When considering the binding of a book, I also refer to candy boxes and flyers.
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PROFILE
Born in 1993 in Aichi Prefecture. After graduating from the Graduate School of Design, Tokyo University of the Arts, he joined the design office "Cozfish". He has worked on a wide range of designs from advertisements, exhibitions, magazines to books. He became independent in August of this year. He also produces and publishes artworks and art books.
Instagram : @wakidaasuka
Congratulations on starting your own business. Your former firm, Cozfish, is very well known among design firms.
Wakita:Thank you very much. Actually, I was planning to go freelance as soon as I graduated from school. However, when I was still in school, my professor recommended that I join a company. There are things you can't learn unless you work for a company, and it would be quicker in the end. So when I started working at "cozfish," I told them from the beginning that I wanted to go independent after about three years. So when I left the company, it was about time, and I left amicably (laughs).
Q. Are you happy with your decision to belong to Cozfish?
Wakita:It was absolutely great. I don't think I could have done anything independent right away. I couldn't even do the basic work interactions, and I think I was spoiled.
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What kind of person do you think makes an easy production manager or editor to work with?
Wakita:It may sound selfish, but I am grateful to have someone on my side. Editors have to abide by various restrictions. In such a situation, I think I can trust a person who makes it a priority to create something. I also don't like it when important matters are discussed by a single e-mail. I sometimes wonder if it is a decision rather than a consultation (laughs).
I can use that as a reference. You have done many designs for magazines that everyone knows and for national characters.
Wakita:Lately, I've noticed that I've been doing things by hand. I can do it, but it feels like I'm doing the same thing. I always think that I have to stop doing that.
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Some of the books he has designed. The lower right is Mr. Wakita's art book "HAPPENING.
Do you have any countermeasures to break through that?
Wakita:Of course, there are times when we look back at the books we own. But, for example, when thinking about the binding of a book, you may not look at the binding of the book, but rather at the design of a box of candy, or a flyer, or something else that you see in a different medium that may help you to get a better idea.
What kind of work have you been doing recently?
Wakita:You are designing a book of plays or something like that. Simply put, it's a screenplay, but it has different rules than a regular book. There are names and notes, differences in font size, and other niche rules that are fun to follow.