Design, style and trends – as an award-winning designer with unique perspectives and extensive experience, Shinichi Mitsuki has an eye for all things design. Able to design spaces and create things that can impact the forever developing societies, he is engaged with not only trends, but the society itself.
“The role of design has been changed dramatically and we have a new paradigm shift.” Shinichi Mitsuki, Design Laboratory Manager of Mitsui Designtec Co. Ltd., has a deep understanding on design and trends, and how it affects our societies today. Having been in the industry for more than 20 years, he has made his mark in the design industry, where his knowledge and experience make him what he is today – an award winning designer.
As the head of design management with Mitsui Designtec in Tokyo, he is also in charge of the trend marketing division, sharing the upcoming trends with those around the world. Being an international design figure, he is a well-known designer at Milan’s annual Salon De Mobile, among other numerous international design events. Joining the Malaysian International Furniture Fair (MIFF) in 2016, Mitsuki will be one of the international judges on the panel for the MIFF Furniture Design Competition 2016.
Talking all things design, trends and more, we here at Creative Home got an exclusive interview with Mitsuki.
Tell us how you began your design journey?
Well, since young, back when I was a child I really enjoyed creating things. At university I studied architecture, which developed my design career. After that, I started my career where I was in housing design. I was working in the housing section of this big company, but it wasn’t just limited to interior design, I was also doing other designing like town planning – I learnt a lot because the job scope was really wide so I got to experience exterior design and interior. Eventually I narrowed down my scope to only interior design, so focusing on that solely I have now done interiors for places like offices, hotels, medical centres, commercial facilities, residential – of course and many more.
Is there a type of interior that you prefer to design for?
I have designed a lot, but I would say residential and hotel interiors, mainly because these two are more personal and it’s something I prefer doing – I can throw my passion into it.
photo – PAOLA LENTI 1
Do you think designers have their own personal style?
As a designer we don’t intentionally create a personal style; it’s not a conscious thing. As you work, someone discovers your personal style, if you do have one that is. For me when I create something, I see it as 2 types of creations – needs and seeds. The needs creations are designs where you think about the needs of the market and the consumer – you have to understand what the markets wants and you come up with a solution for it. The seed creations are when you create something so different, that it doesn’t even exist yet, it changes the market and people’s lives. With the seed creations, a designers’ style will play a greater role as people will follow the designer and their style which will in turn expand and develop the market.
photo : Zanotta
How do you balance between your personal style and the clients’ style?
First of all, an important aspect of our job is to understand the design trends, so we must do research including research in the changes of society, that way we can provide our clients with trendy interiors. Secondly, you must understand the clients’ need – when you know what their background is, you know why they need something so you must fully understand the client. Function is very important with interior design, so after understanding the needs of the client, I look at the function and the practicality of the interior – from here you can integrate the art and beauty and a bit of personal style.
photo : Cassina
You have been in the design industry for over 20 years now, how has your design techniques developed over your career?
When I first started in the field of design, it was more from the consumer’s point of view, mainly the aesthetics – colours, form, shapes – so my starting point was thinking about how I could create interesting designs with peculiar shapes and colours – that was the main thing in the beginning. As I developed in the industry, I started to learn about the importance of design and learnt that design can inspire others in life. I found that once you had a design that could impact someone’s life, then the colour and form simply takes shape. I have always stressed that concept is fundamental to a design; it must have a use and somehow benefit the consumer. Of course, the changes of society also affects your design – at the end of the day, the society is the end user.
photo : Poliform
So does society make the trends or is it the designer?
It’s a two way thing – as society changes, designers must adapt to that change and create something to meet that change, and as that new design comes about, the society will adapt to that creation etc… it’s like two wheel – they both work together.
What influences you to design?
I travel, so from that I see and experience many things which inspire me. Over time you accumulate things – the more things you see and touch can influence your designs. In a way I have like design radar – I am always interested in new things, especially things that challenge me and makes me question a lot.
In relation to the MIFF Design Competition – what will you be looking for when judging?
Concept will be very important – that’s the first thing. The design must benefit the user and it must be obvious what the benefit is. Originality is also key. In regards to trends, I will look at the global and local trends and how the local trend is integrated into their design. After that – I will look at the artistic sense – is it unique and something fresh? Another aspect that is important is the personal aspects, because it must benefit the person somehow, but I will also judge whether it benefits the society – like in terms of the environment.
In terms of originality – how do designers create something original with so many designs out there today?
Just because something is trendy – it doesn’t mean that the designer needs to use it. A real designer will look at why it became trendy, the background behind that trend and work from there – they must do their own research and then with their artistic approach, they can create something original and new.
What has been the proudest design moment in your life?
I guess there have been certain times when I wanted to design something with a specific expression or benefit, but I struggled with the design solution – the concept was there, but the design wasn’t. Then finally, when I do create it and it is accepted by the society – that is always the best feeling. One recent example is the blood donation centre I designed. I combined this centre with a café, with the intention of the locals giving back to the community. It turned out great – the younger generation especially would go to this café and then want to donate blood! It’s a great cause.
www.mitsui-designtec.co.jp
