Q.What is the most important thing when designing furniture?
A.Each brand has a different design approach, but they all have a unique style that is "everywhere, yet nowhere."
This is something I have been keeping in mind since I started designing at Aedicore.
A design that is too eccentric or over the top may look good at first, but it quickly becomes outdated.
The most important thing is to have a design that can be used for a long time. It is also important to consider what kind of design you would like to use.
Q. What is the process from design to completion as an actual product, and are there any notable episodes?
A.design:
Design is not a job where you sit at a desk and write with a pen.
Ideas come from everywhere, whether in your daily life, while traveling, or at work, and you can think of them wherever you are.
I accumulate these various ideas (like putting them in a small drawer) and use them based on the plan at the time,
I think it's okay to give it form.
Commercialization: Prototypes are important
I only make one prototype. I've heard that normally you make two, three, and so on until it's complete.
When creating the blueprints, we create drawings that are considered down to the millimeter and then decide on the form.
We go into the factory and work with craftsmen to create the final chamfering, the hardness of the seat, and the curve of the tension, which cannot be depicted on a blueprint.
The finished product is a highly refined prototype with almost no corrections needed.
The reason I do this is because I've been making furniture myself since high school, and it takes me a while to finish even a single chair.
It takes a lot of time and effort. I know how difficult it is, so I'm not responsible for any mistakes I made.
This is because we don't want craftsmen to reproduce the product using the terms "secondary prototype" and "tertiary prototype."
I think it would be frustrating if you worked so hard to create a product and then were simply told to fix this.
That's a big reason why I don't want to do that.
Q. Why do you insist on domestic production and what are its advantages?
A.Locally used items are local:
Now that it is possible to produce inexpensive products in China and Southeast Asia, many furniture manufacturers have begun selling products produced overseas.
It is important that the materials used for furniture are made with moisture content and methods that are suitable for the land.
For these reasons, I think that products made in Japan are better.
Also, we have the opportunity to have our products lovingly made by artisans in factories we can keep an eye on.
This is possible because it is produced domestically.
Creating safe products:
Furniture is something that people come into contact with in their homes. We want to sell products that are made with safe materials and in a clean environment.
It is only because we produce our products domestically that we are able to use certified materials, such as wood, plywood, adhesives, and urethane, produced in domestic factories.
Fair Relationship:
The workers in overseas factories that export cheap furniture to Japan work for wages that would not allow them to purchase the products sold in Japan.
I don't think that's fair. It's the seller's responsibility to ensure that the people who make our products can also use the same products.
I think it's true fair trade.
Selling products produced overseas means that we are the only ones selling them domestically and making a profit.
Domestically produced products are not only produced at the production factory.
This means that you can connect with a wide range of people in the fields of wood distribution, urethane foam, fabric, paint, packaging materials, etc., and earn a living through this work.
I believe that a healthy job can only be done when there is a 50/50 relationship between the makers and sellers.
The relationship between the customer and the manufacturer:
Our customers are the same.
Our professional customers are able to do their jobs because of our products, and beyond that, our end-user customers live their lives.
We have factories that manufacture our products and sell them to customers. We are able to have these horizontal connections because we produce domestically.
For each customer:
All our products are manufactured after receiving your order.
We have over 100 types of fabric (we can also produce with fabric you provide) and 18 paint colors to choose from.
Because we produce domestically, we can create products that are tailored to each individual customer.
Q. How do you choose the furniture you recommend?
A.Shop from a knowledgeable source:
Furniture is the item in your home that is closest to you, so it's important to choose it from a store where you can feel safe purchasing it.
A reliable store has staff who are knowledgeable about the products they sell.
You can't trust a store that sells products without knowing the structure, materials, or contents used.
A look behind the scenes:
Another way to tell a product apart is to look for products that have been made with care, even in the parts that cannot be seen.
It's hard to see from the outside, but a good example is the back of a table.
Since a table is a flat board, if the top and back are not manufactured under the same conditions, it will be prone to warping and defects.
A good table will have the same finish on the back as on the top.
A good table is one that has a nice finish when you rub the underside of it with your palm.
The same goes for chairs. It's best to have a carefully finished underside of the seat.
Solid objects:
When choosing products, you might choose a lightweight chair because it's easy to clean, or a lightweight sofa because it's easy to move around.
Many people choose these products without paying much attention to their intended use or durability.
I think that there are few well-made chairs that are light. JIS (Japanese Industrial Standards)
I hear that there are few chairs that have passed the strength tests set by the standards.
We only sell chairs that have passed JIS standard testing more than three times.
Q. What are the characteristics of your three brands and what are your key points?
A.(A-mode, AD CORE, NEO CLASSICO)
The three brands have the following characteristics:
"A-mode" is a furniture series inspired by the modern architecture of Los Angeles, USA.
It is a simple brand that focuses on materials and ease of use.
The design adds a touch of Californian relaxation.
This brand is not just a simplified space, but also adds a gentle sense of relaxation.
"AD CORE" is the first brand that is also the company name.
The brand is known for its sharp and edgy design style.
Advanced technology and thinking are condensed into a modern, understated design.
"NEO CLASSICO" is a brand that focuses on quality, avoiding gaudy decoration and making the most of the texture of the materials.
Rather than simply releasing a product, we created it with an image of the relationship between things and people.
We have created a series that allows you to experience the quality of tailoring, just like clothes made by tailor-made craftsmen using traditional techniques.
Brand philosophy
It's not just a difference in design, but a clear difference in thinking.
"AD CORE" is a brand that values the individuality of each product and does not want to bring other designs into the space.
For this reason, each product is given a name. "A-mode" and "NEO CLASSICO" are styles.
This is a brand that encourages you to create your interior design by combining products from across the brand.
For this reason, the two brands do not have names and the products are referred to by product numbers.
Q. What are your future directions and dreams?
A.AD CORE started out by designing individual products,
The brand "NEO CLASSICO" is an interior style, and "A-mode" is a brand that imagines lifestyles.
In the future, I would like to work in a job that creates a lifestyle.
I would like to be involved in everything related to lifestyle, not just interior design, but also fashion, food, etc.