Product designer★How to live in Seiichiro Hemijiro Vol.2

Reboot! INDUSTRIA★Launching a brand

N：INDUSTRIA★Please tell us about the brand.

Han: We chose the name to reflect our spirit of continuing to walk the path of industrial design.

N:★What does it mean?

Han: If it's just INDUSTRIA, it will be read as text, but★By adding , it will be recognized as a mark. INDUSTRIA★Aiming to grow as an icon and become established★I marked it.

N: What are the policies and philosophy of the new company?

Han: Nothing has changed from A&A. It's good to have something cool to carry around or wear on your body. However, I believe that cool things can be created by thoroughly pursuing functionality, rather than creating a cool design. There's a difference between something cool and something cool.

N: It's functionally beautiful. On the other hand, I thought it could be said that the tackyness that is backed by functionality becomes more beautiful over time. Are there any others?

Han: We are particular about products made in Japan.

N: The fact that the brand tagline says "Made in Japan" shows this commitment, but I think the quality of products made overseas has gotten much better recently. Are you still not satisfied with the half-pile quality?

Han: Yes, especially the details. But even more than that, the products I work on don't just end with handing over the drawings to the factory; it's important to interact with the craftsmen and create them together. So now I'm making it together with the craftsmen from my time at A&A. With everyone shifting to overseas production, I wanted to create a place where they could demonstrate their skills.

N: I see. It's a product created through close communication with the craftsmen. However, the cost will be quite high.

Half: That's right. Therefore, we launched a second brand ``IND2'' in collaboration with Hakuba Photo Industry. I did the design, and the production took place at Hakuba's overseas factory.

 Also included in the collaboration brand IND= with Hakuba Photo Industry.★is attached

N: That's where you clearly differentiate your brand. I also get the impression that Mr. Hankui is constantly making prototypes while listening to the requests of photographers.

Han: When I hear the real demands of the field, I find myself wanting to respond without doing business (lol).

Waterproof strap made as a prototype based on Tetsuro Shimizu's request Inner case with lid made as a prototype based on Taichi Osawa's request

N: I also work on fountain pen cases.

Han: We thought that the functional design and high-quality manufacturing could be used in other genres as well, so we commercialized it, and it's been sold consistently at major grocery stores. The small storage ingenuity has been praised.

Seiichiro Hankui’s path to industrial design

N: Please tell us about future developments.

Han: I am preparing to make various design proposals with my junior designers. For example, bungee straps. This structure is often used as a gun strap, and we have already obtained a utility model patent for it. It's sturdy, lightweight, and has cushioning properties, so we think it could be used not only for backpacks and straps, but also for strollers and chairs.

N: Looks like it could be used for nursing care and camping supplies! I heard that there are some interesting materials?

Half: We are currently considering whether industrial hard felt could be used for something.

N: So there's a lot of material for ideas.

 Bungee strap (utility model patented)

Han: In any case, I have the most fun when I'm faced with something like this and am able to brainstorm ideas with my fellow young designers. Also, recently I have been receiving more and more inquiries about custom-made products, from prototyping to mass production. It's a fun job to listen to the client's needs, make various proposals, and bring them to fruition.

N: Nowadays, there are various places to connect ideas and users, such as crowdfunding and showrooms for beta products, so it might be interesting to use such platforms to commercialize products.

(Left) Equipment case made to order from a rental equipment company.
(Right) A prototype terminal case made at the request of a equipment company for a certain national defense organization.

Han: Yes, I have experienced many different things, but I think the reason I have been able to continue working this far is because I truly love product design. Now, I'm feeling it again.
I will continue to do my best, so thank you for your support!

INDUSTRIA★H P
https://industriatokyo.com/
HANGUI official photo site
http://hangui.tokyo/

Interview postscript

He's honest and clumsy, but he has a lot of hidden energy. I felt that kind of personality while listening to his story. I absolutely love industrial design. Believing that coolness comes from ease of use, we continue to design half-piled products today. The longer you use it, the more you will continue to develop something that feels like a part of your body.

 

 

Interview & writing Tomohiro Noguchi
Photography: Kaoru Kobayashi