We had the distinct pleasure to interview award winning designer Mitsunori Yamase about their original and creative Cutlery design work. Mitsunori Yamase is an award-winning industrial designer, that makes our world a better place with their original cutlery works.
Mitsunori Yamase ("MY") answered Design Interview ("DI") questions about their award-winning work Sumu Series Cutlery. Interview questions prepared by Frank Scott.
MY : It’s a coexistence of diversity and universality.
MY : I tried to achieve to realize the ease of use and unobtrusive beauty.
MY : I will continue to design steadily like before.
MY : It took a couple of days.
MY : I met this zirconia material by commission, then I interpret and struggled so that Zirconia could gain a new position in this world.
MY : The design is my part. The production and the sales belong to ZIKICO INC.
MY : I designed it to be the shape and expression that I want to use in my daily life.
MY : Nothing particular.
MY : The most outstanding feature of zirconia, the "non-allergen," will bring the gospel to people with metal allergies. In addition, It does not elute metal ions, so It does not harm the taste of the dish, it must be appreciated by chefs and users who are pursuing the taste of the dish.
MY : At present, only ZIKICO INC can produce zirconia in delicate shapes like cutlery.
MY : SUMU was named by multiplying the sounds of Japanese words “purify itself” and “Live”. The aim of this product series is to live together for a long time with the tool that have the characteristic of Zirconia, which is the purity.
MY : I sketched with iPad and drew with 3D CAD.
MY : Even it is made of Zirconia, the price of this product is not in the luxury category but it’s in the middle standard.
MY : With the development member of ZIKICO INC.
MY : This product has been realized because the member of ZIKICO INC has spent ten years on Research and Development.
MY : We repeated the trial productions. We repeatedly tried whether it was comfortable for our members to use and commercialized.
MY : That was how to generalize Zirconia, since it is the unknown material generally. My answer was “Purity” as it was the summary of the three features of Zirconia describes this product. In addition, both the engineers and I had a hard time as we had to rework over and over again, even I proceeded the design process carefully by learning the features and limitations of the material since it was the first time to work with this material.
MY : It was a favor of CEO of ZIKICO INC.
MY : I appreciate the value of the relationships that I am able to work with my team in unknown areas.
MY : I am proud that this product is pioneering of Zirconia. As Coca-Cola is initially distributed as a medicine and is now being consumed worldwide, this product also initially start from a special market such as a non-allergen product, but after a few decades zirconia is going to be a common worldwide product.
