This is a report on Tokujin Yoshioka
This is a report on Tokujin Yoshioka, this report will cover trademarks of the designer and some of his greatest workpieces.
Born in Saga Prefecture, Japan in 1967. Tokujin Yoshioka graduated from Kuwasawa Design School, Tokyo in 1986, studied under designers, Shiro Kuramata and Issey Miyake. His works are well-recognised globally, gaining recognition and has won many design awards internationally with a handful of his workpieces chosen as part of many permanent collections in museums around the world. He was also chosen by Newsweek magazine as the top 100 Most Respected Japanese in the World.
TRADEMARK OF DESIGNER
Tokujin Yoshioka is known for the simplicity and originality of his ideas and holistic approach to design. He is famed for his excellent work and amazing appreciation of light as a design material, he often uses optical media such as fibre optics, light installations and reflective-transparent materials. He uses common materials with such a creative approach that it brings out an entirely new experience for the user.
The most noteworthy part of his works/creations is their graceful, light and surreal quality. All his works are the results of hours of complex research on variety of material, combined with experimental technology and inspiration from the nature.
GREATEST WORKPIECES
Prismatic Cloud is a sculptural work made of light, unique perceptions of shape by
giving a figure to all human senses making
use of immaterialistic elements
‘Prismatic Cloud’ in 2000
An installation with 17,700 transparent
rods are hung from the ceiling
The inspiration for the ‘Pane Chair’ came when
Tokujin Yoshioka came across the article about polyester
elastomer and was especially interested about the fibrous
structures of the material, thus started to study the material
and experiment by himself and came up with the
“Pane Chair” during the process
‘Pane Chair’ in 2003
made of a translucent spongy material called
polyester elastomer
DESIGN PROCESS
Tokujin Yoshioka describes that the project development
closely resembled cookery because throughout the different
stages he had to try different ‘ingredients’ and do a lot of
‘oven baking’ before he got the suitable recipe.
The polyester fibres that are treated to become the chair’s material and structure
Steps in preparing the material for oven baking,
which will give the chair its ultimate form
The ‘Honey-pop chair’ is a complex work of
origami, supported completely by hexagons made
out of more than 120 layers of paper glued together.
The cell-like paper construction allows light and
air to penetrate into the chair. It is able to adjusts
to the shape of the person sitting on it.
‘Honey-pop chair’ is the blend of ancient and
21st century technology
‘Honey-pop chair’ in 2001
made of the type of paper that
is used in Chinese lanterns
DESIGN INFLUENCES
Many of Tokujin Yoshioka’s works are heavily influenced by Japan, painter Henri Matisse and the nature.
EXAMPLES
“Blossom Stool” in 2016 “Water Block” in 2002
Collaboration work with Louis Vuitton Renovation project of musée d’orsay, Paris
REPRESENTATIVE WORKS
Started in 2001, Chairs made of natural structure
‘Honey-pop chair’ ‘Pane Chair’ ‘Venus – Natural crystal chair’
in 2001 in 2003 in 2008
Started in 2002, Glass projects
‘KOU-AN – Glass Tea House’ ‘Chair that disappears in the rain’ ‘Water Block-KATANA’
in 2015 in 2002 in 2017
AWARDS
Tokujin Yoshioka has won many international awards, including Design Miami Designer of 2007, which is presented to a designer who has made the great contributions to the design community globally, Elle Deco International Design Awards in 2016 and Milano Design Award 2017 in Italy
‘Good Design Award – Gold prize’ in 2007 (Japan)
‘Design Miami – Designer of the Year’ in 2007 (USA)
To recognize a prominent designer, whose work demonstrates excellence, uniqueness, and inspiration, pushing the limitations in all forms arts and design
‘ELLE DECO International Design Awards – Designer of the Year’ in 2009 (Italy)
‘Maison & Objet – Creator of the Year’ in 2012 (France)
‘Milano Design Award – Winner’ in 2017 (Italy)
To recognize the most unique experiences presented to the visitor and identify the aesthetic expressions that best interprets a contemporary design and a future conceptual vision
CONCLUSION
All in all, Tokujin Yoshioka’s designs are very unique and innovative due to his design process. Through his constant researches and experimentations with simple materials and by combining it with new technologies, he is able to come up with workpieces that amaze the community. Tokujin Yoshioka also loves working with media like glass to create workpieces that stimulate people that come in contact with them through different human senses by making use of immaterialistic elements.
