Nagaoka Institute of Design
Department of Visual Design, Faculty of Art and Design
Chihiro Matsumoto

Q. What kind of creative activities do you do? Are there any themes that interest you?

I love the look of books and have always wanted to create books.
If there is anything I need to do to bring my ideas to life, I would like to do as much as I can myself.
I enjoy creating materials and creating layouts, but I also enjoy thinking about the structure of a book. Books are often likened to buildings, and I think the process is very similar. I think it would be great if one day I could create my own book, from binding to composition and layout.

Q. The moment when the font's sensitivity was turned on

I used Word when I was in elementary school, but at the time I couldn't choose the characters I wanted (I wish there were more characters to choose from!), which is what got me started.

Q. What is your favorite Morisawa font and why?

The H in "Shuei Shogo Mincho Selection."
It's a very distinctive and tasteful font, especially the hiragana.
I like how it's so full of emotion. It has a warm feeling, and it seems to convey what you want to say powerfully to the other person. That's why I would rather use it for heartfelt words than plain sentences.
I can feel the sincerity in each character, so I use this font when I want to communicate something about myself or for texts that I really want people to read.

Q. What do you think of the teachers at this school?

In addition to the knowledge and methods to hone skills and sense, he also showed me various possibilities in terms of ways of thinking and living. He not only taught me about the world as he sees it, but also quietly and unobtrusively showed me how to think for myself and carve out my own path in the world.
I feel that all the teachers are serious about their work, not just as a job, but as people.

Q. The moment the switch turns "OFF"

When I'm reading a book and when I'm watching a movie.
I sometimes find myself thinking about things while I'm out for a walk or eating, but I'm happy when I'm immersed in a complete world. I also find myself turning off the switch when I eat something incredibly delicious (is it escapism?).

Q. What would you like to challenge yourself with in the future? What are you interested in?

I want to create things that are conscious of shape.
Until now, I have made things under the belief that "as long as the content is solid, it's fine," but I am now searching for ways to incorporate "attraction" into my work, that makes people want to look at it. I want to express the content, but at the same time, I want to create my own expression that is not overdone or too pretentious.
I'm currently obsessed with hand-drawn design, and I'm fascinated by the method of expression that combines pictures and words, so I'm trying my hand at it. Every day I think about how I would like to be able to write sentences and draw illustrations, which is something I could only do by studying design.

After the interview, Matsumoto showed us the work he had created (a book summarizing the assignments he had completed so far). Matsumoto said he loved the look of books, and in addition to the hand-drawn illustrations and cover, he also paid particular attention to the headings and text in the main text to express his unique worldview!
(Moripass Club Advisor Suda)