So Koizumi

Specialized in Furniture Design.

So Koizumi

About So Koizumi

SO KOIZUMI DESIGN was established in 2021 and is a Tokyo-based design office headed by So Koizumi. The firm designs in a wide range of fields, including objects, product design and spatial design. The work of So Koizumi, which is regularly presented, is based on his attitude to society as an individual before being a designer, and based on this concept, he experiments and examines and expresses it as his own unique form. Web : https://www.sokoizumi.com/ Instagram : @so_koizumi_design

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

Seven Wind Chime

Furniture Design

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Interview with So Koizumi

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 17, I went to work in Germany with my father and visited Bruder Klaus Kapelle (designed by Peter Zumthor). I still remember the impact it had on me, and looking back, I think it was then that I decided to become a designer.
Can you tell us more about your company / design studio?
SO KOIZUMI DESIGN was established in Tokyo in 2021. The company is involved in a wide range of areas of design, including interiors, products, and objects.
What is "design" for you?
This does not mean designing to make everyday life more convenient but to enrich it by presenting small emotions such as surprises and discoveries, and ideas that are different from theirs.
What kinds of works do you like designing most?
I like to design things that have margins where I can use my personality (thinking and modeling).
What was the first thing you designed for a company?
The wind chime 'Seven' was awarded the A'Design Award this year.
What is your favorite material / platform / technology?
Metal and stone. This is because both are materials derived from nature.
When do you feel the most creative?
It's that moment when people who are involved in creating the same thing come together and sincerely share their opinions to make it better, resulting in a genuine resonance.
Which aspects of a design do you focus more during designing?
Balance. The emphasis is not only on figurative balance, but also on the relationship between space and objects, and more specifically on the balance between people and the environment.
What kind of emotions do you feel when you design?
It is a very concentrated time, so close to a sense of nothingness.
What kind of emotions do you feel when your designs are realized?
There are no emotional feelings. Just making sure that the space and objects are there properly.
When judging a design as good or bad, which aspects do you consider first?
I think it's about having an appropriate sense of the times. This is because no matter how elaborate a design is, if it is out of step with the times and society, it cannot be called good design.
From your point of view, what are the responsibilities of a designer for society and environment?
I believe that as freelance designers, we have a unique profession that allows us to transmit our individual opinions to society through our own designs. Although our opinions may seem insignificant in the eyes of society as a whole, I consider it incredibly significant to continue doing so.
How do you think the "design field" is evolving? What is the future of design?
Even though technology has made the world more convenient, traces of human manual work and thought will still be a factor in inspiring people.
When was your last exhibition and where was it? And when do you want to hold your next exhibition?
In June 2023, he presented his new work in a gallery he had designed and built myself.
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?
From a single concept, the product is often researched and experimented with many times, and finally produced by craftsmen and their own hands.
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 am from Tokyo, Japan. I have never designed with Japan in mind, but some of the people who have seen my work have told me it is Japanese.
What are your suggestions to companies for working with a designer? How can companies select a good designer?
The designers themselves should be respected for their individuality and ideas, and the designers should not be treated as people within the company, but as people who work together to create things, accepting opinions and ideas and helping each other as they progress.
Can you talk a little about your design process?
From a single concept, the product is often researched and experimented with many times, and finally produced by craftsmen and their own hands.
From your perspective, what would you say are some positives and negatives of being a designer?
It is very interesting for a freelance designer like me to be able to express my opinion on society as an individual through my own designs.
Do you have any works-in-progress being designed that you would like to talk about?
Fossil-like furniture has been produced. It will be presented soon.

Designer of the Day Interview with So Koizumi

Could you please tell us about your experience as a designer, artist, architect or creator?
After attending art colleges in Tokyo and Finland, I worked as a designer's assistant in Tokyo for seven years.
How did you become a designer?
When I was 17, I went with my father to work in Germany and visited Bruder Klaus Kapelle (designed by Peter Zumthor). I still remember the impact it had on me, and looking back, I think it was then that I decided to become a designer.
What are your priorities, technique and style when designing?
Themes from everyday life are considered in depth and a concept is developed through research and experimentation. At the same time, the output method is examined using both digital tools and manual work, leading to a final expression.
Which emotions do you feel when designing?
When an idea is born, it is also the most exciting moment. When I am considering a design, I am in a state of selflessness in order to realise the idea.
What is your day to day look like?
It is the accumulation of setting small goals to achieve a big goal and completing these small tasks on a daily basis.
How do you keep up with latest design trends? To what extent do design trends matter?
I do not follow trends. Instead, I focus on emotions and events that I experience in my daily life.
How do you know if a product or project is well designed? How do you define good design?
I think it's about having an appropriate sense of the times. This is because no matter how elaborate a design is, if it is out of step with the times and society, it cannot be called good design.
How do you decide if your design is ready?
One by one, the small problems and gaps from the image that I discovered with my own eyes during the study are solved, and at a certain stage it becomes clear to me, and that is the moment of completion.
What is your biggest design work?
The wind chime 'Seven', which received the A'Design Award this year, is one of the most important pieces of work.
Would you tell us a bit about your lifestyle and culture?
I visited Berlin last year and was inspired by the city's attitude of respecting the past and trying to merge it with the future. Based on this experience, I am currently creating a new work.
What positive experiences you had when you attend the A’ Design Award?
I was most interested in how my work would be evaluated by people abroad. I also hoped that this evaluation would motivate not only the designers themselves, but also the craftspeople who worked with them.

Extended Interview with So Koizumi

Could you please tell us about your experience as a designer, artist, architect or creator?
After attending art colleges in Tokyo and Finland, I worked as a designer's assistant in Tokyo for seven years.
Which emotions do you feel when designing?
The company designs a wide range of areas, including interiors, products and objects.
You are truly successful as a designer, what do you suggest to fellow designers, artists and architects?
I think it's about having an appropriate sense of the times. This is because no matter how elaborate a design is, if it is out of step with the times and society, it cannot be called good design.
Who is your favourite designer?
The wind chime 'Seven' was awarded the A'Design Award this year.
What are your philanthropic contributions to society as a designer, artist and architect?
Helping people.
This does not mean designing to make everyday life more convenient, but to enrich it by presenting small emotions such as surprises and discoveries, and ideas that are different from theirs.

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