Yui Kitahara

I have been interested in creative pursuits since I was a child. I loved drawing, and without even realizing it, I would pick up a pen and paper and unconsciously sketch landscapes, cars, and people. When I couldn’t find something I wanted, I would draw it and then carve it out of wood with a knife. My introduction to product design, especially furniture design, came through Shiro Kuramata. It happened when I was given my own room and started researching what kind of furniture I wanted to place in it. I vividly remember being thrilled by his unique and unconventional designs, unlike anything I had ever seen before. That was when I was nine years old.

I work as an independent designer. In university, I majored in furniture design, and I have since become a furniture designer. My primary focus is not on mass-produced items but on creating custom furniture tailored to the specific needs and desires of individuals who say, "I wish I had furniture like this." However, I also aim to have my designs commercialized as mass-produced products. My goal is to create furniture that is not only functional but also so beautiful that it captivates those who see it. In fact, I don’t just design furniture—I also work on designing spaces. To keep these two areas of work distinct, I have separate studios for furniture design and spatial design.

For me, design is a solution for someone. It is never a creation for self-satisfaction. For example, someone might want a chair that can be hung on the wall because their house is small. Or they might want a side table that also functions as storage. Or perhaps they need a shelf that can be easily assembled without screws or tools. The chair I designed this time was also created in response to a request for an armchair that would suit a traditional Japanese-style room.

I enjoy thinking about designing furniture that fits into someone's life. Having a favorite piece of furniture at home can surely enrich one's life and brighten up the space. The morning sunlight will feel more magical, and the coffee you drink in the afternoon will taste even better.

Let me share my favorite material: wood. Wood is very honest. When it comes into contact with something harder, it gets scratched. Over time, its color deepens gradually. If neglected, it will begin to decay. There are countless types of wood, each with unique colors and patterns. Even with the same piece of furniture, the atmosphere can change dramatically depending on the type of wood used. When I design furniture with wood, I often create sharp, linear forms with defined edges. Since wood is soft, the edges will naturally become rounded with use, and I believe this process will make the piece feel more endearing over time.

I often feel a sense of uncertainty. Is this design truly good enough? Will this functionality really help people? If I search the entire world, might there be something better out there? The list of doubts is endless, but even when I can’t see the end of my anxieties, I keep going, believing that what I create will be meaningful to someone. I refine my ideas, create prototypes, and test their strength and usability. Through this process, something that starts out as just a large rock gets polished and begins to shine like a gemstone.

In April 2024, I showcased my work at Isola Design during Milan Design Week. I exhibited an assembly-style coat rack. The piece I designed this time, Sukiya Serenity, was displayed in Hokkaido, Japan, from June to September of the same year. Currently, I am working on designing new furniture. I hope to exhibit my next piece at the Milan SaloneSatellite scheduled for April 2026.

I live in Japan. Imagine a scene with rows of wooden houses and tiled roofs, like those in Kyoto. In Japan, there is a culture called "mottainai." This concept reflects the idea that even something that appears to be mere trash can become a new resource when seen from a different perspective. This culture is influenced by the Japanese aesthetic of wabi-sabi, which emphasizes simplicity and using only what is necessary. When designing furniture, we consider how to highlight the essential elements and how to avoid wasting resources. One downside, however, is that presenting a new design often requires courage. Japan is a collectivist society. This means that the majority's opinion is often considered correct, while the minority's opinion is seen as wrong. Of course, this does not apply to everyone, but it does impose restrictions on free thinking. The benefits of design are enjoyed by an unspecified number of people, and criticism of new designs also comes from an unspecified number of people.

We have not yet established a partnership. I would like to commercialize the Sukiya Serenity Chair. If anyone is interested, please consider it.

The process begins with converting ideas into sketches. I then create a model, decide on the basic functionality and form to some extent, and develop the finer details of the concept. Next, I build a full-scale prototype and use it myself for one to four weeks to test its strength and usability. Once nearly all the elements are finalized, I create another prototype to solidify the design. I make many prototypes. For example, with the Sukiya Serenity Chair, I produced around 20 prototypes, adjusting the thickness of the parts by 1mm increments to find the perfect balance. It’s a painstaking process, but I believe it’s an essential step in creating beautiful designs. This meticulous process leads to refined details.

It means that the work should not be a work of self-satisfaction. Design must solve someone's inconvenience or dissatisfaction and enrich their lives. Functional and easy to use. And beautiful. Beauty is very important. It improves the quality of living space and brightens every day. This is the kind of design I aim for.

When I go for a walk, ideas start to come to mind. I carefully observe everything around me, thinking about how I could apply what I see to my designs. The most enjoyable part is turning the endless stream of ideas into sketches. When I actually start drawing, I often discover shapes I hadn’t imagined before. I also enjoy thinking about how to overcome the challenges that arise from those discoveries.

I am currently considering exhibiting at the Milan SaloneSatellite. I want as many people as possible to see my designs, and I hope to connect with many people to seize opportunities for commercialization.

I develop my own designs. I would like to team up or collaborate with someone.

Please message me via email or Instagram DM. email:yui.k.base@gmail.com InstagramURL:https://www.instagram.com/yui__kitahara/