Junya Nakai

Specialized in Design.

Junya Nakai

About Junya Nakai

"I just want to make beautiful things, even if nobody cares" -Saul Bass But, he has another opinion. Making up something in order to solve problems is designing. Designing should exist for something or someone. Also, designing should be beautiful. Then in textile design, colour is very important element. Colour is not only 'trend colour' but also can express social conditions of the present. Colour is healing people. However,colour will be able to such a armor protect yourself in business scene. We select what colour to wear depending on our status of mind whether or we are not aware of it. Colour can change fabrics impression as if it is a magic!

  • Winner of the A' Design Award.
  • Specialized in Design.
  • Original Design.
  • Creative, Diligent and Innovative.
  • All Designs

Good Design Deserves Great Recognition

Nominate Your Work for the A' Design Award.

Sign-Up

Interview with Junya Nakai

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 liked to draw pictures using various colours when I was a child and I was painting on a white T-shirt and making original T-shirts.I wanted to do creative works since from about 17 years old.
Can you tell us more about your company / design studio?
I currently do not belong to the company. Basically, I am working alone.
What is "design" for you?
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.
What kinds of works do you like designing most?
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.
What is your most favorite design, could you please tell more about it?
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.
What was the first thing you designed for a company?
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.
What is your favorite material / platform / technology?
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.
Which aspects of a design do you focus more during designing?
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.
What kind of emotions do you feel when you design?
I have to keep cool. Always I ask myself, it is right or not, it is on the right way or wrong way.
What kind of emotions do you feel when your designs are realized?
Absolutely I will be happy, but I will feel responsible to care about the product after it reached to consumers.
What makes a design successful?
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?
When judging a design as good or bad, which aspects do you consider first?
Whether or not it suits the needs of consumers. Whether or not it will be linked with the times and environment.
From your point of view, what are the responsibilities of a designer for society 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.
How do you think the "design field" is evolving? What is the future of design?
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.
When was your last exhibition and where was it? And when do you want to hold your next exhibition?
I have not held an exhibition for while. I'm making some new project now. When it will be done, I want to.
Where does the design inspiration for your works come from? How do you feed your creativity? What are your sources of inspirations?
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.
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?
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.
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 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.
How do you work with companies?
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.
What are your suggestions to companies for working with a designer? How can companies select a good designer?
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.
Can you talk a little about your design process?
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.
What are 5 of your favorite design items at home?
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.
Can you describe a day in your life?
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.
Could you please share some pearls of wisdom for young designers? What are your suggestions to young, up and coming designers?
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.
From your perspective, what would you say are some positives and negatives of being a designer?
It is positive to have ambitious and passion and it is negative to protect from some.
Which tools do you use during design? What is inside your toolbox? Such as software, application, hardware, books, sources of inspiration etc.?
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.
Designing can sometimes be a really time consuming task, how do you manage your time?
I'm preparing some of my original uncompleted design sources. Sometimes those are useful when I am rushed or no exit.
How long does it take to design an object from beginning to end?
I don't know. Between a few hours to few weeks or more. It is important to continue.
What is the most frequently asked question to you, as a designer?
Why did you choose the way to be a designer? Why did I choose this way? Sometimes I ask myself even now.
What was your most important job experience?
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.
What type of design work do you enjoy the most and why?
My favorite material is linen. linen fabric is so comfortable. Because it is good at water absorbency and drying. Especially, I like organic linen.
What are your future plans? What is next for you?
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.
Do you have any works-in-progress being designed that you would like to talk about?
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.

Designer of the Day Interview with Junya Nakai

Could you please tell us about your experience as a designer, artist, architect or creator?
I have a career of more than 25 years as a textile designer. Five years of which experience was very informative for me. I belonged in a brand as a textile designer, the brand made original fabrics and made yarn for fabric. Then, I have learned the process of textile industry.
How did you become a designer?
I have learned textile in the art university to become a designer. I have planned it from before.
What are your priorities, technique and style when designing?
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.
Which emotions do you feel when designing?
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.
What particular aspects of your background shaped you as a designer?
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.
What is your growth path? What are your future plans? What is your dream design project?
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.
What are your advices to designers who are at the beginning of their career?
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.
You are truly successful as a designer, what do you suggest to fellow designers, artists and architects?
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.
What is your day to day look like?
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.
How do you decide if your design is ready?
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.
What is your biggest design work?
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.
Who is your favourite designer?
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.
Would you tell us a bit about your lifestyle and culture?
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.
Would you tell us more about your work culture and business philosophy?
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.
What are your philanthropic contributions to society as a designer, artist and architect?
It's very important to do for social benefits as a designer. I would like to do like the social design through my works.
What positive experiences you had when you attend the A’ Design Award?
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.

Extended Interview with Junya Nakai

Could you please tell us about your experience as a designer, artist, architect or creator?
ORGANIZATION: Independence (Free Lance) EDUCATION:1889-1885 Tama art university (Tokyo) textile design
How did you become a designer?
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.
Which emotions do you feel when designing?
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.
What particular aspects of your background shaped you as a designer?
It is to cooperate with people from different field and see the world widely you do not normally see.
What is your growth path? What are your future plans? What is your dream design project?
The good designer can make good products, the great designer can tell a message through the products.
What are your advices to designers who are at the beginning of their career?
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.
You are truly successful as a designer, what do you suggest to fellow designers, artists and architects?
All-purpose or common factor, everybody can use easily and last long well.
What is your day to day look like?
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.
How do you keep up with latest design trends? To what extent do design trends matter?
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.
How do you know if a product or project is well designed? How do you define good design?
I don't have any secret recipe. Just face to things and learn by trial and error. I listen to others carefully and deeply.
How do you decide if your design is ready?
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.
What is your biggest design work?
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.
Who is your favourite designer?
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.
Would you tell us a bit about your lifestyle and culture?
I recommend reading books about the different field from you and take a trip.
What are your philanthropic contributions to society as a designer, artist and architect?
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.
What positive experiences you had when you attend the A’ Design Award?
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,,,

Stay Updated with Latest Design News

By clicking Sign-Up, you are opting to receive promotional emails from A' Design Awards, World Design Rankings, World Design Consortium and Designers.Org You can update your preferences or unsubscribe any time.

You are now at the right step

Join Designers.org & Start Promoting Your Design Worldwide.

Create an Account