Interviews with Takuya Wakizaki
Designer profileDesign Legend Interview
10 May 2022
After studying graphic design at university, I went on the way to advertising design.
However, I didn't feel that advertising design was good for people and society, so I moved to a wayfinding design studio to do more useful work for society.
First of all, I joined a studio that handles many wayfinding designs for public transportation and thoroughly learned the basics of wayfinding design.
After that, I moved to another studio and experienced wayfinding design in many genres such as commercial facilities, educational facilities, hospitals, offices, and training centers.
Feeling fully experienced, I founded the current MOTIVE Inc. in 2019.
However, I didn't feel that advertising design was good for people and society, so I moved to a wayfinding design studio to do more useful work for society.
First of all, I joined a studio that handles many wayfinding designs for public transportation and thoroughly learned the basics of wayfinding design.
After that, I moved to another studio and experienced wayfinding design in many genres such as commercial facilities, educational facilities, hospitals, offices, and training centers.
Feeling fully experienced, I founded the current MOTIVE Inc. in 2019.
I've always been dissatisfied with something since I was a kid. "Why is this tool so difficult to use?", "Why is this manual so confusing?", "Why aren't any T-shirts so nice?"
I didn't like myself, who was always frustrated in my heart.
When I was in high school, when I figured out what kind of job I wanted to get in the future, I thought that if I was so dissatisfied with society, I should change it myself, and decided to go on the way of design.
I didn't like myself, who was always frustrated in my heart.
When I was in high school, when I figured out what kind of job I wanted to get in the future, I thought that if I was so dissatisfied with society, I should change it myself, and decided to go on the way of design.
I chose to become a designer.
Wayfinding System.
I wish to design a wayfinding system in various countries and cities.
I wish to design a wayfinding system in various countries and cities.
I still don't think I've done anything enough to send advice.
I think it depends on how much they have contributed to society.
I think it is very difficult to evaluate a good design.
I think most design awards rely on photos and videos, but I think the value of a design is determined by how the user feels.
So I think it's very difficult to evaluate it.
I think most design awards rely on photos and videos, but I think the value of a design is determined by how the user feels.
So I think it's very difficult to evaluate it.
It might be like our dietary choice.
If you want to taste delicious food, you need to pay a certain amount. But I don't always want to eat at a fine dining restaurant, and sometimes I want to eat junk food.
Each person has their own budget. I think each person should choose what to eat according to their budget and mood at that time.
If you want to taste delicious food, you need to pay a certain amount. But I don't always want to eat at a fine dining restaurant, and sometimes I want to eat junk food.
Each person has their own budget. I think each person should choose what to eat according to their budget and mood at that time.
I want to work for a client who likes my design.
I'm a fan of FC Barcelona, a Spanish football club, so my dream is to design their stadium.
I also want someone to tell me the answer.
That's a secret.
That's a secret.
I worked on this work before the establishment of MOTIVE Inc., but I think the work called ANA Blue Base is my best.
I think that the characteristics of the space and the design concept are perfectly fused.
I think that the characteristics of the space and the design concept are perfectly fused.
I think it's all about working hard.
I want to become an educator and raise many children who contribute to society.
I think that design is an act of improving something.
That is the architects who asked me to work with.
That is also the architects who asked me to work with.
I'm not a design master.
I'm also worried about how to do that.
We are currently working on the design of a laboratory for a pharmaceutical company.
I am working hard to do a job that will be evaluated at the World Design Awards again.
I am working hard to do a job that will be evaluated at the World Design Awards again.
To contribute to the design of many cities around the world.
To contribute to society.
The world is made of design.
The clothes, roads and buildings are all designed by someone.
In other words, if the design is nice, the world will be nice.
The clothes, roads and buildings are all designed by someone.
In other words, if the design is nice, the world will be nice.
Overseas projects are often difficult, but the excitement outweighs them.
I worked on this work before the establishment of MOTIVE Inc., but I think the work called ANA Blue Base is my best.
I think that the characteristics of the space and the design concept are perfectly fused.
I think that the characteristics of the space and the design concept are perfectly fused.
Improving the social status of designers.
I don't know.
In my case, most projects are about two years old.
Start by analyzing the architectural space.
To contribute to society.
I don't know.
Save time and effort.
Adobe Illustrator
Impact on human emotions.
Function and intent.
Simple joy.
A partner who supports me in the technical aspects that I lack.
I don't know.
The Design of Everyday Things - Donald A. Norman -
I'm not a design master.
I want to meet Edison. I want to learn about his challenging spirit.
I need more international awards.
I like Barcelona, London and Amsterdam.
But all the cities I haven't visited yet, so I'll increase more in the future.
But all the cities I haven't visited yet, so I'll increase more in the future.
It is an interesting experience to be exposed to the ideas of owners in many industries through design.
Work hard with the user in mind.
No. I couldn't imagine becoming a designer.
I have no idea.
The possibility of Wayfinding System Design.
Grand Interview
6 November 2025 · Totetsu Training Institute Wayfinding System
I believe it's a fundamental principle that wayfinding design should smoothly guide users to their destination, and this should never be forgotten.I would also like to add that if a space can function without signage, that's even better.In fact, I am a wayfinding designer, but there are no toilet pictograms in my house. That's because even without pictograms, everyone in my family knows where the toilet is since it's our home.This has been a long introduction, but based on this fundamental principle, as a wayfinding designer, I look for weaknesses in the space to ensure users can move comfortably within it.This makes it clear which junctions should display arrows.Next, when displaying arrows, I consider whether there's a method specific to that building.The idea for the rails in this work, as mentioned above, was derived from a very simple process: understanding what the space demands from wayfinding design and how to meet those needs.
The client for this training centre, Totetsu Kogyo, is a general construction company specialising in railway construction. And, they handle everything from laying railway tracks to constructing general buildings. Therefore, we proposed combining a retaining wall and rails to concisely represent the client's business activities.While many companies perform railway construction and related businesses, there were surprisingly no examples of this kind of representation, which worked to my advantage.
Design and everyday life are inextricably linked. And I believe that users don't read and act on information as carefully as we designers expect them to. I am exploring wayfinding design that uses intuitive methods embedded in everyday life, so that users don't have to carefully read information.
Blind spots are typically spaces that "cannot be perceived," but in this work, I believe I made them "perceivable."
There was a gap between the original vision and the reality of the construction.While it's difficult to explain in detail, we made painstaking adjustments, consulting with the construction company about the limitations of the construction process and adapting accordingly while still preserving the original vision.
I have young daughters, and when we go for walks together, we make surprisingly diverse discoveries.When crossing a pedestrian crossing, they try to jump over the white stripes, and if there's a small curb, they climb on it and enjoy walking along it like a tightrope walker.I think this relates to the concept of affordance; certain stimuli have the property of eliciting certain behaviours.I strive to incorporate the concept of affordance into wayfinding design, and I believe I have demonstrated it in this work.
This applies not only to this particular work, but I believe that balancing practicality and beauty is a theme that is always required in design.Therefore, I didn't make any special efforts in this work.
I don't know the answer to that.However, I want to continue exploring wayfinding design not just in the design of the sign plate itself, but also in the entire space and the overall user experience.
Receiving recognition at a global design award has eliminated any doubts I had about the path I've taken and will take in the future, and has given me confidence.
I would like to reiterate the principle that design is not for the designer, but for the user.And I believe that conveying information concisely is more important than providing detailed information.
