December 3, 2007

Katsunori Suzuki

What kind of shop is the one that takes in right-on modernity, but keeps its universality?
Such a shop has been embodied in a plan designed based on knowledge and experience by thinking about human being’s instinct and a space that brings physiological comfort.
The ultimate level of shape as equipment for achieving goals…
Overall attempts to realize such a shape, no matter if it’s a shop, house or school, are designing, I think.
Human beings do not have any ability to anticipate their future, but I think it is possible to predict it from experience to some extent.
The persons who can do it are those who mastered designing; one of disciplines?
Since human beings can exactly predict and plan completion three months, a year and five years from now…
I believe that perfect designs lead to perfect results.



Mr. Suzuki, president of "Fantastic Design Works INC", expresses his ideas about “design” below.
The 4th special feature covers not only the design of commercial facilities, but also features Mr. Suzuki, who is actively working in various fields, to try to grasp his ideas about design.
Career
Born in 1967
1990 Graduated Kyoto-Seika University, Oil Painting Department.
1990　Worked for MD Inc.
2001　Leave MD Inc, under amicable circumstances
2001　Established Fantastic Design Works



"So, Mr. Suzuki, you are showing people a great success nowadays as an “interior designer,” but how did you go on your interior career path?”?"
When I became conscious about the word “interior designer” specifically was when I was a junior in college. I was interested in restaurants and entertainment from my school days as I researched popular restaurants, went to discos and so on. Particularly, when I traveled to New York by myself, I was overwhelmed by the gorgeousness of restaurant business and its entertainingness.

One day, I came to know that there was the company which designed Maharajya, the number one in the disco business in Japan at that time, in Tokyo, and then I moved to Tokyo and I became its pupil. I think I was able to acquire the skills for “designing” rather than “design” through many kinds of projects even though I faced the bubble economy burst a year after I joined the company. Then, I became independent after 11 years of training.

When I became independent in 2001, I was able to open the first popular shop that had impact by utilizing my experiences as well as designer's restaurant boom at that time.
Of course, it was not easy to succeed, but now I feel that thanks to the past, I can be who I am now.
When I think back, I feel that having a goal and thinking that “I want to do this” were extremely important. I felt so because of my school days’ play.


　


"Mr. Suzuki, you are designing many kinds of commercial facilities, especially restaurants, but what do you think about changes and flows of its business?"
Well, for example, if we look at restaurants, clients now and in 10 years ago are different.
Ten years ago, if it’s a good restaurant, it was likely that the second and third ones open. Along with that, the design offices gain more profits. However, that’s rare nowadays isn’t it? Restaurant business was used to be said “a profitable business,” but now it is said to be a difficult business.
In addition, when building complexes with popular restaurants increase, the bad ones are dumped and the good ones remain. If I only look at the number of restaurants, I assume that the number of restaurants will decrease little by little.
Besides, if I look overseas, I think more and more companies have come to place an order to Japanese firms.
I think Japanese people are very good at controlling money. I guess designers can control money strategically. They design, while considering money movements and how to spend money after estimating prices meticulously, without sticking to superficial aspects such as the shape of a thing, popularity and cool designs.
Then, the design fee is paid to them. I think that kind of thoughts themselves will be globalized from now on.


　


"When I look at shops Mr. Suzuki designed, I feel that there are so many kinds of essence in them. Where are your ideas come from?"
Well, I guess it’s because I’m always thinking about stories or something.
Seriously, I’m interested in so many kinds of things. I could say I am avaricious. I always keep an eye on clothes that someone wears, CD jackets and cars, not only space designs.
Of course, there are designers I respect. I like those who regard and does store designing as one of academics or culture without being showy. I think their works are profound and great. Their works are produced based on perfectly calculated human movements.

Fantastic Design Works
ADDRESS : 3-10-6, Uehara, Shibuya-Ku, Tokyo, Japan
URL : http://www.f-fantastic.com/

entry dj : 10:19 AM