Riki Watanabe took inspiration from DandeLion chocolate approach to materials, especially their relationship to cacao, believing that was the best way to express the brand.
01What is the main principle, idea and inspiration behind your design?
Riki Watanabe took inspiration from DandeLion chocolate approach to materials, especially their relationship to cacao, believing that was the best way to express the brand.
02What has been your main focus in designing this work? Especially what did you want to achieve?
The most important element of this project was to bring out the best and unexpected charms of the materials used. he wanted to create a store that was unlike anything we had ever seen before, while maintaining our brand image.
03How long did it take you to design this particular concept?
It took two weeks for the concept and two months in total for the shop to be completed.
04Why did you design this particular concept? Was this design commissioned or did you decide to pursuit an inspiration?
Riki Watanabe thought vital to maintain a level of consistency for the brand’s image in Japan, and even though there are distinctive differences in the spatial design as well as the location, it should still inherit their unique characteristics.
05Is your design being produced or used by another company, or do you plan to sell or lease the production rights or do you intent to produce your work yourself?
It all depends.
06What sets this design apart from other similar or resembling concepts?
It's how you show the materials, especially the use of wood.
07How did you come up with the name for this design? What does it mean?
The name was conceived by the client.
08What is the most unique aspect of your design?
It's the use of wood.
As a way of showing the material, we stacked up a mosaic pattern by piling together pieces one by one like a parquet, making use of the essence of the “western red cedar” uneven colors. Despite using the same materials, by cutting them out, I was successfully able to vary the expressions depending on the viewing angles.
09Who did you collaborate with for this design? Did you work with people with technical / specialized skills?
I thought about it alone.
10Is your design influenced by data or analytical research in any way? What kind of research did you conduct for making this design?
Riki Watanabe researched brands approach to materials, especially their relationship to cacao.he believed that was the best way to express the brand.
11What are some of the challenges you faced during the design/realization of your concept?
Nothing in particular. The client also agreed with my concept and cooperated with me.
12How did you decide to submit your design to an international design competition?
I wanted to find out if my design would be accepted in the world, so I submit international design competition.
13What did you learn or how did you improve yourself during the designing of this work?
By confronting materials with a broader perspective and from multiple perspectives, I learned that there are still new possibilities for materials that already exist in general materials.
Riki Watanabe was inspired by people such as pregnant women and children. He designed with the wish that the staff could work comfortably and to ease the anxiety of the visitors and want them to feel happy.
01What is the main principle, idea and inspiration behind your design?
Riki Watanabe was inspired by people such as pregnant women and children. He designed with the wish that the staff could work comfortably and to ease the anxiety of the visitors and want them to feel happy.
02What has been your main focus in designing this work? Especially what did you want to achieve?
The most important element of this project was that people coming to the hospital would be relaxed. As a feature of space, In addition to the nursing room, a counter like island kitchen is set up so that you can make milk for baby in the waiting room. The kids area, which is at the center of the space, is a symbol of space and they can watch children from anywhere.
03How long did it take you to design this particular concept?
I created the concept in a week. But it took three months to decide on the features and details.
04Why did you design this particular concept? Was this design commissioned or did you decide to pursuit an inspiration?
I just wanted to take some of the anxiety out of the visitors and make them feel at ease.
05Is your design being produced or used by another company, or do you plan to sell or lease the production rights or do you intent to produce your work yourself?
It all depends.
06What made you design this particular type of work?
I just wanted to take some of the anxiety out of the visitors and make them feel at ease.
07What sets this design apart from other similar or resembling concepts?
The difference from other clinics is that we made it more like a living room in a house than a clinic.
08How did you come up with the name for this design? What does it mean?
The name was conceived by the client.
09What is the most unique aspect of your design?
It's about updating and further evolving the design while respecting the tradition.
10Who did you collaborate with for this design? Did you work with people with technical / specialized skills?
As far as the reception and the design of the waiting room is concerned, we have no collaborators.
We collaborated with a medical manufacturer on the plan for the consultation room.
11Is your design influenced by data or analytical research in any way? What kind of research did you conduct for making this design?
Riki Watanabe studied the body structure of the pregnant woman.
12What are some of the challenges you faced during the design/realization of your concept?
Nothing in particular. The client also agreed with my concept and cooperated with me.
13How did you decide to submit your design to an international design competition?
I wanted to find out if my design would be accepted in the world, so I submit international design competition.
14What did you learn or how did you improve yourself during the designing of this work?
I learned about the structure of the human body and what it feels like to be a mother with a child.
Design Legend Interview
31 questions
2009, Industrial Designer, BA, Tokyo Zokei University, Tokyo/Japan.2009-2012,Designer, design and construction office Tokyo/Japan 2013-2014, Designer,NOMURA Co., Ltd Tokyo/Japan 2014-2015,Designer, Puddle Inc.
01Could you please tell us a bit about your design background and education?
2009, Industrial Designer, BA, Tokyo Zokei University, Tokyo/Japan.2009-2012,Designer, design and construction office Tokyo/Japan
2013-2014, Designer,NOMURA Co., Ltd Tokyo/Japan
2014-2015,Designer, Puddle Inc. Tokyo/Japan
2015-2019,Designer, JOKE.Inc. Tokyo/Japan
02Did you choose to become a designer, or you were forced to become one?
I chose to become a designer of my own accord.
03What do you design, what type of designs do you wish to design more of?
I would like to do a design that looks like a sunset.
We believe that it is universal that people's emotions are moved by watching the sunset.
I want my designs to appeal to emotions, no matter what they are.
04What should young designers do to become a design legend like you?
Young designers should be flexible and curious about a lot of things.
And we should cultivate an eye and a thought that doesn't overlook any trivialities.
05What distinguishes between a good designer and a great designer?
It is a matter of being able to understand people's feelings, and then being able to create something that surpasses their imagination.
06What makes a good design a really good design, how do you evaluate good design?
I think that a good design is one that is not only beautiful in appearance, but also has excellent function and is inherited and evolved.
07What would you design and who would you design for if you had the time?
If it's a product, I'd like to design a prosthetic limb or prosthetic foot.
I'd like to design a church or shrine.
08What is your secret recipe of success in design, what is your secret ingredient?
I cherish the unexpected misunderstandings.
I think many people don't even bother to look at it because it's just a misperception and a bit of a brain bug.
However, I have found that there are many hints to create new and beautiful things.
I call it a bug design.
09Who are some other design masters and legends you get inspired from?
Shiro Kuramata, Joe Hisaishi
10What are your favorite designs by other designers, why do you like them?
Umbrella stand was designed by Shiro Kuramata.
11How could people improve themselves to be better designers, what did you do?
Continue thinking
12If you hadn't become a designer, what would you have done?
Traveller or Archaeologist
13How do you define design, what is design for you?
The way to live life.
14Who helped you to reach these heights, who was your biggest supporter?
Best friends
15What helped you to become a great designer?
The spirit to succeed.
16What were the obstacles you faced before becoming a design master?
Stereotype
17How do you think designers should present their work?
Designers should feel confident in your work and present it. Don't forget to thank the people and the team for their support.
18What's your ultimate goal as a designer?
Go down in history.
19What would you like to see changed in design industry in the coming years?
・ChibaNewTown Ladies Clinic
・Bean toBar Lounge by Dandelion Chocolate,
20Where do you think the design field is headed next?
I think design is going to shift in the direction of creating a way of thinking and a culture, rather than just creating something that you can see.
21How long does it take you to finalize a design project?
It depends on the project.
22When you have a new design project, where do you start?
It depends on the project.
23What is your life motto as a designer?
Imagination encircles the world.
24What kind of design software and equipment do you use in your work?
3DCAD, illustrator, Photoshop, Procreate
25What is the role of the color, materials and ambient in design?
It's both a spice and a main.
26Which books you read had the most effect on your design?
In Praise of Shadows
27How did you develop your skills as a master designer?
Always challenging
28Irrelative of time and space, who you would want to meet, talk and discuss with?
Sen no Rikyu, Leonardo da Vinci, Albert Einstein, Nobunaga Oda,
29How do you feel about all the awards and recognition you had, is it hard to be famous?
Becoming famous is hard road, but it's worth the challenge. I believe that I was able to win the award as a result of doing the things in front of me with integrity, always looking ahead and never giving up.
30What makes your day great as a designer, how do you motivate yourself?
I listen to music that matches the design to motivate me.
31When you were a little child, was it obvious that you would become a great designer?
When I was a kid, I didn't think about it.
Designer Interview
8 questions
2009, Industrial Designer, BA, Tokyo Zokei University, Tokyo/Japan.2009-2012,Designer, design and construction office Tokyo/Japan 2013-2014, Designer,NOMURA Co., Ltd Tokyo/Japan 2014-2015,Designer, Puddle Inc.
01Could 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?
2009, Industrial Designer, BA, Tokyo Zokei University, Tokyo/Japan.2009-2012,Designer, design and construction office Tokyo/Japan
2013-2014, Designer,NOMURA Co., Ltd Tokyo/Japan
2014-2015,Designer, Puddle Inc. Tokyo/Japan
02Can you tell us more about your company / design studio?
With a focus on interior design, JOKE.Inc. work spans across a wide range of professional fields such as creative direction and branding. Utilizing the knowledge and multifaceted perspectives that we have cultivated through designing commercial spaces, hospitality spaces, exhibitions, products, and other genres, JOKE.Inc.design in consideration of the way places should be, the experiences that can be gained there, and the flow of time. For JOKE.Inc., design is not only to create new values, but also to discover the beauty and value that already exists, and to create something that will be passed down and evolve, even if the shape is old.
03What is "design" for you?
The way to live life
04What kinds of works do you like designing most?
Beautiful thing
05What was the first thing you designed for a company?
Restaurant
06When do you feel the most creative?
The time I feel creative is when I'm alone and listening to music.
07How do you work with companies?
New business development, Branding, Spaces design
08How can people contact you?
E-mail, Instagram, facebook
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The design interview data shown in our design interview page with Riki Watanabe regarding Bean to Bar Lounge Lounge comes from the Design Interviews platform, where leading designers, architects and brands are interviewed regarding their award-winning designs, products and projects.
