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December 22, 2006
Katsuya Iwamoto
Design is not styling.
There is no meaning in merely arranging a surface.
If it is simply to create a beautiful space, someone other than I could do it.
Incorporating the five senses and the mind to actualize
an idea that is not yet visible to the eye...
my job is to make people happy through designs.
“EMBODY DESIGN ASSOCIATION’s representative designer, Katsuya Iwamoto describes design in the following manner. The first special edition of “Feature Designer” features Mr. Iwamoto, active not only in commercial facility design, but also in a variety of other fields and explores his thoughts on design.”
Profile
1988.3 Graduated Osaka University of Arts, Design department, Interior design major
1988.4 Entered company known as Tanseisha Co., Ltd.
1992.4 Established EMBODY DESIGN ASSOCIATION
Awards
・ JCD commercial design prize ’97
・ INAX SHOP design award’97
・ JCD commercial design prize ’00
・ Display industry prize ’01
・ JCD commercial design prize ’03
Other prizes: JCD, DDA, SDA etc…
“It has been 14 years since you went out on your own, how did you develop the style that represents the designer Katsuya Iwamoto today?”
When I was about 17 or 18 years old, the economy was booming and the clubs and stores I used to visit were good, but there were rarely any that I thought were really impressive. Back then it struck me that I would do things differently. With that in mind I studied the basics of design at university, was inspired by a variety of designers and designs, and really started to get in to how fascinating design can be.
When I first entered company known as Tanseisha Co., Ltd., I was originally promised a position in the commercial space department however was placed in museum design, and although for many years I felt disappointed, the experience I gained there has given me the solid foundation I have today.
This is how it was. "All sorts of people, from many walks of life, age, gender and nationality visit museums. Museums are there for visitors to grasp an understanding of the exhibits and to enjoy and be intrigued by the slightly complex topics of history, civilization and science. For this reason I believe that the essential conceptual and technical knowledge are linked together in all fields of design." It was there that I felt deep within myself my mission in life to look at things differently and from the perspective of others and create only what is needed by society.
I started to look at things from a variety of perspectives. For instance, in the example of commercial space, this meant considering from the respective viewpoints of the clientele, staff working in the store, and management, what conditions have been placed upon them and whether these actually work as conditions. It also meant thinking about what you would make your objectives, whether you focused on management style, positioning, satisfying the needs of the time, or establishing unchanging values and knowing how to achieve these objectives.
To me, design has always been more than simply giving something form. I see it as giving concrete form to the objectives of the design.
“How do you think about the project in foreign countries, and the difference of design between foreign countries and Japan? ”
Of course I am also interested in work overseas. The idea of giving concrete form to the objectives of the design in consideration of what can be built in the local area and local values is the same overseas. It is first necessary to understand the objectives of the project.
When people from all over the world look at me, the designer, it could be said that race is one personality trait, and that I am defined by my inherent primitive nature and sense of balance. If that were me and I were to work overseas, I would not want to design something that is superficial and iconic of Japan, but something that through me is sublime and incorporated aesthetics that breathed the cultural of Japan in things that cannot be seen such as decorum, language and lifestyles.
“What is EMBODY DESIGN ? ”
EMBODY, meaning to give concrete form to an idea, is a term representing the foundational concept of my designs and the name we have chosen for our office. I believe that this idea will create an opportunity for happiness and what we design to bind people to people, people to happenings and bond together individuals and society and individuals to their inner-self. For this reason there is no meaning in merely creating a beautiful surface.
Through construction and design that combines a variety of existing aspects with ideal future designs, I believe we can bring people together, generate communication and create a space that people can admire and in which time is appreciated. This is what I have always aimed for and what I will continue to aspire to.
EMBODY DESIGN ASSOCIATION
ADDRESS :
TOKYO/AzabuChuoBldg, 10F, 2-9-8, Azabujyuban, Minato-ku, Tokyo, Japan
OSAKA/Label Bldg, 2F, 1-1-11, Nishitenma, Kita-ku, Osaka, Japan
URL : http://www.embodydesign.com/
entry dj : December 22, 2006 1:47 PM
