Interviewe mat Tetsuya Matsumoto

After graduating from Osaka University of Art in 2001 I integrated Matsuya Art Works where I became the Head of the Design section in 2006. I founded KTX archiLAB as part of the company in order to advance the design quality. I am specialized in commercial Spaces design where my portfolio includes restaurants, shops, showrooms, clinics, schools, beauty salons, sport facilities just to cite a few.

I think that was a natural process, since my family has some artistic background. After finishing high-school, I integrated Osaka University of arts, and graduated from the department of architecture.

Simplicity of the design, being budget friendly, aesthetically impressive, but most importantly being perfectly functional. My first priority is to respond to the clients business strategy and his requirements.

It’s a very hard thing to explain since it actually depends on the case. Every project has its own specificities, and so does the design process, and so does the emotions.

My grand father was a painter, my father is a martial arts master, and so I grew in a family where many members are related to arts, or design, or are related in a way or other to art and beauty. This put me since my younger years into the field.

As a space designer, for both interior and architectural projects I of course look forward to more projects, probably bigger in size, or have more budget and more challenges. I want to keep working on the commercial field, but of course I welcome any project that is challenging.

I think I would say think about design all the time, but think outside the box.

I would say thinking outside the box. Of course, the key is functionality conjugated to aesthetics. And for this matter thinking outside the box is one way of achieving it.

I spend most of my day in the office, except when I am on building site or have a meeting outside of it. Most of the time I am working on my designs until late hours. When back home and after spending some time with my family, I still go to my special room to listen to music or produce it, and most likely also think about my designs.

I have several subscription to Japanese and international design magazines that I receive in my office. I check all of them to see if there is any interesting designs, but also from the internet, its easier nowadays and more and more designs are being published. Subjectively I don’t follow trends, I have my own vision about design that I try to develop.

As I am working on commercial spaces design, it is easy to check if it works or not. The results are here when the customers are loving the projects or becoming a powerful tool for our clients, this is what we call a successful project.

Its never ready. I can work indefinitely on any design. Deadlines and client’s schedules defines the time limit.

In size, or building area, it might be the Origami Ark, a showroom for Sansho Leather Company which has received a golden A’ Design Awards in the 2015/2016 period. The most influential might be The Cutting Edge Pharmacy that got both Platinum and Gold A’ Design Awards in 2016/2017 period. I am working currently on a much bigger Project in scale.

I don’t have an absolute reference. Of course there is many designers I like, Zaha Hadid in instance, or Oscar Niemeyer.

I think both my life style and culture are based on design and music. I can say that they are one and the same thing, and they take all of my time and energy.

I work in commercial space design, this implies that my client’s business strategy is the most important point to focus on. My design should materialize this strategy onto space, perfectly functional space. the aesthetic plays a major role as advertisement and creates identity for their businesses.

I have designed several Japanese restaurants. And by such I regard my work as a contribution in defining contemporary Japanese style. As architect and interior designer, the spaces we produce affects the daily life of its users, and so we take care of the smallest details to make their daily life a better experience.

The A’ Design Award Ceremony Gala night was a fantastic occasion to socialize with designers from all fields and from all over the world. Winning the A’ Design Award also impact our company by making our designs trusted by our clients. They know they deal with professional designers who can produce international high quality projects.

My grandfather was painter and he taught me how to draw. I think my design foundations are greatly due to my childhood experiences. After Highschool I attended Osaka Graduate school of Design where I graduated in 2001. Immediately after I joined Matsuya Art works, where I am the Head Architect Designer Today.

Art has always been around in my family for generation, I grew up in a creative environment, I just followed the tradition but in my own field: Interior Design and Architecture.

I have chosen that.

Most of my work is either interior design or architecture for commercial spaces, but not limited to that. any other type of spaces or any other design work is welcomed.

Work hard, exercise a lot, and never stop learning.

I wish I knew that.

The design that fits the clients request, is perfectly functional and aesthetically outstanding and original.

In the field of commercial design, Investing in a good design means more business benefits for the client. the better the design is, the more it sells.

Any kind of design is welcomes, the most important is not the design it self.

Probably a museum.

I wish I knew that.

I don't have an idol.

sometimes I check magazines and other projects online mostly to see the technical details.

I think that I am in constant evolution, the design that I can find great today will be surpassed by the next one.

Just work hard and get more experience.

How can I know that? maybe a musician, maybe something else?

I can't define design, that would horribly limit it.

People I work with in every project in every step.

I guess hard work and being very demanding.

I cant recall special obstacle, there are plenty of them, but those transforms into experiences now.

In the most elegant way. Presentation is almost as important as the design it self.

We are working on several projects now, it's better to keep them uncovered until they see the light.

Getting better and better.

To respond to their request by an excellent design, functionally, aesthetically and economically.

Greater civilizations have always excelled in the smallest details and the finest touches. Better design goes together with better quality of life.

We are working on one of the biggest projects we ever had. looking forward to get it in shape.

I am satisfied by most of our projects as part of my curriculum. every project is a step to the next one.

I would like to see more outstanding designs being produced.

Most likely into a confusion of IT and Design it self.

It depends on the project.

I always start by producing functional floor plans. After that I jump into what would make the design outstanding.

Better design is better life.

both of them can be accurate.

personally I don't follow trends.

I use 3D modeling on the computer to check my designs, then to produce the blueprints.

I Use Vectorworks for both Blueprints and 3D computer graphics. Together with Photoshop and Illustrator for graphic arrangements.

careful selection of these can balance the design from extremely bad to extremely good. the have central role.

any question is welcome.

I want to learn the technical way of producing them.

I usually work with my team. the more experience, creative and demanding the team is, the better the design can get.

My team in my office.

there is no outstanding book that I can highlight here.

by working on several projects.

I prefer keeping things real.

I think it is exciting to see how far can your work reach. we have been successful in many cases and not in others. but it is getting better.

I cant properly answer this question.

I can't recall a worth telling anecdote.

I love design and I love to get things done.

I don't think so

I prefer thinking about the present.

My designs speaks better than anything I would ever say

My grandfather was painter and he taught me how to draw. I think my design foundations are greatly due to my childhood experiences.

Established in 1976, Matsuya Art Works is a four decades company acting in the architecture, interior design, and construction industries. The company has a wide range of building types in the portfolio, yet specialized in the commercial projects. Matsuya Art Works conduct projects according to the client’s business strategy from its blastoff until the reception of the completed building or interior and even beyond to guarantee a perfect functioning of the business. The KTX archiLAB was founded in 2006 to sustain this activity by producing very high quality designs. This Japanese based company has received several local and international awards for projects conducted both in Japan and in foreign countries.

Design is everything; it is just something that I'm constantly thinking about.

Whatever, everything is worth designing.

Commercial and medical spaces, as it represents most of our projects.

A renovation of a driving school.

We work mostly on the A&A Vector Works software, it allows me to control the designs to the smallest details.

Midnight in my soundproof room.

I focus on how to design spaces that fits my clients' business strategies.

It depends. Every project is unique.

It depends. Every project is unique.

I want to know that.

How benefic is the design for the client.

To influence the local economic situation.

I think nowadays design is, and will be in the future, in a constant competition with the IT field.

No exhibition plans for now.

That's what I want to know.

As an architect, I put the priority on the functional floor plan. Just a beautiful box but non-functional is a nonsense for architecture.

We have world heritage Himeji castle in our hometown and I think it definitely affects our designs. Not only the castle but the also the huge Japanese cultural heritage.

I work exclusively for our company Matsuya Art Works / KTX archiLAB.

First, make a fully functional floor plan, and then, do the special design.

Only pen and paper.

Get up.

Go to the office.

Do design.

Return home.

Do design.

Go to bed.

Have confidence in yourself. That’s the golden rule.

It's fun and tough, tells it all.

Having no rule.

Experience in design. The more you do, the better you get.

A&A Vector Works, pen and paper.

I just want to know how to do that.

It depends on the project.

How do you design? And I always say that's what I most want to know.

All of the projects were more than important.

We had many recurrent or new clients, for example we have had several projects with Matsuo-Gakuin which is a cram-schools company. We work also with Himeji Daiichi Hospital and several restaurant owners.

New types of projects which I've ever had before.

The next project is always the most important in my eyes. I have no directional lines.

I work with my team.

I'm working now on a hospital design project, I cannot say more about that.

E-mail or phone or any other contact method, I don't care about the tool.