User-Centered Designer—— Naoto Fukasawa
Introduce the designer selected and the reason for selection
I would like to introduce Naoto Fukasawa, a famous and influential Japanese industrial designer who is working on product development for many well-known brands and companies around the world. He could be recognized as a typical user-centered designer because each of his design is built around people’s needs. He can always notice many unobtrusive issues existing in our lives, and uses his ingenious products to solve problems. I love his philosophy of simplicity. Actually, his design works are not simply at all. The simpler things seem, the more difficult they must have been to design. But when we see his design, we can see no more chaos, but the refreshing feeling they bring to us. In my eyes, he is the industrial designer who make others happy through his products.
Describe a project in which they practiced user-centered design
One of his most impressive design is a rice cooker he designed for MUJI. If we put all brands of rice cooker together, it’s easily to find that Naoto Fukasawa’s design is the most unique and attractive one. Round shape, simple button, everything is simple to the extreme. The outstanding part is the lid. He replaced the traditional plump lid into a flat lid, and added a raised bump on the side of the lid to put the spatula after use. In this way, people needn’t to find another extra place to put the spatula. His design has successfully enhanced the integrity of the rice cooker, as well as bringing people more convenience.
What user-centered design principles and methods did the designer utilize?
Naoto Fukasawa’s design works remain focused on usability through the whole design process. He clearly knows his task when designing each of the product, what are the things that users really want, and what kind of extra surprise users expect to see. His products can appeal many consumers not only because of the strong functionality and aesthetic, but more importantly is that he has been trying to endow his products the temperature, something that resonates with people, and makes people feel the pleasure. Pure things are always loved by people. Just like cooking, if you add too many ingredients in a dish, it will not tasty at all. Naoto Fukasawa catches the most fontal meaning of design, and develops his ideas to the largest extent.
Whom were the designers target audience? What was their gender, generation, culture, and profession?
I think the target audience of Naoto Fukasawa can be anybody who is willing to pursue for a more convenient life, and wants to try something creatively and unique. Mostly, his target audience are made up of generation Z, which are the young people who has the own pursuit of individuality and the quality of their lives, especially females. As Naoto Fukasawa is Japanese, people who live in Asian cultures will more appreciate his design style. Of course, the target audience must include those who study design, or take design as their job. They can better understand Fukasawa’s design concept.
How did practicing user-centered design add value to the project as a whole?
Practicing user-centered design will make people realized that they are the beneficiaries of the product. The product will no longer be just a cold tool, but something that can understand and warm you, makes you feel surprised and be grateful. I interviewed my friend Kalea, who is the user of this MUJI rice cooker. One thing that impressed me a lot is that she said: “I will put my spatula inside the rice cooker, or other places before I buy this MUJI rice cooker, I don’t feel it’s inconvenient. But Fukasawa remind me it can be better, even though he just improved a small part. It makes me moved.” That is, sometimes design reflects people’s attitude towards life, and everything within our life. The job for designers is to remind people there are better things that can make your life better.
What are the key takeaways from this assignment?
I have had a deep impression about the industrial designer Naoto Fukasawa, and a better understanding of the meaning of user-centered design through his works and thoughts. Good design always begins with user’s needs. He gives me a reminder to think about the nature of design, and the relationship between users and designers when design a product.
Sources
https://www.rogerseller.com.au/blog/naoto-fukasawa-a-philosophy-of-simplicity/
https://www.designboom.com/tag/naoto-fukasawa/
https://www.curbed.com/2018/3/28/17168040/muji-designer-naoto-fukasawa-book
https://www.interaction-design.org/literature/topics/user-centered-design