miwako tanahashi

Could you please tell us more about your art and design background? What made you become an artist/designer? Have you always wanted to be a designer?

I think it was influenced by my father's work in architecture. Ever since I was a little girl, I loved drawing and making things, and I thought that if I were to make a career out of what I loved, I would have to be a designer.

Can you tell us more about your company / design studio?

We are an interior design firm located in Tokyo, Japan. I do interior design for restaurants and commercial facilities.

What is your most favorite design, could you please tell more about it?

Carlo Scarpa, Castelvecchio, of the Old Castle He has successfully incorporated modern elements with the majesty and gravity of the castle. The incorporation of new materials and subtle, delicate teal is exquisite.

From your point of view, what are the responsibilities of a designer for society and environment?

Proposals for the betterment of society and the environment, and the responsibility to promote them

How do you think the "design field" is evolving? What is the future of design?

While fragmentation is increasing, on the other hand, there is also a great differentiation that is all connected by technology. I believe that design will enter into people's lives in more nooks and crannies and take on greater significance.

How would you describe your design style? What made you explore more this style and what are the main characteristics of your style? What's your approach to design?

A style that is simple yet soft and endearing　 Because I think that if you follow the world's trends too much, you will get bored too quickly, and the design that will be loved by people for a longer period of time is a design that is simple yet gives a sense of attachment.

Where do you live? Do you feel the cultural heritage of your country affects your designs? What are the pros and cons during designing as a result of living in your country?

I live in Tokyo. Among the cultural heritage of Japan, those related to architecture have a great influence on me. The advantage of Tokyo is that there are many industries in various fields. That makes the scope of design that much wider. The disadvantage is the scrap-and-build mentality of destroying and building.

What are your suggestions to companies for working with a designer? How can companies select a good designer?

I think it is important to clearly communicate what the company is requesting. For example, hold a competition to solicit proposals from a wide range of designers. We believe that we can select a good designer by examining the designer's personality and proposal, not based on performance.

Can you talk a little about your design process?

Depending on the project, I start by doing research and drawing rough sketches.

Could you please share some pearls of wisdom for young designers? What are your suggestions to young, up and coming designers?

Think about and know what and why you like about the things you like.

From your perspective, what would you say are some positives and negatives of being a designer?

The good thing is that I can see things from different angles. The bad part is that I stick to what I like.

What type of design work do you enjoy the most and why?

Stand lights, light fixtures Because they are important elements that set the mood of the space.