Kazushige MIYAKE is the designer who considered the idea and project of “Luxury Driving Life” with Kiwakoto from very first. What kind of desires would be asked in car driving, and how to meet exact implementation requirements from traditional crafts? He went to the workshop many times, repeating the trial manufacture, until the release of our products. And this time, we want to talk about how does design relate to traditional crafts.

Yoshimura:
What you considered about the car driving and traditional crafts when you heard it in the begging?

Miyake:
Both of them are in the conversion period. The automotive is changing by new energy and A.I. technology, and the traditional crafts are also changing by the market’s requirements and the structure of crafts system. I thought it would be interesting if they could match each other.

Yoshimura:
Yes, both of them are asked to change quickly by the changing of lifestyle and the development of technology. Did you have something to worry about while developing the products by traditional crafts?

Miyake:
I worried about how to express the “value” of the traditional crafts. In the past, traditional crafts were making objects those were rooted in daily life. But now a lot of them became luxury goods. Due to the present situation, I must consider what is traditional crafts in modern time, not from the position of creator, but the position of who will “buy and use” them.

Yoshimura:
I think it’s complete different from the MUJIRUSHIRYOHIN or the ±0 household appliances field which you participate in the design.

Miyake:
Certainly, it is a fact that the manufacturing method is different between the mass production like the electric appliances and the traditional crafts, but it is same in the viewpoint of “telling the value of the product to the customer” as the axis of the design. By the reason, I think design it is not only a simple information or technology on the surface, but one thing what you must try hard to dig and find out its true value.

Yoshimura:
The axis of design and the value digging process, the industrial products and traditional crafts are same in those points.

Miyake:
Yes. The field of traditional crafts is changing, it’s not only the power of technology or the charm you can see on the surface. It’s “value” (or faith) what people seek, and the value makes design indispensable. And for this, the chances for design is increasing.

Yoshimura:
Are there any tasks for traditional industries when you look at other industries?

Miyake:
I just said that manufacturing method is different between industrial products and traditional crafts, so the handmade products might be asked how to communicate value to customers. Not the simple value of perform well and convenience, but the nice design and the value of handmade must be communicated to customers. The charming point is, the handmade products are able to provide the value of humanity. However, the steps of manufacturing process are not consistent, it is a complex process, the manufacturing is divided by steps. In my opinion, if we can’t unify the wishes of all relevant producers, we can’t produce good products. Therefore, it is important to unify our opinions more closely.

Yoshimura:
What is the “design” that people pursue in nowadays?

Miyake:
I think is the design which can express its value thoroughly. The design should not be only a product made by the creator’s consideration, and it should understand the demands of buying and using side, and it is possible to connect the value of the creator’s worth.

Yoshimura:
Did you see the finished products lined up in showroom?

Miyake:
Showroom is a place where customers and products can meet each other. I wish it’s not a place that the work accomplished, but a place to collect the voices from customers and improve the design.

Yoshimura:
Please tell me about the “luxury driving life” in your imagination.

Miyake:
Certainly, driving an expensive car to enjoy the special space and make a good mood is a kind of luxury. But if can put your favorite things in the special space, the atmosphere of the car space will be changed, the mood will become high… I think it’ll be a very extravagant moment. People’s feelings change little by little with the times. “Luxury” also changes with the changes of the times.

Yoshimura:
Although traditional craftsmanship has a classical impression, but it was also a leading thing in the past. With the impression of that era, how to change and continue to convey value is very important for the brand as a reflection of luxury lifestyle. Thank you very much today.