recently we have been showing you a lot more of our 'behind the scenes' pictures and information. we hope you have enjoyed looking at all the things that inspire us as a company- we posted these in order for everyone to see what drives us when we are working. today we will be expanding on all of these small things that help us work by thinking about what the things are that motivate us to work our hardest and ensure our surface design is as good as we can make it.
this year at yukari sweeney design we have decided to try and take a step back and focus on what is really important in our lives- having the ability to enjoy our surroundings. after witnessing the absolute destruction from the earthquake in japan, a subject which is very close to us as a japanese and european company, we realised that in life we are all putting far too much importance on getting things done as quickly as possible. instead we want to focus in on the things and the people that we really love to spend life with. we noticed that these days, culture is geared around moving and evolving so quickly that we can't even keep track of what is happening- fast food, 'fast fashion' and fast transport all make us rush around so much that we can't even think about stopping and enjoying what we have right now.
so we would love to remind people that what really matters is the time you take to enjoy the slowing down of life that occurs when you take a little moment to breathe and appreciate your surroundings. we feel that what is important is the present; it can all fly by so fast that all you will have are regrets if you don't slow down, appreciate your environment and the people around you every so often.
this is where our new concept of 'slow life' comes in. we really want to take the time to think about the amount of effort, skill and patience it takes to create something that will last much longer than the ever changing trend. our inspiration comes from age old japanese practices like the methodical practice of tea ceremonies and the intricate woodcutting process that creates the traditional screen prints of ‘karakami’. these are both arts that require patience and the learning of new skills. at yukari sweeney design we want to learn from the people who devote so much to make their interests and professions the highest level they can.
we gained inspiration from a special whisk used in tea ceremonies called a 'chasen'- this small bamboo whisk is hewn from one single shoot, with hundreds of fine teeth that create the perfect shape to whisk tea smoothly with practice. it is a time consuming and artisan task to even carve the whisk, let alone learn how to use it efficiently. however if you can slow down and appreciate such skills, it fulfils your future life and makes your knowledge much richer.
it is our mantra this year that we concentrate on that craftsmanship based ethos; that is, we put care into creating special things that will last. if you want design that goes somewhere as personal as your own home should, in our opinion, connect to you in a special way and be something that has love put into it. by putting more detail in our processes of design, for example hand finishing wallpaper panels or hand printing on a bespoke made fabric, we can bring this 'slow life' to you in a special way that does not compromise the life that you have as a busy individual. even by having a nice teapot or well designed and made cups in the home encourage you to sit down and enjoy a drink and take in your surroundings.
we hope you can enjoy a slow life with us this year at yukari sweeney design. we look forward to being inspired by tradition and learning to enjoy our time, too. as ever, if you would like to share with us the ways you like to relax and enjoy the way you live, feel free to email me at kimika@yukarisweeneydesign.com; also join our facebook group and visit our website too, for more updates on our various upcoming projects and press features.
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