Gu Wenmin

A: Modern Design Meets Traditional Craft: Toshiyuki Kita recommends this book, which discusses the integration of traditional industries with modern industrial design—using design to transform the circumstances traditional industries face in a changing era and redefine their value. The book explains that when Mr. Kita engages with traditional crafts, he first gains an in-depth understanding of the entire manufacturing process and the local cultural background. Only then can design and discussion lead to creations that embody the soul of the object. When design breathes life into traditional crafts, it creates a resonance and warmth between the craft and the product, allowing users to experience and appreciate the culture of local traditional industries and gain a deeper understanding of them.

For me, it is very important to develop an eye for understanding and discovering traditional crafts. This takes time, accumulated experience, and the ability to put ideas into action. The book reveals so much skill that I deeply admire. It shows how design can transform traditional crafts and reveal their new possibilities. When a product is meaningful and beautiful, combining design with functionality, its value is elevated to another level.

The part I find most interesting is watching how Mr. Kita challenges himself and carries out each real-world project: his interdisciplinary thinking, the fusion of Eastern and Western design, the warmth of craft products integrated into everyday life, and his forward-looking perspective on the value of traditional craftsmanship.