Interview with Junya Nakai

I have learned textile in the art university to become a designer. I have planned it from before.

I plan at first, concept, season, item, material. I talk with a fashion designer and make such things together. After that, I start making design and talk with a textile maker and ask regulations.

My work starts on the desk, but eventually, I think my design product will affect people's emotion. Because the fabric will be a dress. When you wear your favorite one, are you happy or not? I imagine the last scene of fabric. So, I will be excited when my plan made up as a fabric.

No chef who doesn't like having foods. What one likes, one will do well. Just I like creation. Also, the person I respect told me, you need passion and affection.

I'm thinking about the theme of coexistence with nature. I would like to express not only design, like art. Also, I'm worrying about plastic pollution in the ocean. I'm thinking about how to solve the problem.

Listen to people's story carefully. Do not be negative the plan from the beginning. Do not push only your idea from the beginning. More than half of the work of design might listen to people's talk.

I think that the design thinking infiltrates deeper into society. Creators in various fields should make networks and collaborate beyond industries. The networks should work for social benefit and find a solution of social problem by design power.

I live in the natural environment, so I don't have any office. My ordinary lifestyle like growing vegetable gives me a clue of creation.

I don't follow up with design trends now.

Clear concept, reason visualization, no waste, useful.

In the textile industry, maker person says the fabric is alive. The various problem happens in a factory during weaving like cutting yarn, stopping the machine suddenly, doesn't progress than expected. Making fabric is so hard after finished design. However, we have the date of delivery, we have to advance. We have to fight against time.

In the textile industry, maker person says the fabric is alive. The various problem happens in a factory during weaving like cutting yarn, stopping the machine suddenly, doesn't progress than expected. Making fabric is so hard after finished design. However, we have the date of delivery, we have to advance. We have to fight against time. I can not delay the design. I have to do the best performance during the limited time.

One of the best designers I respect is Jurgen Lehl. He has passed away already, but I saw him, talked to him. Because I belonged in his brand before. He taught me a lot of things about fabric or nature or the environment. I like his works even now and inspired.

I live in the natural environment, it's surrounded by trees and I can see the small stream from my house. Many kinds of birds fly and tweet in the air. I'm interested in nature worship.My work and motto are coexistence with nature.

Basically, I work alone. Of course, I will contact my customer or the same industry's person, but I don't have any partner. Because I would like to have all responsibility and role. My design will be completed when I have done by myself at all.Actually, the maker makes a fabric, not me.I can't use weaving machines. So, I need many bits of help to make a fabric. That is why I have to do other things by myself.

It's very important to do for social benefits as a designer. I would like to do like the social design through my works.

Usually, the designer has a client and just make a correlation. However, the competition such as A'design award can tell a message to other people through the works. The message can fly across the world and it will be reached to the people who have not known about it before. That's amazing.

I liked to draw pictures using various colours when I was a child. I wanted to do creative works since from about 17 years old.

Yes, I did.

I do textile design. I made fabrics from natural fibers.
If I can, I would like to make fabric or other product by recycling waste plastic of the ocean.

It is to cooperate with people from different field and see the world widely you do not normally see.

The good designer can make good products, the great designer can tell a message through the products.

For example, there are two pairs of scissors here, I will check which is more universal or which is closer to people. Whether it can also use for left‐handedness, it's safe for children, etc.

All-purpose or common factor, everybody can use easily and last long well.

If I had a time and could, I would like to design kind of lighting equipment or something for public space that made from recycled plastic.

It's called GPGP, the great plastic garbage patch is the very serious problem. Also, 250kg of the waste of plastic flow out to the ocean every single second. Designers and companies cooperate with each other and should say the message about this problem. I want to make recycled plastic products with messages.

I don't have any secret recipe. Just face to things and learn by trial and error. I listen to others carefully and deeply.

Mr.Jurgen Lehl was a great creator. He loved products of handicraft of India or south-east Asia. He designed of course fabric and tableware or furniture. The design style comes from in the ordinary life he made should be taken over.

There was a wall type cd player in 2000 in Japan.
That was very unique and it was based on behavioral science. -If a string is hanging in front of my eyes, I want to pull it unintentionally.- 　That cd player had a single power cord extending downwards, also serving as an on / off switch.　That was the project named "without thought" and it was very interesting.

One of the greatest design is nobody noticed that it is designed. I like the plane linen fabric which was woven completely perfect balance. These yarn are high twisted and woven density is perfect. It is not a hard feeling and not weak. If the yarn will be high twisted and woven, there is some gap between fabric and skin. That is the reason the fabric is so felt cool and comfortable. Also, linen fiber has a drying quickly. If you get such a shirt, you will never throw away in strict summer. In addition, it's very difficult tech to make high twisted linen yarn.

I recommend reading books about the different field from you and take a trip.

I want to be a farmer of vegetable.

The design is just like a milestone. We have to decide where we are going, in a better direction than in the past.
The design is a letter to the next generation. The great design look to be a lighthouse indicating the destination.

I have got thousands of thanks from the people around me like can't count. A person who taught me the skill or vision, another person who gave me a chance to fly,,,

A wonderful encounter, a miraculous encounter, A fateful encounter, a happy encounter, treasure every encounter.

It's a lack of knowledge. If you have got more chance and the things would successful, you have to need more skill and knowledge. Learning is life.

I think, don't have to worry about it. The internet, SNS, website, you have lots of ways. Just have an ambitious mind.

I would like to send some messages as an artist or as a designer in my artworks. I really want to express about live with nature and stop the plastic pollution.

I don't have any goals. Just
I think about the things that people need or concern as much as I can.

I think people want to look at that point of view of the designer.

Not only making design products, it is important to act doing the design of society. People can live more comfortable and kindly with people by the power of design.

I would like to express efforts to protect the natural environment.

I have satisfied with any project at that moment, but I feel have to do the better work before when after the project has finished.

Small revolutions are always happening. When these waves gather together, the big wave will be coming.

The word of design has huge meaning like love. Now, it is the popular concept about social design.
The one of an expert of social designer says,
The social design is,
The object to be designed is not only "goods" or "shape" but "society".
It is not a politician or an expert to create a society but an individual.
It is to solve the problems of society and to "create a better society”.

It depends on the project.

I will start to clarify the concept.

Listening honestly, speaking kindly.

I think both.

Technology helps design, the design is a clue to technology.

adobe on mac

In my case, these are the most important elements for design. Especially I believe colour science is an essential subject for design. Because it depends on colour, people's minds will be changed.

I like to talk about colours or efforts for the natural environment.

When I see a new great design or product, the minds of designers come into my mind.

I will need at sometime, anyone who has the same vision.

I have a good memory of my friend who was an ex-president of a textile maker and 25 years older than me and he taught me many things about textile and we made so nice fabrics together.

Theory of Colours is a book by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe about the poet's views on the nature of colours and how these are perceived by humans. Also, I like the book "colour" by Rudolf Steiner.

Regarding textiles design, I have touched probably tens of thousands of fabric. It is important to feel the difference in texture.

I have a friend who makes handwoven scarves made from cashmere in Nepal. His products are really good quality. I want to discuss with him about a new project.

I'm not sure. Actually, I'm not so famous. When I got a prise, Japanese textile industry media did not pick up about me. I might it was lack of my presentation to the media.

Orange is my theme colour, it expresses the sun for me. My property always tells me the way of respect for nature. I grow some vegetables with natural farming. So, Autumn is harvest season. The ordinary life is important for my creation.

When I was still an inexperienced designer, I wanted some results.
So, I got on an airplane to London and I brought a suitcase is packed full of fabric sample. Then, I went to the trade show of young designer fashion brand and shew my fabric to designers directly with no appointment. Some of the brands understood about me and gave offers.

I don't have such motivation. Just be natural.

Really, not.

I wish that people will have a great society.

People are not living by themselves, but nature let us live. Keep coexistence with nature in your mind.

I currently do not belong to the company. Basically, I am working alone.

It's hard to explain in short,I think that there is a difference depending on the type of product, but design thinks that it is a job to find a way to be friendly to people.

Usually, I use natural fiber and some kinds of biodegradable materials to make fabrics. Lately, I'm concerning about the plastic pollution in the ocean.Somehow, we should solve this problem. For example, can we make recycle fiber or other products from plastic waste in the sea? From now, we designer should face directly to the environmental problem.

There is the word 温故知新(on ko chi shin ) in oriental thought. It means that is "developing new ideas based on the study of the past." Always study, It's important to try a new challenge.

I have a career as a textile designer for more than 25 years, so my first design is actually fabric, but I have an experience with other design like graphics or interior designs.

It is the same as Q.04, I would like to use the things which reduce the burden on the environment. Also, I'm looking for the technology that will solve the problem.

Of course, it is time to think and produce.

The design is always with products. The product is required strength and durability.The design helps them and should not be disturbed.Restrictions on production machines are also important. Knowing the machine is essential for making a good design.

I have to keep cool. Always I ask myself, it is right or not, it is on the right way or wrong way.

Absolutely I will be happy, but I will feel responsible to care about the product after it reached to consumers.

I have to understand the zone and concept. I need a research for it. The thing is what for? What is the benefit for people? What is that you want to tell?

Whether or not it suits the needs of consumers. Whether or not it will be linked with the times and environment.

Basically, the things of design should stand beside people like people will be comfortable. If it can add something as a designer, I would like to propose a problem. These Days, we have the variety of problems across the world. However, people hard to notice about everything. If I would be able to put one as a suggestion on design, my responsibility is telling the problem and make up the problem expressed easily or visualised.

The wall of making designs is lower than before by developing computer technology. I guess everybody has an opportunity to be a designer. The design field will be divided more and more. Necessary things are just sense and concept. However, do not make something you want to make. Designers need the ability to create what people need.Some human who can love people will be responsible for the future of design.

I have not held an exhibition for while. I'm making some new project now. When it will be done, I want to.

I live in the countryside and there is surrounded by trees and many birds. Then I've been interested in nature worship. Japanese have the old folk story like 8 million spirits live in nature. For example, people pray to the mountain or the tree or the rock. They believed the spirits in there. My design source comes from the bark of tree or seashells or autumn colour of leaves and nature things.

I would like to go to the place of coexistence between people and nature. Using biodegradable materials or recycle materials, and quit making a cause of pollution.If we do not start now It will not be ready in time.If we can make good design by recycled materials, it will be a good message. Here is a good example.https://www.kanazawa21.jp/data_list.php?g=78&d=159&lng=e&gid=81No worries, this link is safe, just the website of Japanese museum.His last artworks made from plastic wastes on the beach.He has already passed away, but he left a great job.

I live in New Zealand now, but my original is Japan.I have got plenty of influences from Japanese culture and I feel that is my basic. I'm not sure about the pros and cons, because in my case, my design will be picked up or not.

When I was in company, I have experiences of making yarn for weave fabric. Also, the textile industry is divided so many parts such as yarn twisting, dyeing, weaving, effect, finishing, etc. So, I have to go to each company in some case.

Sometimes companies or makers don't like about the work efficiency dropping. However, designers should prioritize value or high quality than work efficiency dropping. After that, the attempt will be a good property for the company. Companies should select a designer as an explorer.

When I do textile design, at first ask or discuss this item is for what. In other words, one fabric is not for all item.For jackets, for shirts, for bottoms, everything is different. Of course, sometimes we do all items at the same time. Then, what season, what theme. After that, I start to do design, colour, pattern, material, design of weaving or printing.

I like a Chinese lantern design. Isamu Noguchi who is respected by many people has also inspired and made the creative lampshade. My big dining table is my favorite which was an old wooden door before. One of my hobbies is collecting frames. It is interesting frames made in east-south Asia or India. Ceramics tableware made in Okinawa Japan called "yachimun" has a very warm atmosphere. Our house is 75years old, quite old, but we can see good works by the old craftsmanship. I especially like the plaster ceiling with composition ornament.

I don't use much time for my job. I use much time for housework. Like cultivating a field or cutting branches and planting trees or flowers. These things give me a lot of ideas. It is important to looking carefully at nature for me.

Young people make me jealous. Because I had no information to be a designer when I was young. I walked a mile and there was no exit, then I returned, and again.However, detour or redoing was important for me. It made encounters to the new people and new experience. I like long way than direct way. Please have a trip without a mobile phone.

It is positive to have ambitious and passion and it is negative to protect from some.

Inspiration and reconsideration

Ability to hear from people.

Actually, we need some software for design, but those are just tools like a hammer or saw. I prepare books for the theory of colour on the desk, and my room is messy for seashells and driftwood and stones.

I'm preparing some of my original uncompleted design sources. Sometimes those are useful when I am rushed or no exit.

I don't know. Between a few hours to few weeks or more. It is important to continue.

Why did you choose the way to be a designer? Why did I choose this way? Sometimes I ask myself even now.

It was my encounter with Mr.Jurgen Lehl that decided my work now. He was my boss in the company also my teacher. He was a great creator. He gave me the precious clue for what is a creativity and the way of thinking that living with the earth.

My clients were usually ｍaisons and brands.

My favorite material is linen. linen fabric is so comfortable. Because it is good at water absorbency and drying. Especially, I like organic linen.

I love art as well as design. What is a fusion of art and design? Of course, the design is one of the most important parts of society, also I would like to send messages directly to people as an artist.

I make designs by myself.

This project is almost art. At first, it has started for inkjet print pattern, but these patterns were more sophisticated and expressed as art. Almost print patterns are made from flower images.

http://www.junyanakai.com/