CASE 2
PROFILE
Born in 1993 in Aichi , Japan. After graduating from the Graduate School of Design, Tokyo University of the Arts , he joined the design office "Cozfish". As an art director and graphic designer, he has been involved in numerous client works, including advertisements for "PARCO", designs for the magazine "SO-EN", and posters for the 50th anniversary of "Doraemon". He also creates and presents art books and other works on an individual basis, and will publish his own collection of works, "HAPPENING," in 2019. He became independent last year, and is now involved in all aspects of culture related to food, clothing, and shelter, with the motto of living a rich life.
. the importance of keeping the creative freedom that he developed in his previous work.
Famous art directors both in Japan and abroad have created a variety of advertisements that abound in the city. Among them, Asuka Wakita, a popular art director in her twenties, has attracted attention for her work on advertisements for companies and brands such as "PARCO," which are supported by highly sensitive people.
After graduating from the Tokyo University of the Arts, she studied design at the university and then went on to graduate school, where she was very enthusiastic about creating artwork. At Cozfish, which is known as a workplace that respects freedom, she quickly developed her talent, and has produced many works that are sympathetic to the times.
What was the turning point for Mr. Wakita, who has quickly become one of the most popular art directors in Japan? We asked him to reflect on his memories of his former job.
When I first joined PARCO, I was working as a designer like other employees, designing promotional materials for exhibitions, goods, books, and other book designs, but about six months later, I was asked by PARCO to take on art direction. That was the beginning of my involvement in various jobs as an art director, even though I was an employee of PARCO. Until then, there was no precedent for an employee to take on the role of art director, and I think it was a major turning point for both the company and myself.
Ms. Wakita is humbled by the experience of being selected for a major role, which brought her, previously unknown, to the attention of many people.
At the time, PARCO was actively hiring inexperienced art directors of my generation, and I think it was a time when they were giving young designers a chance. However, the way I approach my work now is largely due to the teachings of Mr. Sobue (President of Kozufish).
Even when I started working on projects in the position of art director, he gently watched over me without interfering, and even though it was client work, he was open-minded about the kind of expression I wanted and encouraged me to take that stance. I think it is this kind of respectful work environment that still guides me today.
. There was one more reason why she was able to transmit designs that were in demand of the times. It is the creation of extremely personal works of art that she has continued since her student days.
. "In 2019, I published a book of my work, "HAPPENING," which was actually based on a graduation project I did in college. At the time, when I first showed the book I had made to my teacher, he said it was too elaborate! Too much! So I completely redesigned 10 books and presented them at the graduation project exhibition. I received an award for this exhibition, and it led to my current job, so I am personally very attached to this work.
However, since all the work was done by hand, only 10 copies were made, and they sold out quickly. So, a few years later, I was very happy when STAIRS PRESS asked me if I would like to make a book that more people could get a copy of. I was very happy when I was asked by "STAIRS PRESS" a few years later if I would like to make the book available to more people. I feel once again that what I value and the basis of my work have not changed from when I was a student to now.
An anti-war charity piece for Ukraine, produced in collaboration with IBE, an online store for artwork that shares an office with the company , limited to 50 copies and now sold out .
. On the left is a dummy book that was created for his graduation project as a student and later became the basis for "HAPPENING. . On the right is "FIX MY EYES," the first art book that Mr. Wakita produced. Both of these books show the origin of Mr. Wakita's current style, and can be said to be the starting point of his work.
Ms. Wakita has received many offers from fashion-related magazines and brands. Naturally, he is also highly interested in fashion.
"When I work in the office, I basically wear T-shirts and other rough items, but I am rather concerned about the convenience of my everyday clothes, not only how pretty they look and how well they are designed, but also how easy they are to move around in, how easy they are to wash, and how wrinkle-resistant they are. . If I just like it, sometimes I don't. On holidays, when I often visit galleries with friends or hang out in grocery stores, I wear my favorite clothes that don't usually see the light of day.
Lastly, Ms. Wakita also wore a pair of "Boho Nomade" sandals. As the brand's concept states, these sandals are items that will be a part of an affluent future and familiar life, and they are also linked to Ms. Wakita's vision for the future.
. the design is very cute. As I wear indoor slippers at the office, I thought they would be a favorite item for me to wear at work as well. Also, I enjoy wearing them with socks. And as for the brand, I can relate to the attitude of actively employing women and the transparency of the production background and manufacturing process rooted in the SDGs, and I can wear them with confidence and peace of mind.
I myself have been doing a lot of work related to advertisements and exhibitions, but most of them disappear from the world after a certain period of time. Recently, however, I have come to think that I would like to create works that are more likely to remain with us in the future. I would like to do work that is more closely related to the culture of our daily lives and that will lead to the future. I feel good about Boho Nomade because there are many aspects of it that resonate with these ideas."
BODRUM ¥9,900 The classic rope sandals from Boho Nomad, the twin of HAWAII. They are also fully vegan and washable. The design securely wraps the entire foot, allowing the sandal to be worn over socks for a more stable and comfortable fit.
