Interview with Takanao Todo

Takanao Todo ("TT") interviewed on Tuesday, 21 May.

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

TT : After graduating from Architectural Association School of Architecture in 2008, I have gained experience at France, Japan, and Singapore as an architectural designer. I have worked at Jean Nouvel, Tsuyoshi Tane, Lina Ghotmeh, Toyo Ito, Masaki Endo, DP Architects. I start to win architectural competition while staying at DP architects, which helps to build my career as a designer. Meanwhile, I began making ceramic from 2014 in Singapore under the ceramic master inheriting early studio pottery movement culture. I hold my first ceramic exhibition in 2016 collaborating with flower artist, Dan Takeda. It was a great turning point to become professional ceramicist ever since the exhibition. From 2019, I have moved to Thailand, Bangkok as an adjunct professor for teaching architecture / design at International Program in Design and Architecture (INDA), Chulalongkorn University.

How did you become a designer?

TT : Experiences in Architectural Association School of Architecture build my foundation of architectural / design thinking. Experiences in France thought me aesthetics in architecture. Experiences in Japan and Singapore thought me a practical skills. As an architectural designer, winning the competition in Spain, Logrono, Concentrico 03, 2017, was a great turning point, the first time I was able to crystalize my design idea into a physical form. Likewise for the ceramic, it was a great moment to hold the ceramic exhibition in 2016 with Dan Takeda at Japan Creative Center was a turning point to debut myself as a ceramicist. As I am broad in design expression, I believe that act of designing is all rooting back to a form of spatial design regardless of the scale.

What are your priorities, technique and style when designing?

TT : 1. I refrain designing until I get the concept and design. It is important for me to have a free time to gain some stimulations. It is the best way for me to get the eureka moment. 2. Design must be bold and direct. I try to communicate with wider audiences through accessible design. 3. Design is something withstand in time. Every work I do, I also involve after completion for the operations and maintenance.

Which emotions do you feel when designing?

TT : There must be a joy. Joy comes from when things are having tectonic. Tectonic as in an integration of concept, context, material, and structure.

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

TT : Inspiration of design comes not necessary from same design genre. It is important for the designer to analyze the structure behind the design which can inform another shape of design. It is suggested to gain experience without prejudice to expose yourself to absorb other designs.

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

TT : As I am an architectural designer, and ceramicist, I would like to develop seamless design from product to architecture integrating a sense of craft. I would like to examine my idea to design a single house with high level of freedom in design.

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

TT : It is essential to test your idea in competitions. It is the best way to consolidate your idea, and learning who you are as a designer.

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

TT : Good to find a team of talents or friends to collaborate with. There is always a limit for a single designer to complete something.

What is your day to day look like?

TT : All the production should be done in the morning while my head is fresh. Especially, having a good matcha helps to make a good start of the day. Try to work less on complicated work later in a day. In a production, good music helps a lot.

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

TT : Today, all the design has a great exposure across the world instantly. In a negative way, it makes design little banal. Thus, it is good NOT to follow as a way to keep a sense of uniqueness by acknowledge the trend.

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

TT : The real great design has awesomeness. It derives from a communication with material, and fosters a kind of thrill. This is also supported with the fine proportion, and details.

How do you decide if your design is ready?

TT : Moment of completion is definitely the moment, as there is always a minor corrections and adjustment during making stage. But, as the design withstand in time, there is not real sense of completion, but only the process.

What is your biggest design work?

TT : My recent work "Through the Looking Prism" is the project, I have been challenging over 20 years since 2004. It was the miraculous moment when the idea become real shape, it situates at the best location, and performs more than what I expected. This is definitely my masterpiece so far.

Who is your favourite designer?

TT : Shiro Kuramata whom really listens to what material wants to be in a magical way. There is a great sense of proportion, spatial arrangement, joy and playfulness in his design. Every work he does inspires me.

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

TT : Me as Japanese living in abroad makes me aware of the uniqueness of traditional Japan. I discover many "eternal modernity" in Japanese culture. Practicing and spreading Japanese tea culture is one of my source of inspiration.

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

TT : I work mostly on my own, but when necessary, I invite my ex-students to work with me. Besides, I do many collaborations with different expats open up and even develop the design potentiality.

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

TT : As myself the first diagnosed Japanese dyslexia, it is important that I gain success to prove that Japanese dyslexia can gain success. I am also a director at the Non-profit organization for supporting dyslexia in Japan. Meanwhile, me as Japanese in foreign country, there is a needs to spread the Japanese Design Concept correctly, as so many people misunderstand Japanese design, and copy by its visual appearance.

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

TT : It is pleasing to receive the design award from Italy! There are many designer I respect from Italy such as Carlo Scarpa, and Ettore Sottsass, so I feel proud to receive this award!

Takanao Todo Profile