I want to believe that we’ll still retain the ability to “feel” deeply and genuinely.
DL: Please tell us anything you wish your fans to know about you, your design and anything else?
NW : Through my work, I hope to spark people’s imagination and emotions—to create space for each person’s own stories to unfold. That relationship between the viewer and the piece is something I’ll always hold dear.
