Interview with Koji Sato

I believe that design is a form of communication.
I work for the joy of connecting with others through self-expression or the expression of a company.

I had an inherent desire for self-expression, so I naturally found my way into the world of design.

I love designs that can be held in the hand, like a physical product. In a sense, the people who choose my designs are my friends.

I believe that by maintaining a passion for design, I can move closer to that goal.

In my opinion, great designers make the world a better place—or something like that?

Everyone has their own taste in design. Yet, great design may require honesty.

Great design brings people joy. It might even be a source of the joy of living.

It’s difficult to come up with things to design on my own.
I do make things I need in my daily life using a 3D printer or similar tools as the need arises, though.

Every design project is a dream project.

Discovering one's own identity or that of a company.

I like Arata Isozaki, partly because we share the same birthplace. Beyond his own designs, he discovered many of today's architectural masters, such as Tadao Ando and Zaha Hadid.

If you look at the desk, there’s a BrAun 4748AB5 clock (designed by Dieter Rams). I wonder if it’s because of its good balance?

When asked, the first thing that came to mind was the Washlet; it washes my bottom with water every time.

What is it, exactly? It is important to be aware of the hidden essence.

Novelists, film directors, and the like.

It’s about communication. Everyone converses through design.

I needed my family's understanding.

A gaze turned inward.

Financial obstacles still remain...

In the field of product design, this would be a new product launch.

The closest match is 3D computer graphics work.

For the product designs I create to spread widely.

The enjoyment and joy found in design.

I believe it is possible to bring small joys to life.

It takes time, but the moment when a product design is successfully readied for mass production.

Project Name: CrossPOD – Winner of the A' Design Award.

I hope that designers will continue to create excellent designs in the future.

The emergence of AI is having a major impact. The situation is unpredictable.

In the case of product design, it takes about three to five years.

Since I am also responsible for mechanical design, I create a rough concept and then iteratively refine the details by toggling back and forth between the external appearance and the internal mechanisms to improve precision.

Design with fun.

Designs of the past create trends, while designs that differentiate themselves from them create new ones.

Technology across various stages serves as a major driving force for product design.

3DCAD:Inventor, 2DCAD:AutoCAD, 3DCG:3dsMax

It is a crucial element for building texture.

What did you focus on with this design?

It's a shame I didn't make it myself.

I really do prefer being alone.

I have learned everything from what I have heard and experienced since birth, so I do not know who it is.
If I had to name someone, perhaps it would be Isaac Newton.

Haruki Murakami

I have simply handled each task one by one.

Albert Einstein

I am happy to be recognized with an award, but I am not famous—not by a long shot.

I like spending time in my home office.

Mistakes in mechanical design can lead to serious consequences. I am extremely careful throughout the design process.

I guess it would be being able to attend the 2026 A' Gala Night?

I had the desire, but I never even imagined it.

In the mere 250 years since harnessing energy during the Industrial Revolution, humanity has made rapid strides. With that pace accelerating further, perhaps no one can even imagine what we will look like a thousand years from now.

Koji Sato, Product Designer. I look forward to working with you.

I am a freelance professional working independently.
I handle a wide range of design-related work, including graphics, 3DCG, product design, and mechanical design.

It is the interaction between people—in other words, communication.

No matter the type of work, I feel a sense of joy when the design surpasses a certain standard.

I like product design.
The things we touch with our hands.

It is a mechanical design and mechanism design..

I excel at conceptualizing designs and bringing them to life through mechanisms using components made of materials such as metal and resin.

I believe I was able to be creative when I cleared the hurdles I had set for myself.

I am mindful of the imagery of balance and the flow of energy.

I have the sensation of delving into the depths of myself and picking something up.

Of course, it makes me feel happy.

It is about being mindful of the audience or subject matter that lies beyond the design itself.

Will it be useful to people?

All work exists to serve society.
I believe that designers are expected to bring happiness to people through their designs.

The field of design is being significantly impacted by AI.
We must leverage this new tool to focus our creative efforts on the conceptual aspects of our work.

2023 Red Dot Design Museum Singapore, Marina Bay.
Future dates are yet to be determined.

I don't consciously focus on it, but I believe that everything I see and hear—whether it's graphic design, architecture, products, or music—serves as a source of design inspiration.

I like a style that is minimal, but not *too* minimal.
I believe that design is communication.

I was born and raised in Japan.
In Japan, a sense of elegance found within restraint has long been considered a virtue.
There is also a cultural appreciation for simple, two-dimensional beauty, as seen in ukiyo-e.
In today’s globalized world, these traditional values ​​are evolving through a hybrid fusion with influences from other cultures.
I hope that through my work, people can sense the traditional culture of my home country within a contemporary design aesthetic.

It varies from case to case, but I am usually commissioned to handle both the visual design and the mechanical design.

When collaborating with a company, it is essential to understand and express its corporate identity.
To that end, I believe that having the company and the designer aligned in their values ​​is a prerequisite for creating something truly excellent.

I start with a rough sketch and gradually refine the details, just as anyone would.
Finally, I complete the visualization using 3DCG.
Since I handle both product design and mechanical design, I shape the concept by moving back and forth between the two disciplines.

BRAUN AB5 analog table clock,
HP workstation,
MUJI compact calculator,
Rotring Tikky Vintage mechanical pencil,

From the time I wake up until I go to bed, I spend my time happily at the office, except for meals and baths.

Please remain persistent in what you hope for.
Eventually, things will move in the direction you want to go.

The upside is that it's fun.
The downside is that it's painful.
It is a profession that is both painful and fun.

I’ll keep at it until I’m satisfied.

Understand my own Aesthetic sense nad values.

AutoCAD, 3ds Max, Inventor, Illustrator, Photoshop, After Effects
HP workstation, three 30-inch monitors

I am working endlessly in an environment I love.
It is both work and play.

It depends on the situation.
It takes anywhere from a few months to several years to create the product.

Do you do all the work by yourself?

This is a product called CrossPOD.

These include small and medium-sized manufacturers.

I work in product design.
I love things I can hold in my hands.

First of all, I plan to spread the word about CrossPOD to a wide audience.

I tend to handle everything myself—including product design, mechanical design, manufacturing, 3DCG, graphics, and logo design.

It's a secret until it's finished.

Please send an email first.

A product is an expression of the person who makes it and the person who uses it.
I believe that products create connections.