Interview with Tetsuya Matsumoto

Tetsuya Matsumoto ("TM") interviewed on Saturday, 17 March.

Could you please tell us about your experience as a designer, artist, architect or creator?

TM : After graduating from Osaka University of Art in 2001 I integrated Matsuya Art Works where I became the Head of the Design section in 2006. I founded KTX archiLAB as part of the company in order to advance the design quality. I am specialized in commercial Spaces design where my portfolio includes restaurants, shops, showrooms, clinics, schools, beauty salons, sport facilities just to cite a few.

How did you become a designer?

TM : I think that was a natural process, since my family has some artistic background. After finishing high-school, I integrated Osaka University of arts, and graduated from the department of architecture.

What are your priorities, technique and style when designing?

TM : Simplicity of the design, being budget friendly, aesthetically impressive, but most importantly being perfectly functional. My first priority is to respond to the clients business strategy and his requirements.

Which emotions do you feel when designing?

TM : It’s a very hard thing to explain since it actually depends on the case. Every project has its own specificities, and so does the design process, and so does the emotions.

What particular aspects of your background shaped you as a designer?

TM : My grand father was a painter, my father is a martial arts master, and so I grew in a family where many members are related to arts, or design, or are related in a way or other to art and beauty. This put me since my younger years into the field.

What is your growth path? What are your future plans? What is your dream design project?

TM : As a space designer, for both interior and architectural projects I of course look forward to more projects, probably bigger in size, or have more budget and more challenges. I want to keep working on the commercial field, but of course I welcome any project that is challenging.

What are your advices to designers who are at the beginning of their career?

TM : I think I would say think about design all the time, but think outside the box.

You are truly successful as a designer, what do you suggest to fellow designers, artists and architects?

TM : I would say thinking outside the box. Of course, the key is functionality conjugated to aesthetics. And for this matter thinking outside the box is one way of achieving it.

What is your day to day look like?

TM : I spend most of my day in the office, except when I am on building site or have a meeting outside of it. Most of the time I am working on my designs until late hours. When back home and after spending some time with my family, I still go to my special room to listen to music or produce it, and most likely also think about my designs.

How do you keep up with latest design trends? To what extent do design trends matter?

TM : I have several subscription to Japanese and international design magazines that I receive in my office. I check all of them to see if there is any interesting designs, but also from the internet, its easier nowadays and more and more designs are being published. Subjectively I don’t follow trends, I have my own vision about design that I try to develop.

How do you know if a product or project is well designed? How do you define good design?

TM : As I am working on commercial spaces design, it is easy to check if it works or not. The results are here when the customers are loving the projects or becoming a powerful tool for our clients, this is what we call a successful project.

How do you decide if your design is ready?

TM : Its never ready. I can work indefinitely on any design. Deadlines and client’s schedules defines the time limit.

What is your biggest design work?

TM : In size, or building area, it might be the Origami Ark, a showroom for Sansho Leather Company which has received a golden A’ Design Awards in the 2015/2016 period. The most influential might be The Cutting Edge Pharmacy that got both Platinum and Gold A’ Design Awards in 2016/2017 period. I am working currently on a much bigger Project in scale.

Who is your favourite designer?

TM : I don’t have an absolute reference. Of course there is many designers I like, Zaha Hadid in instance, or Oscar Niemeyer.

Would you tell us a bit about your lifestyle and culture?

TM : I think both my life style and culture are based on design and music. I can say that they are one and the same thing, and they take all of my time and energy.

Would you tell us more about your work culture and business philosophy?

TM : I work in commercial space design, this implies that my client’s business strategy is the most important point to focus on. My design should materialize this strategy onto space, perfectly functional space. the aesthetic plays a major role as advertisement and creates identity for their businesses.

What are your philanthropic contributions to society as a designer, artist and architect?

TM : I have designed several Japanese restaurants. And by such I regard my work as a contribution in defining contemporary Japanese style. As architect and interior designer, the spaces we produce affects the daily life of its users, and so we take care of the smallest details to make their daily life a better experience.

What positive experiences you had when you attend the A’ Design Award?

TM : The A’ Design Award Ceremony Gala night was a fantastic occasion to socialize with designers from all fields and from all over the world. Winning the A’ Design Award also impact our company by making our designs trusted by our clients. They know they deal with professional designers who can produce international high quality projects.

Tetsuya Matsumoto Profile