Coichi Wada

Until high school, I wanted to go into the music industry, but at the age of 18, I came into contact with car design (Renault 5) and realized I wanted to become a designer. After studying design at university, I worked as an in-house designer for a housing parts manufacturer for five years and at a bespoke kitchen office for one year, before founding STUDIO KAZ in 1994.

STUDIO KAZ Co., Ltd. is a design unit established in 1994 by Coichi Wada and Junco Wada. Coichi is mainly in charge of interior design, kitchen design, furniture design, and product design, while Junco is mainly in charge of graphic design. We are good at residential interior design, and are one of the leading designers in Japan, especially in bespoke design. As a result, we are trusted by our fellow companies and are involved in many events and showroom productions. In addition, in order to expand the market for bespoke kitchens, which is still small in Japan, we provide many consulting and lectures, and also focus on training young people at vocational schools. In graphic design, we mainly focus on printed matter, but we do not limit ourselves to simple page design, but also like to propose three-dimensional compositions such as paper quality, shape, folding methods, and binding methods.

To me, design is discovery, experience, and inspiration. There are things and spaces that we find beautiful, and they exist for as many people as there are people. I think that design is what lies between us and those beautiful things and spaces, or the process behind it. The CHAKAI, for which I received the award, was not a design of something new, but rather provided an opportunity to discover something beautiful through the experience of the tea ceremony.

I love designing residential spaces and bespoke kitchens to be installed in them. I still never get bored of the process of reading the client's needs through conversation and turning them into concrete forms such as spaces and kitchens, even though I have been involved in over 1,000 kitchens to date.

As for designs by other people, the one that inspired me to become a designer was the Renault 5. Designed by Marcello Gandini, the car's form, function, and driver's behavior are all perfectly designed. We like all my designs, but We especially like "Irifune studio," which is also our office. We designed it as a living space, but WeI took advantage of the lack of sunlight and focused on how to create a nighttime atmosphere. At that time, we used black as the theme, and spent a long time looking for a lot of black, so there is a lot of black here.

During my time as an in-house designer, I designed entrance doors, interior doors, custom-made kitchens, etc. Since establishing STUDIO KAZ, I have mainly worked on bespoke kitchens and space designs for clients, but the first time I designed for a company was a custom-made kitchen for a kitchen manufacturer.

I don't have any likes or dislikes when it comes to materials. I'm always thinking about how to bring out the most beautiful expression of the material itself. Platforms and technology are just a means to that end.

Yes, shure, I try to look at things from as many different angles as possible. Materials, colors, luster, light, sound, temperature, humidity, size, hardness, texture, proportion, past, present, future... all of these are design elements and materials for me.

Being a father, a mother, a friend, a lover, a husband, a wife, I feel joy in being able to share the pain of childbirth and the excitement of completing a project.

Reading comprehension, observation skills, arrangement skills, communication skills

Designers are not special. They are part of society and must always be aware of this. Design should not suppress the environment/nature, and should not think that it is possible to do so.

The last exhibition (the CHAKAI) was held in October 2024. The next one will be a kitchen exhibition in September 2025.

I get inspiration from many things: a sliver of light filtering through a tiny slit, a tree stump, the smell of a deliciously brewed cappuccino, or a single guitar note played in the middle of intense music.

The last exhibition (the CHAKAI) was held in October 2024. The next one, a kitchen exhibition, is scheduled to be held in September 2025.

I live in Tokyo, Japan. Tokyo has its own unique culture, but also has the ability to come into contact with cultures from all over the world. This always inspires us. However, I often feel that Japan, and especially Tokyo, is always seeking new things too much, and that the good old Japanese culture is becoming diluted.

design consulting, lectures, design support, design outsourcing, and education.

We start with thorough interviews and research. Then we just follow the image that emerges.

1. "Fuumi Zekka Echizen" knife, made in Echizen, Fukui Prefecture, Japan, using the same manufacturing method as Japanese swords. 2. "HOW HIGH THE MOON" sofa designed by Shiro Kuramata. 3. "WASSILY CHAIR" chair designed by Marcel Breuer. 4. "PP701" chair designed by Hans Wegner. 5. "Messenger bag" designed by my friend.

positives is that you can always have a new experience. I can't think of any negatives.

I'm hoping to release a collection of my work early next year.

I graduated from Kyushu Institute of Design in 1988, majoring in product design. I then spent five years as an in-house designer, designing various residential components, including entrance doors, interior doors, windows, built-in kitchen systems, and modular bathrooms. In 1993, I worked at a design firm, where I designed 15 bespoke kitchens and one residential home. I then founded STUDIO KAZ in 1994.

I mainly work in interior design and bespoke kitchen design. To me, interior design is a way of self-expression and a way of connecting with society. Projecting my own ideas into space and sharing my feelings and philosophy with others is what motivates me.

At first, I wanted to work in music. When I was 17, I saw the design of the Renault Super 5, designed by Marcello Gandini, and became interested in design for the first time. After that, I started to look at various designs and decided that I wanted to design furniture and interiors.

I usually work on interior design for living spaces, especially bespoke kitchens. I always try to create designs that are close to the people who will use them. I don't think that will change in the future.

I think it's important to be interested in everything and observe things from a broad perspective.

A good designer is someone who can create beautiful and perfect designs. A great designer is someone who creates designs that change values and have some kind of influence on other designers.

There are always new discoveries to be made. Allowing space for users to freely interact with it. Not being consumed by the times. Always changing and running alongside the times. Providing a rich experience for users. Creating a new culture.

I believe that great design is not something you choose because it's beautiful, but because it's honest. I also believe that great design creates new culture. In other words, investing in great design is also investing in the future.

I've always wanted to have a small house by the sea where I could relax with my wife, but that hasn't happened yet.

The Wassily Chair, designed by Marcel Breuer, strikes a perfect balance between innovative design and aesthetic sense, while also being highly practical and comfortable.

This is a kitchen I designed in 2021 called "Ro-gu." All of the components are made from Japanese cypress. It uses an "external L-shape" layout that I came up with, and is a square measuring 150cm on each side. Although it is very compact, it can be used in the same way as a larger kitchen, and even if two people use it at the same time, it won't get in the way and they can cook while looking at each other's faces. In 2023, I also created a kitchen called "kitchen EO" with the same shape but made entirely of stainless steel. This was created by small factories in Higashiosaka City, Osaka Prefecture, bringing together the expertise of each factory. In 2024, we exhibited "Ro-gu" and "kitchen EO" side by side.

Be true to your core, don't be afraid of change, and always take on challenges.

Design is a conduct and experience that reconstructs relationships with society and the local community. Designed products and spaces are the result of this.