By Editor Design.nl / 26-10-2007

Samira Boon (1974) first travelled to Japan on a work placement from the Delft Technical University. After graduating she received a scholarship from the Japanese government and returned to Tokyo to continue her studies in the Institute of Technology's architecture department. Meanwhile she established her own design studio, Studio Samira Boon. Boon combines the best of two cultures in her product designs: the conceptual power of Dutch design with Japanese simplicity and attention to detail.

How would you describe your work?
Lots of my designs are inspired by the technique and the qualities of the materials. My aim is reduce and eliminate factors rather than just add decoration. For instance the Sole Mates slippers I made are based on the ancient Japanese folding art of origami and are made out of just one sheet which the customer then folds into the desired slipper shape. Just one piece of material, that keeps it coherent.

Why did you decide to take part in 100% Design Japan?
It's now my third time taking part. The Japanese market is very interesting and it's the market I've been most involved in because I studied and lived there for some time. I've been interested in the culture and lifestyle for many years. When I first started working in Japan at first some people were a little cautious about me, a foreigner. But if they see that you are serious and want to succeed, they switch and give 180% to help you acheive the best results. Japanese people are very interested in Dutch design.

What do you hope to get from the event?
I'm looking forward to showing my latest developments. I have found that in Japan, after people have discovered a product or idea they really like to take the time to research it and deepen their knowledge.

What are your plans for the future?
I'm very much interested in textiles at the moment; the tactile and haptic experience intrigues me. What the end product looks like is of course very important but the technical process is also very important to me. The textiles I'm working on at the moment have a lot of texture, it will be a 3D experience. So for instance, some of my new work will involve one piece of material and you make one cut and a pocket will be formed. No sewing neccesary. I've also been asked to work on another project for a children's play area in Shizuoka, one hour south of Tokyo. I've been asked to design the lights and furniture, a really interesting project.

Samira Boon's products can be bought in museumshops and stores in Japan, Europe and the US. Check her website for more details.

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