Born in Tokyo in 1981, Mikiya Kobayashi founded his studio in 2006. Deeply rooted in his cultural heritage, he has been able to connect Japanese tradition with new concepts, manufacturing processes and technologies. In 2018, Mikiya opened his second studio in Valencia, to better connect with an increasing number of European clients. He also established the lifestyle brand IMPLEMENTS, with a desire to deliver products that enrich people's lives. His projects embrace furniture, daily products, electronics, and interior design in Japan and abroad.

You describe your creative process as one focused on the sensitive perception of a design, rather than how it will be used. Can you say more about this.

The most important thing I want to achieve with my design is to bring new objects to everyday life, but to make it feel as though they have always been there. I am of course thinking about their use too, but mostly from an emotional perspective, in order to make life more enjoyable. I believe that good objects will naturally have a positive influence on our lives.

You have designed a wide range of objects and spaces, using a variety of materials. What connects all of your work together—what’s your overarching design philosophy?

My philosophy is in fact strongly related to the materials. Irrespective of the nature of the project, my first task is to study and understand the material I am going to use. During the design process, I am driven by a desire to show the good qualities of this material, and the meaning behind using it for a specific product.

Tell me about your relationship with LZF—what does LZF mean to you?

I got the chance to meet and know the people at LZF through a friend we have in common. From the very first moment I felt at home, surrounded by a beautiful work environment. It has been extremely easy for me to interact with LZF, thanks to the combination of a relaxed atmosphere and the strong energy and passion for designing new products.

Your new design for LZF is Suns. What inspired this lamp?

I kept thinking about how beautiful the sunlight looks when seen from underwater. With Suns, I wanted to translate the interaction between the sunlight and constant movement of the water’s surface. I wanted to achieve this using wood, which is the specialty of LZF and one of the materials I mainly use. Through the interaction of light and the wood veneer, we worked hard to make Suns very light, so that it could move with the wind as it happens with the water.

As a prolific designer, what motivates you—how do you nourish your passion for design?

My motivation is very simple: I want to bring happy moments to people's everyday lives, through good objects. Of course I nourish my passion for design while working, always looking for new challenges and stimulating projects. Recently, I am spending more time doing sports, such as running and bouldering. I have noticed how increasingly moving my body also activates my brain, and this is having a very positive impact on my work.

What can Spanish design learn from a Japanese approach to design, and vice versa?

I am not sure how to describe a Japanese approach to design. From my personal perspective, I would definitely say the key points are an attention to the use of materials, and the intention to make objects naturally indispensable. Vice versa, I can say that what I’m learning from the Spanish approach to design, is that the good weather and environment have a powerful effect on the way of thinking. You can see this, for example, through the use of colours. I feel that Spanish design is easy to understand and it’s very emotional; at times, it can be a bit bold (in a good way). I find this refreshing, especially when compared to Japanese or Nordic design, and I am definitely learning a lot from this approach.