Mitsunori Yamase

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?

When I was a high school student, I wanted to be a calligrapher. After that, my dream has changed to be an architect, when I was a University student. But after graduate I became a graphic designer. Then, I changed my profession to the product designer.

Can you tell us more about your company / design studio?

A.I design various Japanese industrial crafts. I also work on the graphics and branding of those I design in an integrated manner. I design things based on the history of industrial crafts while looking into the future of the industry. In 2011, I founded TE TE TE Consortium together with like-minded fellows and have been organizing an annual trade show, TE TE TE Trader’s Expo.

What is "design" for you?

It’s not what solves the problem but it’s what loves the problem and accept the contradictions.

What is your most favorite design, could you please tell more about it?

The chopsticks. It’s minimal. Even it’s difficult to use at the beginning, you can grasp any small things if you have got used to.

What is your favorite material / platform / technology?

Every material I work with as the first time, since I can start without any preconception.

What makes a design successful?

At the same time, there is an approach to universality while having uniqueness.

When judging a design as good or bad, which aspects do you consider first?

It’s an approach to discomfort. I look for some way what makes that discomfort precious.

How do you think the "design field" is evolving? What is the future of design?

Various phenomena has the extreme swinging and they are divided in both sides. Designers from various fields have to make efforts to re-integrate them.

When was your last exhibition and where was it? And when do you want to hold your next exhibition?

It was “Milano Salone”. I personally don’t like any exhibition. That was the client’s will.

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?

To balance that the design does not outweigh the material, but it does not rely on the material.

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?

In Japan. One side, there are many craftsmen with very high technology. The other side, it’s very difficult to proceed any project since the Japanese society now a days hardly gives priority to new challengers because of the mismanagement of the government for over 20 years. But something what can surpass it, might be the design close to the essence of human beings. And that has the possibility to create something very powerful.

What are your suggestions to companies for working with a designer? How can companies select a good designer?

I work with companies, which does not create any hierarchy like partnership but like married couple.

Can you talk a little about your design process?

Sketch, Mockup, Drawing, Prototype, Prototype… then Completion.

Can you describe a day in your life?

Wake up in the morning, Working in the garden, Sketch and Communicate with my team. Then Dinner with my team with their family together. After that, taking a bath with my son and sleep with him.

What skills are most important for a designer?

Communication skill against some other person and also against to yourself.

How long does it take to design an object from beginning to end?

In couple of minutes in the shortest case, several years in the longest case.

What was your most important job experience?

To feel the break through. And it comes after getting over the solitariness.

What type of design work do you enjoy the most and why?

To feel that you are forgiven. To feel that we give each other a caring spirit.

Do you have any works-in-progress being designed that you would like to talk about?

I’m changing various subcontract suppliers in Japan into product brands with proud technology