Interviews with Koji Sato

Fun to use!

Something that is enjoyable to use.

I also aim for designs that allow the user to express themselves through the object.

It is about the balance of the product.

Something convenient, easy to use, and beautiful, all at just the right price.

We aimed to create a product that offers true value overall.

I currently export my products not only within Japan but also to six other countries: Germany, Canada, Thailand, South Korea, China, and Taiwan.

I hope that this award will enable me to reach even more countries.

I created the basic design and mechanical layout for the prototype in about a week.

It took roughly a year to turn that into a finished product ready for mass production.

It then took another two years to refine and improve it further.

It all started when I participated in a workshop aimed at developing products to benefit an aging society.

During the workshop, I learned about the inconveniences associated with standard 1-point canes.

While 1-point canes are highly convenient for safe walking, their slender shape makes them difficult to set down securely.

Recognizing the need for a cane that offers both comfortable walking and stability when placed down, I decided to develop and commercialize such a product.

I handle both the aesthetic and mechanical design.

Currently, I also manufacture and sell the finished products myself.

Creating convenient products for an aging society is a meaningful endeavor.

I would be delighted if this product increased opportunities for people to go out and made their lives more enjoyable and enriched.

There are many designs and designers that I admire.

My interests span various fields—not only products but also graphic design, architecture, and music.

I won't single out specific names, but I draw inspiration from the things around me.

CrossPOD is a product designed to support safe and comfortable walking.

It is intended for those who feel uneasy about walking.

Notably, it is frequently chosen as a gift for children, parents, grandparents, and acquaintances.

Its design is unique, as it functions as a genuine 1-point cane that can stand its own.

While canes with four-pronged rubber tips represent a similar category of design, the CrossPOD excels in walking comfort, stability when standing, and lightweight construction. It also boasts a sophisticated, beautiful appearance.

The logo design was inspired by the cross-shaped form the product takes when its legs are extended.

We also incorporated this characteristic into the name.

A cross-shaped stand—in other words, "Cross Pod."

I used 3D CAD and 3D CG software for design and visual evaluation.

The primary tools used included AutoCAD, 3ds Max, Inventor, Illustrator, and Photoshop.

Its most distinctive feature is that a single person handles both the exterior and mechanical designs.

I engage in a dialogue between these two roles within myself to refine and improve the design.

No, I created everything myself.

I can acquire any skills I lack, and I believe I can produce something good within the scope of my current abilities.

Technology is essential for creating products that are compact, lightweight, and easy to use.

It also plays a role in striking the right balance to bring everything together into a high-quality product.

I examined situations where one might need to let go of a 1-point cane.

I visited various locations to observe the actual inconveniences involved—such as restrooms, checkout counters, cafes, dining halls, and ATMs.

I also conducted interviews.

Actual users told me that if the cane falls over after being propped up, it is difficult to pick it up.

I also learned that there are cases where the cane cannot be kept by the bedside, even indoors.

The ultimate goal of product design is to create a tangible, real-world product.

It must also reach the hands of many people.

The major challenge lay in creating a product with high market appeal through a design that made this possible.

International design awards pave new paths for products.

We have already exported to six countries in addition to our domestic market, but we submitted our entry with the hope of reaching even more countries and people.

For this project, I expanded my scope beyond design to include manufacturing and sales.

The experience gained in manufacturing techniques and sales channels provided me with a wealth of new knowledge.

This process also highlighted the need to feed insights back into the design, leading to further improvements.

A product is an expression of the person who makes it and the person who uses it.

I believe that products create connections.

I studied mechanical design at Aoyama Gakuin University.

I gained expertise in mechanism design through my work designing industrial equipment.

Leveraging that experience, I now work as a designer handling both product design and mechanical design.

I believe that design is a form of communication.

I work for the joy of connecting with others through self-expression or the expression of a company.

I had an inherent desire for self-expression, so I naturally found my way into the world of design.

I love designs that can be held in the hand, like a physical product. In a sense, the people who choose my designs are my friends.

I believe that by maintaining a passion for design, I can move closer to that goal.

In my opinion, great designers make the world a better place—or something like that?

Everyone has their own taste in design. Yet, great design may require honesty.

Great design brings people joy. It might even be a source of the joy of living.

It’s difficult to come up with things to design on my own.

I do make things I need in my daily life using a 3D printer or similar tools as the need arises, though.

Every design project is a dream project.

Discovering one's own identity or that of a company.

I like Arata Isozaki, partly because we share the same birthplace. Beyond his own designs, he discovered many of today's architectural masters, such as Tadao Ando and Zaha Hadid.

If you look at the desk, there’s a BrAun 4748AB5 clock (designed by Dieter Rams). I wonder if it’s because of its good balance?

When asked, the first thing that came to mind was the Washlet; it washes my bottom with water every time.

What is it, exactly? It is important to be aware of the hidden essence.

Novelists, film directors, and the like.

It’s about communication. Everyone converses through design.

I needed my family's understanding.

A gaze turned inward.

Financial obstacles still remain...

In the field of product design, this would be a new product launch.

The closest match is 3D computer graphics work.

For the product designs I create to spread widely.

The enjoyment and joy found in design.

I believe it is possible to bring small joys to life.

It takes time, but the moment when a product design is successfully readied for mass production.

Project Name: CrossPOD – Winner of the A' Design Award.

I hope that designers will continue to create excellent designs in the future.

The emergence of AI is having a major impact. The situation is unpredictable.

In the case of product design, it takes about three to five years.

Since I am also responsible for mechanical design, I create a rough concept and then iteratively refine the details by toggling back and forth between the external appearance and the internal mechanisms to improve precision.

Design with fun.

Designs of the past create trends, while designs that differentiate themselves from them create new ones.

Technology across various stages serves as a major driving force for product design.

3DCAD:Inventor, 2DCAD:AutoCAD, 3DCG:3dsMax

It is a crucial element for building texture.

What did you focus on with this design?

It's a shame I didn't make it myself.

I really do prefer being alone.

I have learned everything from what I have heard and experienced since birth, so I do not know who it is.

If I had to name someone, perhaps it would be Isaac Newton.

Haruki Murakami

I have simply handled each task one by one.

Albert Einstein

I am happy to be recognized with an award, but I am not famous—not by a long shot.

I like spending time in my home office.

Mistakes in mechanical design can lead to serious consequences. I am extremely careful throughout the design process.

I guess it would be being able to attend the 2026 A' Gala Night?

I had the desire, but I never even imagined it.

In the mere 250 years since harnessing energy during the Industrial Revolution, humanity has made rapid strides. With that pace accelerating further, perhaps no one can even imagine what we will look like a thousand years from now.

Koji Sato, Product Designer. I look forward to working with you.

I have consistently worked in roles related to design, even if not always in design itself.

Mechanical design, 3DCG, etc.

I have always enjoyed creating expressions that are directly visible.

I am a freelance professional working independently.

I handle a wide range of design-related work, including graphics, 3DCG, product design, and mechanical design.

It is the interaction between people—in other words, communication.

No matter the type of work, I feel a sense of joy when the design surpasses a certain standard.

I like product design.

The things we touch with our hands.

It is a mechanical design and mechanism design..

I excel at conceptualizing designs and bringing them to life through mechanisms using components made of materials such as metal and resin.

I believe I was able to be creative when I cleared the hurdles I had set for myself.

I am mindful of the imagery of balance and the flow of energy.

I have the sensation of delving into the depths of myself and picking something up.

Of course, it makes me feel happy.

It is about being mindful of the audience or subject matter that lies beyond the design itself.

Will it be useful to people?

All work exists to serve society.

I believe that designers are expected to bring happiness to people through their designs.

The field of design is being significantly impacted by AI.

We must leverage this new tool to focus our creative efforts on the conceptual aspects of our work.

2023 Red Dot Design Museum Singapore, Marina Bay.

Future dates are yet to be determined.

I don't consciously focus on it, but I believe that everything I see and hear—whether it's graphic design, architecture, products, or music—serves as a source of design inspiration.

I like a style that is minimal, but not *too* minimal.

I believe that design is communication.

I was born and raised in Japan.

In Japan, a sense of elegance found within restraint has long been considered a virtue.

There is also a cultural appreciation for simple, two-dimensional beauty, as seen in ukiyo-e.

In today’s globalized world, these traditional values ​​are evolving through a hybrid fusion with influences from other cultures.

I hope that through my work, people can sense the traditional culture of my home country within a contemporary design aesthetic.

It varies from case to case, but I am usually commissioned to handle both the visual design and the mechanical design.

When collaborating with a company, it is essential to understand and express its corporate identity.

To that end, I believe that having the company and the designer aligned in their values ​​is a prerequisite for creating something truly excellent.

I start with a rough sketch and gradually refine the details, just as anyone would.

Finally, I complete the visualization using 3DCG.

Since I handle both product design and mechanical design, I shape the concept by moving back and forth between the two disciplines.

BRAUN AB5 analog table clock,

HP workstation,

MUJI compact calculator,

Rotring Tikky Vintage mechanical pencil,

From the time I wake up until I go to bed, I spend my time happily at the office, except for meals and baths.

Please remain persistent in what you hope for.

Eventually, things will move in the direction you want to go.

The upside is that it's fun.

The downside is that it's painful.

It is a profession that is both painful and fun.

I’ll keep at it until I’m satisfied.

Understand my own Aesthetic sense nad values.

AutoCAD, 3ds Max, Inventor, Illustrator, Photoshop, After Effects

HP workstation, three 30-inch monitors

I am working endlessly in an environment I love.

It is both work and play.

It depends on the situation.

It takes anywhere from a few months to several years to create the product.

Do you do all the work by yourself?

This is a product called CrossPOD.

These include small and medium-sized manufacturers.

I work in product design.

I love things I can hold in my hands.

First of all, I plan to spread the word about CrossPOD to a wide audience.

I tend to handle everything myself—including product design, mechanical design, manufacturing, 3DCG, graphics, and logo design.

It's a secret until it's finished.

Please send an email first.

A product is an expression of the person who makes it and the person who uses it.

I believe that products create connections.

In the fields of welfare and elderly care products, functionality is still the top priority, isn't it?In this context, I hope that the products I create will not only provide convenience but also bring joy to everyday life.Simply improving inconveniences with convenient functions only brings the negative aspects closer to zero.I hope that using CrossPod will add enjoyment, turning zero into a positive.

CrossPod aims to improve not only physical but also mental well-being by pursuing the joy of use.Its lightweight design, crisp operation, and refined form uplift the spirits of those who carry it, encouraging more walking.Furthermore, enjoyable walking contributes to a longer healthy lifespan and promotes greater independence, doesn't it?

Mechanisms are a means of human-centered design.Technically, I think and experiment until I am satisfied.I repeatedly modify the mechanism to suit reality and refine it to be beneficial for people.I believe that if we think through it carefully while being mindful of balance, we will find the answer.

I believe that creating something from nothing is incredibly difficult and may require immense effort.In contrast, if there is a negative state, it can simply be transformed into positive energy.Perhaps the power of design can make this possible.

My initial motivation was to deliver my creations to as many people as possible.To achieve this, the product needed to solve inconveniences, be easy to use, have a beautiful design, and be affordable for everyone.I believe that the desire to share my creations with people is the driving force behind my efforts to overcome these challenges.Of course, I don't think it's perfect, but the CrossPOD is the result of balancing these elements to the best of my ability.

As you said, I may have been imagining the action of a bud opening.And I added the joy of choosing an accent color within a sense of cleanliness.Some people will like the design of CrossPOD.However, it's not wrong for some people not to like it.It's important to cherish the values ​​and aesthetic sense that each person has cultivated throughout their life.Therefore, I hope that people will choose a product when they can share the same values ​​as the creator, and that by owning and carrying it around, they will express their own values.

Fun to use!Today's young people will grow old someday, and the image of the elderly will change over time.And I believe that pursuing the joy of living is one of the essential things in the fields of health, welfare, and products for the elderly.I want to create products that embody this.

I hope this can help people, both elderly and young, who have difficulty walking, to live fulfilling lives.Being able to continue walking independently is a blessing.

Even if these are assistive devices for the elderly or others, I hope people will use them with more confidence, rather than with hesitation. To achieve this, I believe a certain affection for the product is necessary. Whether it's a vibrant color or a more subdued one, I hope people will use it with a sense of attachment to the color they've chosen.

We made the operation as simple as possible. You can operate it simply with minimal force while holding the comfortably sized grip.Ideally, the operation would involve placing a button on the handle and automatically opening and closing it with a press.However, achieving this would require a more complex mechanism.This would increase costs and sacrifice lightness due to the increased number of parts.Considering all these factors, we settled on the current mechanism.