Naoto Fukasawa
{{Short description|Japanese industrial designer}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Naoto Fukasawa
| image = Naoto Fukasawa.jpg
| native_name = 深澤 直人
| birth_date = {{Birth year and age|1956}}
| birth_place = Kōfu, Yamanashi Prefecture, Japan
| nationality = Japanese
| alma_mater = Tama Art University
| occupation = Industrial designer
| website = {{URL|naotofukasawa.com}}
}}
Naoto Fukasawa ({{Nihongo2|深澤 直人}}; born 1956) is a Japanese designer, author, and educator,{{Cite web|url=https://www.designboom.com/interviews/naoto-fukasawa-designboom-interview/|title=naoto fukasawa interview|date=2004-04-18|website=designboom|access-date=2019-01-25}} working in the fields of product and furniture design. He is known for his product design work with the Japanese retail company Muji, as well as collaborations with companies such as Herman Miller, Alessi, B&B Italia, Emeco, Magis, and HAY.{{cite news |title=The Pao collection of lamps is an exciting collaboration with designer Naoto Fukasawa – HAY |url=https://www.scandinaviandesign.com/%EF%BB%BFthe-pao-collection-of-lamps-is-an-exciting-collaboration-with-designer-naoto-fukasawa-hay/ |access-date=1 May 2022 |work=Scandinaviandesign.com |date=21 November 2020}}
File:Au W55SA INFOBAR2 20101109.jpg
File:Disign by Naoto Fukasawa 1.jpg by Fukasawa]]
Fukasawa has been described as one of the world's most influential designers.{{Cite web|url=http://images.businessweek.com/ss/10/02/0201_worlds_most_influential_designers/11.htm|title=World's Most Influential Designers|website=Bloomberg.com|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120903222040/http://images.businessweek.com/ss/10/02/0201_worlds_most_influential_designers/11.htm|archive-date=3 September 2012|url-status=dead|access-date=2019-01-25}}
Biography
Fukasawa was born in Kōfu, Yamanashi Prefecture, Japan in 1956. He studied product design at Tama Art University graduating in 1980.{{Cite web|title=Naoto Fukasawa, Lighting Designer Profile|url=https://www.lightology.com/index.php?module=designer&designer_id=448|access-date=2019-01-25|website=www.lightology.com}}{{Cite web|url=http://mydesignlife.com/objects/humidifier/|title=Antiques of the Future, Naoto Fukasawa|website=mydesignlife.com|language=en-US|access-date=2019-01-25}} After graduating, Fukasawa worked as a product developer at Seiko Epson until 1988, before joining the design firm ID Two, a predecessor to the design consulting firm IDEO in San Francisco, California, for whom he later established a Tokyo office in 1996.{{Cite web|title=Naoto Fukasawa|url=https://naotofukasawa.com/|access-date=2021-04-14|website=naotofukasawa.com|language=en}}{{Cite web|url=https://assembly.arksf.com/podcast/design-in-mind-naoto-fukasawa|title=DESIGN IN MIND: Naoto Fukasawa|date=2015-10-08|website=Arkitektura Assembly|language=en-US|access-date=2019-01-25}} During this time he collaborated with the English industrial designer Sam Hecht. In 2002, Fukasawa became a MUJI advisory board member, and worked on the development of many of their products.{{Cite web|title=Best Practice, Naoto Fukasawa, Product Design|url=https://en.red-dot.org/561+M59c6f0cdf94.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080208073155/https://en.red-dot.org/561+M59c6f0cdf94.html|archive-date=2008-02-08|access-date=2019-01-24|website=Red Dot}} After leaving IDEO, he established his own independent firm Naoto Fukasawa Design in 2003. In the same year, Fukasawa founded the "±0" (Plus Minus Zero) brand of household electrical appliances and household products, focused on the design of goods that are felt to be "just right".{{Cite web|date=2017-02-02|title=COMPANY OVERVIEW {{!}} プラスマイナスゼロ|url=https://www.plusminuszero.jp/about/en/|access-date=2021-04-14|language=ja}} In recent years, he has several Italian furniture companies including B&B Italia, Driade, Magis, Artemide, Danese, and Boffi, as well several in Germany and Northern Europe.
He is one of the co-directors of 21 21 DESIGN SIGHT, Japan's first design museum.{{cite web|url=http://artspacetokyo.com/artmaps/21_21_design_sight/|title=Art Space Tokyo|work=21_21 Design Sight: Tokyo Art Maps|access-date=2012-01-09}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.metropolismag.com/cda/story.php?artid=2687|title=Without Thought|last=Ashcraft|first=Brian|date=2007-05-01|website=Metropolis|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071005144151/http://www.metropolismag.com/cda/story.php?artid=2687|archive-date=2007-10-05|access-date=2019-01-24}}{{Cite web|url=http://www1.rfi.fr/actuen/articles/109/article_2636.asp|title=Japanese design comes of age|last=Prescott|first=Judith|date=2009-01-13|website=RFI|access-date=2019-01-25}} Since 2012, he has been the director of the Japan Folk Crafts Museum.
Since 2014, Fukasawa has taught Integrated Design at Tama Art University as a professor, and previously taught at Musashino Art University.
Many of his works are included in the permanent collection at the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) including, MUJI's Wall-mounted Compact Disc Player (1999), Neon Cellular Phone by KDDI Corporation (2005), and Infobar Cellular Phone by KDDI Corporation (2003).{{Cite web|url=https://www.moma.org/artists/27904|title=Naoto Fukasawa {{!}} MoMA|website=The Museum of Modern Art|language=en|access-date=2019-01-25}}
Design approach
File:Icon Design giugno 2018 copertina Mondadori.jpg
Naoto Fukasawa's design approach is centered around the relationship between design and behavior, using terms such as "design dissolving in behavior", "center of consciousness", "normality", "outline" and "archetype" to describe his work. His approach relies on observing how people act and react in their everyday, and finding solutions in these behaviors that link the design to the person. In his 2018 monograph, Fukasawa describes design as "attributing countenance to an object", in which the design is accompanied by the environment and the context.
Fukasawa coined the term "Without Thought" as a philosophy for how design can be found in people's unconscious behavior. Without Thought refers to how objects can feel important when seen for the first time, but only have their initial essence realized when being used. Ever since creating the term, Fukasawa has organized workshops to share his approach to other designers.
In 2006, Fukasawa curated the exhibition Super Normal together with English furniture designer Jasper Morrison to define "Super Normal", presenting 200 objects that were considered ordinary or to have been anonymously designed.{{Cite book|last=Bartal|first=Ory|url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/j.ctvzgb83c|title=Critical design in Japan: Material culture, luxury, and the avant-garde|date=2020|publisher=Manchester University Press|isbn=978-1-5261-3997-9|edition=1|pages=143|chapter=Mujirushi Ryohin and the absence of style|jstor=j.ctvzgb83c }} Items presented in the exhibition ranged from notable objects such as the Bialetti espresso maker to anonymously designed and mass produced objects such as disposable plastic plates. The term defines objects as being absent of identity, originality, and elements that leave an impression, leading to objects that appear ordinary. This design concept can be seen reflected in Fukasawa's work with Muji, where products are created with an anti-branding approach of not presenting any traits that characterize the object.
Select awards
Fukasawa has won over fifty awards, including the American IDEA Gold Award, the German iF Gold Award, the British D&AD Gold Award, the Mainichi Design Award and the 5th Oribe Award.
- 1991 – IDEA Gold Award {{Cite web|url=https://www.core77.com//posts/26995/Naoto-Fukasawa-Not-Just-Winning-Awards-Now-Hes-Designing-Them|title=Naoto Fukasawa Not Just Winning Awards—Now He's Designing Them|website=Core77|language=en|access-date=2019-01-25}}
- 1994 – Red Dot Design Award{{Cite web|url=https://www.awmagazin.de/designerlexikon/designer-architekten-mit-f/artikel/naoto-fukasawa|title=Naoto Fukasawa|date=2011-04-05|website=www.awmagazin.de|language=de|access-date=2019-01-25}}
- 1996 – iF Gold Award
- 2003 – Mainichi Design Prize
- 2005 – 5th Oribe Award
- 2007 – Honorary Royal Designer for Industry (Royal Society of Arts), Product Design{{Cite web |title=Royal Designers for Industry |url=https://royaldesignersforindustry.org/rdi/honorary |access-date=2025-03-04 |website=Royal Designers for Industry}}
- 2014 – Good Design award{{Cite web|url=https://www.core77.com//posts/27913/What-Are-the-G-Mark-and-Good-Design-Award|title=What Are the G-Mark and Good Design Award?|website=Core77|language=en|access-date=2019-01-25}}
- 2018 – Isamu Noguchi Award{{Cite web|url=https://www.metropolismag.com/design/naoto-fukasawa-embodiment-design-book/|title=Industrial Designer Naoto Fukasawa on His Creative Process|date=2018-03-19|website=Metropolis|language=en-US|access-date=2019-01-25}}
- 2024 – Design Excellence Award, Collab, Philadelphia Museum of Art{{Cite web |title=Collab announces the 2024 Design Excellence Award Recipient: Naoto Fukasawa |url=https://www.collabjournal.org/journal/i1xgwbxwdrjvamnu1496m9hrr2pfze |access-date=2025-03-04 |website=The Collab Journal |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Suqi |first=Rima |title=Naoto Fukasawa At The Philadelphia Museum Of Art |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/rimasuqi/2024/12/31/naoto-fukasawa-at-the-philadelphia-museum-of-art/ |access-date=2025-03-04 |website=Forbes}}
Select exhibitions
- 2006, Super Normal, curated by Jasper Morrison and Naoto Fukasawa at Axis Gallery, Tokyo, Japan{{Cite web|title=Jasper Morrison {{!}} Super Normal|url=https://jaspermorrison.com/exhibitions/2000-2009/super-normal|access-date=2021-04-14|website=jaspermorrison.com}}
- 2016–17, The Boundary between Kogei and Design at the 21st Century Museum of Contemporary art, Kanazawa{{Cite web|title=金沢21世紀美術館|url=https://www.kanazawa21.jp/data_list.php?g=81&d=153&lng=e|access-date=2021-04-14|website=金沢21世紀美術館|language=en}}
- 2024–25, Naoto Fukasawa: Things in Themselves, Philadelphia Museum of Art{{Cite web |title=Naoto Fukasawa: Things in Themselves |url=https://philamuseum.org/calendar/exhibition/naoto-fukasawa-things-themselves |access-date=2025-03-04 |website=Philadelphia Museum of Art}}{{Cite news |last=Perry |first=Francesca |date=2024-12-11 |title=Naoto Fukasawa: the ‘super normal’ hero’s new design show |url=https://www.ft.com/content/68f407b8-25f8-490e-8fe6-bcedbc40450b |access-date=2025-03-04 |work=Financial Times}}
Works
Naoto Fukasawa has consulted and designed for several companies, ranging from home appliance retailers to furniture manufacturers. Companies that he has designed for include:
{{columns-list|colwidth=20em|
- KDDI Corporation
- INFOBAR Cellular Phone, 2003
- INFOBAR 2 Cellular Phone, 2006{{Cite web|title=Naoto Fukasawa Design {{!}} INFOBAR 2|url=https://naotofukasawa.com/projects/393/|access-date=2021-04-14|website=naotofukasawa.com|language=en}}
- neon Cellular Phone, 2006{{Cite web|title=Naoto Fukasawa Design {{!}} neon|url=https://naotofukasawa.com/projects/399/|access-date=2021-04-14|website=naotofukasawa.com|language=en}}
- INFOBAR A03 Smartphone, 2015{{Cite web|title=Naoto Fukasawa Design {{!}} INFOBAR A03|url=https://naotofukasawa.com/projects/396/|access-date=2021-04-14|website=naotofukasawa.com|language=en}}
- ±0 (Plus Minus Zero)
- A Light with a Dish, 2003{{Cite web|title=Naoto Fukasawa Design {{!}} A Light with a Dish|url=https://naotofukasawa.com/projects/354/|access-date=2021-04-14|website=naotofukasawa.com|language=en}}
- Wire frame Houseware, 2010{{Cite web|title=Naoto Fukasawa Design {{!}} Egg Carton, Wire Basket, Toast Stand|url=https://naotofukasawa.com/projects/361/|access-date=2021-04-14|website=naotofukasawa.com|language=en}}
- Toaster, 2007{{Cite web|title=Naoto Fukasawa Design {{!}} Toaster|url=https://naotofukasawa.com/projects/371/|access-date=2021-04-14|website=naotofukasawa.com|language=en}}
- Muji
- Wall-mounted CD player, 1999{{cite web|author=Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum|title=Muji Wall-mounted CD Player, designed 1999; manufactured 2013|url=https://collection.cooperhewitt.org/objects/35520927/|publisher=Smithsonian Institution|accessdate=14 April 2021}}
- Refrigerator, 2014{{Cite web|title=Naoto Fukasawa Design {{!}} Refrigerator|url=https://naotofukasawa.com/projects/530/|access-date=2021-04-14|website=naotofukasawa.com|language=en}}
- Electric Kettle, 2014{{Cite web|title=Naoto Fukasawa Design {{!}} Electric Kettle|url=https://naotofukasawa.com/projects/516/|access-date=2021-04-14|website=naotofukasawa.com|language=en}}
- Rice Cooker, 2014{{Cite web|title=Naoto Fukasawa Design {{!}} Rice Cooker|url=https://naotofukasawa.com/projects/532/|access-date=2021-04-14|website=naotofukasawa.com|language=en}}
- Samsung
- N310 Netbook, 2009{{Cite web|title=Naoto Fukasawa Design {{!}} N310, notebook PC|url=http://naotofukasawa.com/projects/561/|access-date=2021-04-14|website=naotofukasawa.com|language=en}}
- Multi Xpress7 Color Printer, 2015{{Cite web|title=Naoto Fukasawa Design {{!}} Multi Xpress7, Multi-function Color Printer|url=http://naotofukasawa.com/projects/560/|access-date=2021-04-14|website=naotofukasawa.com|language=en}}
- Maruni
- Hiroshima Furniture Collection, 2010–2016{{Cite web|last=Maruni Wood Industry|title=Hiroshima|url=https://www.maruni.com/en/product/concept/hiroshima/|access-date=April 14, 2021|website=}}
- B&B Italia
- Belle and Bull, Chair and Table, 2018{{Cite web|date=2018-04-17|title=Table Bull -B&B Italia – Design of Naoto Fukasawa|url=https://www.bebitalia.com/en/table-bull|access-date=2021-04-14|website=B&B Italia|language=en}}{{Cite web|date=2018-04-17|title=Chair Belle -B&B Italia – Design of Naoto Fukasawa|url=https://www.bebitalia.com/en/chair-belle|access-date=2021-04-14|website=B&B Italia|language=en}}
- HAY
- Pao lamp series{{cite web |title=Naoto Fukusawa |url=https://hay.dk/en-us/shared/designers/naoto-fukasawa |website=HAY |access-date=1 May 2022}}
- realme
- realme GT Master Edition{{cite web|title=Here's the first look at Naoto Fukasawa designed Realme GT Master Edition|url=https://www.pinkvilla.com/tech/news/here-s-the-first-look-at-naoto-fukasawa-designed-realme-gt-master-edition-813658|website=Pinkvilla}}
- realme GT 2
- realme GT 2 Pro{{cite web|title=realme GT 2 Pro – Designed by Naoto Fukasawa|url=https://c.realme.com/in/post-details/1510176349048885248|website=Realme}}
}}
Publications
- {{Cite book|title=Naoto Fukasawa: Embodiment|last=Fukasawa|first=Naoto|publisher=Phaidon Press|year=2018|isbn=9780714876078}}
- {{Cite book|title=Naoto Fukasawa|last=Fukasawa|first=Naoto|publisher=Phaidon Press|year=2014|isbn=978-0714866031}}
- {{Cite book|title=An Outline of Design|last=Fukasawa|first=Naoto|publisher=TOTO Shuppan|year=2005|location=Japan}}
- {{Cite book|title=The Ecological Approach to Design|last1=Fukasawa|first1=Naoto|last2=Goto|first2=Takeshi|last3=Sasak|first3=Masato|publisher=Tokyo Shosek|year=2004|location=Japan}}
Gallery
Muji NYC inside CD players.jpg|Wall-mounted CD player for Muji
Twentieth Anniversary Macintosh.jpg|Twentieth Anniversary Macintosh for Apple
Au CDMA 1X WIN W42T neon mizuiro.jpg|neon (Phone)
Info.bar prototype.jpg|INFOBAR (Phone)
INFOBAR C01.jpg|INFOBAR C01 (Phone)
File:Au W55SA INFOBAR2 20101109.jpg|INFOBAR 2 (Phone)
File:IS01 open.JPG|IS01 (Smartbook)
References
{{reflist|30em}}
External links
{{Commons category|Naoto Fukasawa}}
- [https://naotofukasawa.com/ Naoto Fukasawa Design]
- [https://www.instagram.com/naoto_fukasawa_design_ltd/ NAOTO FUKASAWA DESIGN LTD.] (naoto_fukasawa_design_ltd) – Instagram
- [https://www.plusminuszero.jp/about/en/ ±0 (PLUS MINUS ZERO)]
- [http://www.bonluxat.com/d/naoto-fukasawa.html Naoto Fukasawa Furniture Designs]
- [http://www.designboom.com/eng/interview/fukasawa.html Naoto Fukasawa – Interview]
- [http://www.rfi.fr/actuen/articles/109/article_2636.asp Radio France International feature on Japanese design in the 21st century]
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Fukasawa, Naoto}}