People Say “A friend told me that these cute little things calm her down, almost provide therapeutic effect as she puts it. No matter how bright or subtle the colours are. May be the smooth shapes with practically no edges? Who knows, but they do make her happy. No wonder Hiroshi Ono calls his studio Happy Design. � appliancist.com
Short story about Hiroshi Ono / Happy Design Milano Hiroshi Ono, born in Kurashiki (Japan) on the 28th of May, 1968. He studied at the Aichi FineArts University, where he graduated with a degree in Environmental Design in 1993. In 1994, Hiroshi Ono moved to Milan in Italy to start working for Studio Sowden. After two years, in 1996, he became a partner of Studio Sowden. During this time he was involved innumerous projects for companies like: Telecom Italia, Olivetti, Veron, Alessi, IPM, Ulmet,Get2Net, Rancilio and ASUS. In 1999, he presented an exhibition called 'Hiroshi & Davy' for the Salone Fair at Gallery Ciovasso in Milan. In 2001, he opened his own studio 'Happy Design' in Milan. With his design he creates possibilities for the future, incorporating today's latest technology to facilitate the realization of ideas. One of Happy Design´s strong points is the ability to read the requirements of both the customers well as the end user and respond with the appropriate solution within a very limited time frame. This is facilitated by Hiroshi Ono´s career long experience of the whole product development process: from concept development to mechanical engineering. Happy design currently collaborates with international companies such as: Guzzini, HannSpree, Lavazza, Tonino Lamborghini, Light4, Fererro, Graco, Disney, Rancilio, Sgl, Necta, Newell, McPerson, Silta Records, Lughes, W&H, Kimbo, WheelieHot, Blurosso, and Mima. He received the following design awards: 2004 IF Design Award with ‘Cheese Grater’ Guzzini, 2007 ADI Design Index with ‘I-TV’ McPerson. In 2015, he was invited to the Tehran International Brand Conference as a speaker to present the Italian design branding strategy.
Espresso machine design
Hiroshi Ono participated in numerous Design Exhibitions. Starting from Hiroshi & Davy the exhibition
of
furniture
and
lighting
where
presented "F (effe) series" 2*, Foodesign Guzzini on the occasion of the 90 years anniversary of well-known Italian company, Foodesign Made in Japan where presented "Zen box" 3*, The opening exhibition 500 Pop of the Fragship store FIAT in London 4*, Foodesign San Pellegrino, IDEA of Niklas Jacob where presented "Monolyth" 5*, Dgusto di Buzzo Lambertoni + Martesana Milano where presented "Please sit down and talk about sweets" 1*.
1
2 Exhibitions
3
4
5
Today’s colors
(see more on facebook Happy Design Milano)
CGAdvertising.com Interview With the market becoming more and more competitive, what do you believe is a must that an artist has in his portfolio or skills?
What we think Trend Privè Interview
“Design is entertainment”
What makes your product better than the others?
Our design philosophy essentially consists of building up a spectacle in a theatre (with client), using instruments like singers or actors (material), suitable to give joy to the audience (final consumer/user). Of course we will not prepare a Rolling Stones concert for the Pavarotti fan, it's important to entertain the right audience in the right way and in the right theatre.
Talking about the product design, I think it’s important to understand the functionality and productivity of the product too. Let’s say, the most beautiful product that doesn’t work well... that doesn’t make any sence to me. My studio covers all phases of product development from concepting, drawing the shape to mechanical engineering, therefore my products can offer to the user the life stye with good quality and not just the aesthetic but everything and also the simple utility. At least my clients appreciate this kind of balanced capacity. Sometimes it seems borring to be balanced or ordinary but I think that the ordinary life ;)
I always say that a designer is not necessarily an artist. Though having talent is important, I believe the most important skill a designer should have is the ability to analyze the clients’ needs and wills. Without the understanding of what the client wants there would be no progress in fact I believe design should not only creativity but creativity with strategy. How do you start working on a product? Do you use references or just imagination? The first thing I do when I work on a project is evaluating the technical constrains the product has. Once that is established I have a clearer sight about where am I free to play and design. Without establishing restrains it’s difficult to design things that would also work in real life… References are an important tool to arouse the imagination nevertheless I believe you shouldn’t have too much of it or ells you will be too influenced by other designs and be less capable of innovating.
Happy De sign sas di Hiros hi O no / Via Buozzi, 10 / 20026 Novate Mila nese (Milano) Italy / P. IVA/C.F. 1293062015 3 www. happyde sign.it / i n fo@happyde sign.it / Tel (39) 339 3741223