In this presentation at Design Indaba Conference 2014, industrial designer Naoto Fukusawa fleshes out his approach to product design, preferring to see it as a version of “interaction design” with objects as the interfaces.
The Japanese designer, described by Bloomberg Business Week as one of the world’s most influential designers, is most popularly known for his minimalist designs for “no-brand” Japanese brand Muji. He has designed mobile phones and CD players, household electrical appliances and architectural products, furniture, lighting and even fashion.
His approach has always emphasised the importance of an object or design integrating seamlessly with its surroundings. But it’s a shift that he observes in the design world as a whole, which is becoming more and more interconnected.
For design to naturally and inevitably interact with our environment, it must take its cues from the human body. “If you ask your body, your body is more honest than your mind,” he states. “That’s why we focus on your body when we make a design.”
People tell him all the time his products look like they have seen them before. He prefers to see it another way. “My product is already in your mind but you have not seen it yet.”
This year for the first time, the Design Indaba Conference talks make their premiere on our app, conveniently packaged in one place and available for free download. To watch Naoto Fukusawa's full conference talk download the app here or keep watching designindaba.com for updates.
Watch the Talk with Naoto Fukasawa
