Interview with Takanao Todo
Takanao Todo is an architectural designer, ceramicist, lecturer and educator for supporting dyslexia in Japanese.
Designer of the Day Interview
20 October 2025
After graduating from Architectural Association School of Architecture in 2008, I have gained experience at France, Japan, and Singapore as an architectural designer. I have worked at Jean Nouvel, Tsuyoshi Tane, Lina Ghotmeh, Toyo Ito, Masaki Endo, DP Architects. I start to win architectural competition while staying at DP architects, which helps to build my career as a designer. Meanwhile, I began making ceramic from 2014 in Singapore under the ceramic master inheriting early studio pottery movement culture. I hold my first ceramic exhibition in 2016 collaborating with flower artist, Dan Takeda. It was a great turning point to become professional ceramicist ever since the exhibition. From 2019, I have moved to Thailand, Bangkok as an adjunct professor for teaching architecture / design at International Program in Design and Architecture (INDA), Chulalongkorn University.
Experiences in Architectural Association School of Architecture build my foundation of architectural / design thinking. Experiences in France thought me aesthetics in architecture. Experiences in Japan and Singapore thought me a practical skills. As an architectural designer, winning the competition in Spain, Logrono, Concentrico 03, 2017, was a great turning point, the first time I was able to crystalize my design idea into a physical form. Likewise for the ceramic, it was a great moment to hold the ceramic exhibition in 2016 with Dan Takeda at Japan Creative Center was a turning point to debut myself as a ceramicist. As I am broad in design expression, I believe that act of designing is all rooting back to a form of spatial design regardless of the scale.
1. I refrain designing until I get the concept and design. It is important for me to have a free time to gain some stimulations.
2. Design must be bold and direct. I try to communicate with wider audiences through accessible design.
3. Design is something withstand in time. Every work I do, I also involve after completion for the operations and maintenance.
2. Design must be bold and direct. I try to communicate with wider audiences through accessible design.
3. Design is something withstand in time. Every work I do, I also involve after completion for the operations and maintenance.
There must be a joy. Joy comes from when things are having tectonic. Tectonic as in an integration of concept, context, material, and structure.
Inspiration of design comes not necessary from same design genre. It is important for the designer to analyze the structure behind the design which can inform another shape of design. It is suggested to gain experience without prejudice to expose yourself to absorb other designs.
As I am an architectural designer, and ceramicist, I would like to develop seamless design from product to architecture integrating a sense of craft. I would like to examine my idea to design a single house with high level of freedom in design.
It is essential to test your idea in competitions. It is the best way to consolidate your idea, and learning who you are as a designer.
Good to find a team of talents or friends to collaborate with. There is always a limit for a single designer to complete something.
All the production should be done in the morning while my head is fresh. Especially, having a good matcha helps to make a good start of the day. Try to work less on complicated work later in a day. In a production, good music helps a lot.
Today, all the design has a great exposure across the world instantly. In a negative way, it makes design little banal. Thus, it is good NOT to follow as a way to keep a sense of uniqueness by acknowledge the trend.
The real great design has awesomeness. It derives from a communication with material, and fosters a kind of thrill. This is also supported with the fine proportion, and details.
Moment of completion is definitely the moment, as there is always a minor corrections and adjustment during making stage. But, as the design withstand in time, there is not real sense of completion, but only the process.
My recent work "Through the Looking Prism" is the project, I have been challenging over 20 years since 2004. It was the miraculous moment when the idea become real shape, it situates at the best location, and performs more than what I expected. This is definitely my masterpiece so far.
Shiro Kuramata whom really listens to what material wants to be in a magical way. There is a great sense of proportion, spatial arrangement, joy and playfulness in his design. Every work he does inspires me.
Me as Japanese living in abroad makes me aware of the uniqueness of traditional Japan. I discover many "eternal modernity" in Japanese culture. Practicing and spreading Japanese tea culture is one of my source of inspiration.
I work mostly on my own, but when necessary, I invite my ex-students to work with me. Besides, I do many collaborations with different expats open up and even develop the design potentiality.
As myself the first diagnosed Japanese dyslexia, it is important that I gain success to prove that Japanese dyslexia can gain success. I am also a director at the Non-profit organization for supporting dyslexia in Japan.
Meanwhile, me as Japanese in foreign country, there is a needs to spread the Japanese Design Concept correctly, as so many people misunderstand Japanese design, and copy by its visual appearance.
Meanwhile, me as Japanese in foreign country, there is a needs to spread the Japanese Design Concept correctly, as so many people misunderstand Japanese design, and copy by its visual appearance.
It is pleasing to receive the design award from Italy!
There are many designer I respect from Italy such as Carlo Scarpa, and Ettore Sottsass, so I feel proud to receive this award!
There are many designer I respect from Italy such as Carlo Scarpa, and Ettore Sottsass, so I feel proud to receive this award!
Interview about Koto Tea Space Cafe Design Interview
Design Legend Interview
20 October 2025
I am Japanese grow up in Tokyo. I have moved to the UK from the age of 15. I studied architecture in Architectural Association School of Architecture from 2002 to 2008, receiving AAdipl, and RIBA part2.
Receiving a letter from Tadao Ando was my original motivation to become a designer.
I enjoy something unexpected happen when people plays with my works, and how the structure grows in time.
I enjoy something unexpected happen when people plays with my works, and how the structure grows in time.
I tried many expressions, such as theater play, musician, story writer, and movie so on.
I also wanted to be philosopher, and archaeologist.
Being architectural designer and ceramicist can satisfy all, while I am best at testing various other expressions.
I also wanted to be philosopher, and archaeologist.
Being architectural designer and ceramicist can satisfy all, while I am best at testing various other expressions.
Architectural design, and ceramic design are the majority of my work.
I also do graphic works.
I would like to design something larger than interior or pavilions.
I also do graphic works.
I would like to design something larger than interior or pavilions.
Visit many good works, and best to utilize it.
good designer makes something good.
great designer makes something make people think.
great designer makes something make people think.
there must be something singular, and make us think
Good design helps people stop, think, and trying to interpret.
It is one of the best way to inherit human wisdom to the next generation.
It is one of the best way to inherit human wisdom to the next generation.
Make my own house or tea bowls.
It is always best to design it for my own.
It is always best to design it for my own.
I would love to design a house, in a wonderful landscape, without much constraint in requirement, regulation, and cost.
Learn proportion from the classic design
Shiro Kuramata, Kazuo Shinohara, Louis Kahn, Lucie Rie, Koetsu Honami, Furuta Oribe, and Sen Rikyu
Kimbell Museum by Louis Kahn, when I enter I couldn't move, and I just had to stand and keep silent until I can start to interpret the space.
"Through the Looking Prism" is my best work so far. It combines every essence of my design, and even went far beyond. I guess a great design departs from my hands and become something else.
Simply to aim to be the higher place by spontaneous challenges, and learning
I cannot live. I would find another form of design or art work.
Design offers joy and make you think
There are so many people believe in my talent, my mother, Peter Salter, my boss, so on
There was a luck, but the eureka.
The eureka helps to integrate ideas, and let me win the competitions.
The eureka helps to integrate ideas, and let me win the competitions.
Working under someone in practice was a pain.
I am not a kind of person who can perform under the boss.
I am not a kind of person who can perform under the boss.
Designer should present like poet, to share the beauty and quality.
Developing the prism pavilion in different scales.
My work to remain for another 1000 years, and gives inspiration to another generation
Design to make people think
By make people think of their own society in an novel way.
Challenging maximum potential of my idea
"Cada cuba huele al vino que tiene", as my debut work in Logrono, Spain. There were so many people involved in making. I love the way local people confront in front of the project for a long time, then start to interact. Pavilions are relocated to the winery after the event. It is one of the first great experience as a designer.
More opportunities for younger generations to challenge, and build with good payment.
More towards the crafts
depends on a scale, client, and budget.
Organize all the basic requirement first, then leave it for sometime until i get the inspiration.
believe in Eureka moment
Design sets the trend
Technology gives more choices in design, and we should be optimistic about it
Rhinoceros, illustrator, photoshop, in design, and premier pro
Color gives mood and function, material gives the modesty and touch, and ambient is the consequence.
I don't like questions...
experience first, and analyze it, then understand the structure, and apply when necessary.
I have already, fabricator (Duriflex), lighting designer (ambiguous), and landscape designer (awai).
Duriflex, the fabricator helps to think together for the best possible execution.
Objet Singular, by Jean Nouvel and jean baudrillard
Precision, and simplification
Furuta Oribe
They are not helping my recognition as much as I wished so far
Color = Navy Blue
Place = Hill
Food = Sushi
Season = Autumn
Thing = Lucie Rie Tea Bowl
Brand = Issey Miyake
Place = Hill
Food = Sushi
Season = Autumn
Thing = Lucie Rie Tea Bowl
Brand = Issey Miyake
during the construction, contractor made a mistake, because they did not check my drawings, but looked at the rendered images...
Drinking good matcha with my own tea bowl in the morning, and thinking of my ideas to be physicalized always excite me.
I enjoy making drawings, ceramics, models, so nothing different from what I do today.
as long as human survives, our body itself will not change so much, so i believe in "eternal modernity"
please visit and experience it
Designer Interview
20 October 2025
My origin began when I made a letter exchange with Tadao Ando. I sent him a question, and he replied me with a book and a letter saying, "Please find your answer by yourself". This was my primal confrontation to the design thinking. Since then, I am trying to find my own answer through design.
Takanao Todo Design provides various design service from architecture, ceramic to graphic design. The studio become active from 2019 onwards. It is a design studio collaborate with many expats to form more flexible formation of the team.
I do not design.
I develop singular concept for each project, which crystalized by the details.
My work is also a total work of art, from objects, events, interior, structure, to exterior.
Above all, there must be a joy thoroughly embedded within the project.
I develop singular concept for each project, which crystalized by the details.
My work is also a total work of art, from objects, events, interior, structure, to exterior.
Above all, there must be a joy thoroughly embedded within the project.
A total work of art with joy
Something that is beyond my understanding, which makes it difficult to interpret into a form of words. Examples chairs by Shiro Kuramata has beautiful proportion, and ephemeral appearance. When I sit on his chair, there is a kind of sensation like floating, or dream-like, but words are never enough to capture this sensation.
Pavilion @ ECO park in Bangalore, India, is my first major project by winning the competition. It is a pavilion located in the center of the new business park complex. The structure was made of hollow steel structure with stainless cables to suspend screens. This project gives me a good courage to stand up as an independent designer.
My favorite material is the ceramic. All outcomes look different, and I love the part that we cannot control it 100%, thus working with wild nature in material. I enjoy sharing design through various social network platforms. I also enjoy both cutting edge robotic technology in ceramic making to traditional firing technique. I am currently seeking for a way to combine these 2 together.
There is always a moment of eureka, or god of design, when I seek for the inspiration. It comes randomly. I try not to design unless I get this moment. And I try to have various kind of activities, like walking, swimming, visiting museums, watching movie, as I do not have a control in this eureka moment.
Material fabrication, and its assembly system
More joy, especially random people appreciate the outcome, and the best moment is when they use them in unexpected way!
Some level of the involvement from the client in making is essential.
This makes design withstand in time.
This makes design withstand in time.
In architecture, plan, then section must excite me. In ceramic, there must be a sense of rightness which avoid being boring.
Longlisting design, and this derives from the involvement of the users.
Digital tools, and robotics help to expand our expression, and we should be optimistic to these emerging technologies.
"Post Wabi" ceramic exhibition in Japan Creative Center in Singapore 2023 January. There will be another ceramic exhibition coming in June 2024 in Bangkok with the same title.
Every classic design is my inspirations. But, I also gain inspiration from other fields such as cuisine, movie, music, fashion, manga, anime, so on. Rather than relaxing, I always try to get different stimulations, which feed my ideas.
I am not sure about the style, critical regionalism could be close to what I do.
I love bold, simple, integrated, direct approach to the local unique context with narrative, while respecting the material as an expression. I would also like to make my design flexible, so that the users can determine how to interact with it.
I love bold, simple, integrated, direct approach to the local unique context with narrative, while respecting the material as an expression. I would also like to make my design flexible, so that the users can determine how to interact with it.
I am based in Bangkok. But, majority of my inspiration coming from Japan. Living in Bangkok helps to respect Japanese design legacy in an objective way. Bangkok is also a great place to actualize ideas with cheap labor and material, with many opportunities.
I only work with private client.
designer can do creative interpretation of the brand would be a good desinger.
After understanding the requirement, it needs some moment to get the right idea.
Depends on a type of the project, I gather appropriate team for the project.
Frequent visit to in progress work for deciding the details.
After completion, making frequent visit to make sure that projects are growing with the users.
Depends on a type of the project, I gather appropriate team for the project.
Frequent visit to in progress work for deciding the details.
After completion, making frequent visit to make sure that projects are growing with the users.
- Photography by Otsuji Seiji
- Tea Bowl by Lucie Rie in collaboration with Mingei Artist
- Bowl by Shoji Hamada
- Art work by Justine Lee with my tea bowl
- My own tea bowl
- Tea Bowl by Lucie Rie in collaboration with Mingei Artist
- Bowl by Shoji Hamada
- Art work by Justine Lee with my tea bowl
- My own tea bowl
Wake up around 0600am with Matcha at tatami floor
Take train to the workplace, while reading books by Haruki Murakami
Eating spicy lunch for stimulation.
Drink Sparkling Manao for refreshment after work.
45 minutes gym and swimming pool exercise.
Making simple fusion pasta for dinner.
Either work, watch movie, or reading.
Sleep around 2300pm
Take train to the workplace, while reading books by Haruki Murakami
Eating spicy lunch for stimulation.
Drink Sparkling Manao for refreshment after work.
45 minutes gym and swimming pool exercise.
Making simple fusion pasta for dinner.
Either work, watch movie, or reading.
Sleep around 2300pm
Build real experiences
Designer is a profession comes with joy.
Sometimes monetizing is not easy, thus good to do multiple works.
Sometimes monetizing is not easy, thus good to do multiple works.
It must be understood to majority of people at first glance, which I call it "direct approach"
inspiration, and physicalizing idea
most of sources are inside my head. Sketching, model making, and computer modelling helps to give some idea. Especially computer modelling with a good understanding of proportion, can be a strong tool to test ideas.
Take a good rest after a big work to prepare for the next one.
Depends on the scale, client, budget, so on...
not that I can think about...
Working at Jean Nouvel gave me many inspiring design concept such as "indication and seduction". His firm helped me to build my thinking a lot.
Tea enthusiast, Craftsman, and Ministry of culture
Small pavilions, which can examine the idea easily, and can change the way how people involve with the space. I also have a control in every detail including the afterlife of the pavilions.
Design something less ephemeral, such as designing small museum or a house with integration of crafts.
I always work with team. Especially lighting designer, and landscape designer.
The prism pavilion built for the Bangkok Design Week 2024, received a good media exposure. Client is asking to reconstruct this in Morocco.
Through email please
Interview about Through the Looking Prism Light Art Installation Grand Interview
Interview about Koto Tea Space Cafe Grand Interview