When considering the binding of a book, I also refer to candy boxes and flyers.
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.
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.
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.
