By Marie Kulik, Exhibitor Business Development Manager
IHA caught up with Ken Shinjo of Prairiedog International for this week’s Inside Discover Design and found out about what influenced their whole line of everyday towels that are packaged like delicious deserts. Enjoy!
Marie: What is the inspiration behind the design and functionality of your products?
Ken Shinjo: Our goal was to create gifts Item that are unique , economical , and functional . We believe we were able to succeed in this by creating our Le Patissier line. These delicious looking desserts are made with towels for your everyday use. Making it a gift that’s functional yet sweet to the receiver’s eyes!!
Marie: What makes a design “great”?
KS: We Believe a great design is not only in the uniqueness to the eye but in its functionality as well. Once you make a item that’s useful yet unique to the eye it makes a design from Good to Great.
Marie: How much does cost influence design?
KS: Cost is a big influence to our products. We believe that our products should be enjoyed by everyone.
Marie: What does your company offer the Industry?
KS: Our company offers textile products that improve and enhance in the home décor and goods.
Marie: How do you see design impacting our industry five years down the road? 10? Longer?
KS: As our everyday life gets wealthy, we’ll start using more and more on fashion and designs. Started off with our cloths we wear in public to our cars we drive. We believe the next wave is going to be for home décor and furnishing.
Marie: How much does the use or function of a product play into the design of it? Do your products follow a similar design throughout the line or does the influence differ from piece to piece?
KS: Function plays a big factor in our products. We believe function and usage is the number one factor in house products. Without the function and usage it doesn’t matter how good your design is the consumers won’t like it.
Marie: What advice can you offer to designers working in the home goods field?
KS: Think of function before concentrating on the design. In the home décor and furnishing department usage is the No.1 priority.
Marie: How did the Discover Design help to expand your brand?
KS: Discover Design helps expand our brand by introducing our products to new consumers and buyers.
You can find more from our Inside Discover Design series here.
