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DI: What is the main principle, idea and inspiration behind your design?

: I want to design a calendar which can be used in different scenarios in a daily working routine. The inspiration comes from the folding electronic tablet case.

DI: What has been your main focus in designing this work? Especially what did you want to achieve?

: I want the users of this design found it practical and use it all the time at work.

DI: What are your future plans for this award winning design?

: I will further promote it within the firm.

DI: How long did it take you to design this particular concept?

: It took me around three weeks to create this concept.

DI: Why did you design this particular concept? Was this design commissioned or did you decide to pursuit an inspiration?

: This is my job to create a corporate calendar every year. In recent years, some people think that desktop calendar does not carry much value as it is only placed on the desk, they would rather to use electronics calendar on the smartphone or computer.

DI: Is your design being produced or used by another company, or do you plan to sell or lease the production rights or do you intent to produce your work yourself?

: This is a design for the company I work for, I don't think I can see or lease the production rights.

DI: What made you design this particular type of work?

: I am an in-house designer, designing a corporate calendar is one my jobs.

DI: Where there any other designs and/or designers that helped the influence the design of your work?

: I mainly worked on my own on this design.

DI: Who is the target customer for his design?

: The clients of Nomura, which is the firm I am working for.

DI: What sets this design apart from other similar or resembling concepts?

: This calendar carries more functions and is practical in different scenarios.

DI: How did you come up with the name for this design? What does it mean?

: I want to emphasize this calendar can act as a notebook as well, but naming it “Notebook” is not quite engaging. As Nomura was founded in Japan, I decided to call it “Techo” which means “Notebook” in Japanese.

DI: Which design tools did you use when you were working on this project?

: I mainly used Adobe Illustrator working on this design.

DI: What is the most unique aspect of your design?

: The foldable structure is the distinctive feature of this design.

DI: Who did you collaborate with for this design? Did you work with people with technical / specialized skills?

: I worked closely with the professional printer. At the beginning of the design process, they helped to create three rounds of prototype to makes sure the foldable structure is feasible. During the printing process, we worked closely to make sure the colours are accurate.

DI: What is the role of technology in this particular design?

: It played an important role, especially the panels of the foldable structure have to be calculated and executed precisely.

DI: Is your design influenced by data or analytical research in any way? What kind of research did you conduct for making this design?

: Not particularly in this design

DI: What are some of the challenges you faced during the design/realization of your concept?

: Definitely coming up with concept of the foldable structure and the execution of it.

DI: How did you decide to submit your design to an international design competition?

: It was because this design received plenty of positive feedback within the firm that gave me a sense of success. In addition to the efforts I had put in this design for months, I would like to share this design with more people.

DI: What did you learn or how did you improve yourself during the designing of this work?

: Regarding the foldable structure, it took me three weeks to come up with the concept followed three rounds of prototype creation to ensure this foldable structure is feasible. As time was running short, I did have a thought to give up on this foldable structure and replace it with a typical desktop calendar stand. Luckily I did not let it happen. So I learn how to insist and keep going on with something that I believe in.

DI: Any other things you would like to cover that have not been covered in these questions?

: I want this awarded calendar can show the values of corporate gifts, how they can bring a positive impact to a firm’s brand.