We met Naoto at connecting 07 in SF. He was one of major speakers. Most of his speech was about his work and why or how he think he want to do design like that.He tried to explain it to everybody. But time is short.
He was not most attractive speaker on the stage. But everyone is touched by his work. Although he is quite famous now.He still try his best to do good design.After speech, I want to talk with him and maybe ask him to sign for me on his book.I bought it last month, Sept..
I didn't see many people want to talk with him. I mean like us. We looks more like design fan than designer. It's fun.And why not? We went to his seat, we introduced ourselves and try to discuss questions with him.I didn't ask many questions ,like I always do. Actually I wrote several questions and tried to discuss with him before. But I didn't ask all of them. I tried to act more polite and gave him more respect.But I still asked him several questions.
First of all, I asked one of my biggest question now. I asked him that sometime, I feel tired. Because I did many design which I felt meaningless. I apply many style but just for appearance.
Before he answer we should know that Naoto is famous about doing minimal design which is full of Japanese culture inside.I asked this question was kind respect what he did and maybe he would agree with my point.It's a little bit tricky.If he agreed with my point which was very shallow, I would feel sad. I apologized that I asked this kind tricky question.
Naoto answered that question in a different way.I didn't recored every words he said precisely.I just want to express what he said to us.
He said we should build one ability that allow us express our idea precisely.Once we got good idea, but we don't have good sense of beauty or good forming ability, idea will disappear.Which is very pity.And he encouraged us that keep practicing and experience more.I shouldn't feel too rush of myself and take baby steps.One day, my switch will turn on.Then I can realize.
I felt that I'm relieved. And I know more about what I should do now.It's simple. Just keep walking.Recently, I just finished one presentation here. Of course I didn't do presentation like I always did.I only do design.And I felt desired that I want to change my design or execute process.People who know me closely will know that I do that all the time.It's kind normal to me.Because I feel boring easily. If I kept doing same thing.And I am lucky that the company which I stay provide me a Wacom tablet with touch screen. So I tried to apply it to my process.Even though I spent more time to finish it.And I am not satisfied what I did yet.But I do feel good.Because it's first time that I use that device and apply it in project. This is first story.
The second story is that I met many good designer here and they showed me many of their design and sketches.I felt that designer here is more concerned about sketches than Taiwan's designer.And I do see some good sketches were pasted all over the wall.So I can compare it.I felt that it is true.When you see many many sketches on the wall.The good one will reveal it automatically.I am not saying good sketch means good design.But good skill's sketch will be more outstanding and attractive.I think this is what Naoto said why we should sharp our skill.Many things are like strategy than a random behavior.
This one is also reflect to what Naoto answered about another question.
I heard people asked him that why he did supernormal.He use a metaphor to answer.Like a seesaw, when every designer on this world try to make stuff outstanding and aggressive.Naoto think he should do something different with others.So he chose another side which was minimal and normal.Maybe some people will think it is easy when they saw what Naoto did.Like Milan furniture exhibition last year what Naoto showed in there didn't get many echo. But for me. It is more difficult.Because it required more sense of beauty and more precise forming ability.It is not easy when you reduce stuff from your design.So I think if Naoto answered that question in east way(more philosophy thought), people here will not understand.But they can understand strategy. It's more easy for west sociality.It is interesting if we compared same question where he answered it in different place.We can discuss that later.
There were few other questions that I asked him.Maybe I can share it with my thought to you guys.Here is some of his presentation pictures. Enjoy it!
