Interview with Noriaki Mori

Noriaki Mori ("NM") interviewed on Sunday, 22 May.

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

NM : My first career was Panasonic's in-house design department. After that, he was the head of Japan Design Lab at LG, a global company. After that, while working as a freelance design and business consultant, I experienced several consulting firms. Furthermore, from May of this year, I will also work in the design department of a new Japanese global company. We will make the management of both designers and management consultants a career in the future.

How did you become a designer?

NM : I've been creating new things since I was a child. Creativity was fostered by developing several types of self-made games that can be played with just a pencil, explaining the rules to classmates, and playing. When I was a high school student, I learned that I had a profession as an industrial designer, and I longed to create something better and something that wasn't there yet. This is the trigger.

What are your priorities, technique and style when designing?

NM : The most important thing is the observation of the world. Understanding the current situation is very important. By looking closely at the world, we can find out what is the problem and what kind of things that are not in the world should be developed. As the word "think by hand" is used, thumbnails and idea sketches are at least used. Furthermore, digital data and three-dimensional objects may be rendered or mocked up.

Which emotions do you feel when designing?

NM : It's most exciting when you discover a big problem or something that isn't in the world but you need it. After that, we will proceed by combining the designing process and approach, so the completed image has already been created.

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

NM : I think it's the curiosity of why, and the realm of liberal arts.

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

NM : I would like to continue to create many designs that save many people.

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

NM : It is very important to always be aware of what social issues are and to continue pursuing what is the design that leads to well-being. Just designing something beautiful may be complacent. On the other hand, designers should always consider monetization in terms of economy. Designers are not artists. The Italian I once used taught me the importance of liberal arts as a philosopher. A Japanese design professor explained that the concept is everything. He also explained that the Japanese boss is all about ideas.

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

NM : The power required for a designer is as follows. 1. Power to find 2. Power to create 3. Power to convey Always cultivate these three powers.

What is your day to day look like?

NM : First, look at the general news. Design news isn't the most important thing for me right now. World affairs, environmental issues, social issues, economic conditions, these movements are the most important factors. By constantly feeling various issues, small discoveries lead to the realization of big problem-solving designs.

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

NM : I don't really pursue fashion and trends. I'm rather a quest for universal design. Design trends are just about collecting information as a trend in the world. However, in expressing spirituality and national character, we sometimes pursue emotional modeling and patterns. We will try to design appropriately according to the item or service.

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

NM : The criterion is how simple and easy-to-understand the design is, by eliminating unnecessary decorations. This is not the case for things and spaces with a luxurious world view.

How do you decide if your design is ready?

NM : If it's converged to the point where you don't need to add or subtract any more, it's probably a scrutinized design.

What is your biggest design work?

NM : It is a bottomless cast iron basket that has become a runner-up. This can only be made with books today. It is made of the world's thinnest iron casting with a sand mold, and it has taken a lot of time and trial and error to realize it. Although it is not highly evaluated at the award, this is also a design that could be realized only in Japan.

Who is your favourite designer?

NM : It's Marcello Gandini. I was shocked by the number of supercars he designed in his childhood. He wants to meet somehow.

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

NM : My favorite and exciting cities are Tokyo and Milan. Milan is the second city where I studied and worked in design. On the other hand, Tokyo is one of the most creative cities. However, Japan, including Tokyo, is a land next to natural disasters. I think that one of the ways for Japan to survive is to constantly think about ways to deal with the dangers of natural disasters and to export that know-how to the world.

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

NM : I currently run my own company by myself. However, I am also in the design department of a global Japanese company. Here, you can add powerful technology to large organizational projects and proceed with designing. To be a good designer in the future, you need to have multiple careers and go back and forth between abstraction and reification to develop a multifaceted eye.

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

NM : There are famous architects and their members in Japan who support the disaster area. It can be said that this design was submitted to this award because of the same aspirations as them. For young designers and students who want to become designers, I think we can contribute in the form of lectures, workshops, and sometimes university lectures if necessary.

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

NM : Participating in well-known and prestigious awards and competitions such as the A'Design Award and being awarded a prestigious award has the following merits. 1. It has the power to appeal to people all over the world. 2. It can be said to be one of the shortest distances to receive a job. 3. You can keep your motivation and inspiration high. Even if it is anonymous, it is an important opportunity to find excellent designers.

Noriaki Mori Profile