Midori Irie
Joined GreenFlash as a product designer at the time of its launch and has been involved with the creation of many of our successful products. She has yet to see a green flash as some her team members have beaten her to it. She likes drinking beer, is partial to hot and spicy foods and enjoys Japanese films.
Ms. Irie, today we’d like you to talk about what you are most mindful of during the creative process as the Creative Director. Knowing that you are a person of few words, we decided to use an interview format and we hope you will find it a bit easier to share your thoughts with us.To help people better understand the creative mission of GreenFlash,we would be appreciative of your cooperation.
Irie I would do my best.
— First, we would like you to elaborate on GreenFlash’s creative mission statement of “creating witty and exciting stationery that sparks joy for customers and helps them pass positive vibes on to others.”
Irie It’s hard to put my thoughts in words but...a lot of young people today tend to spend their money mostly on digital gadgets.For them, stationery is no longer a necessity, not even a fashion statement item.But even in a technology-driven environment designed to make everything accessible at fingertips,there still are customers who buy our products. I want to show our appreciation for their patronage by creating stationery that helps them feel a bit happier, more confident and sometimes find solace and respite to heart.We are committed to create stationery that empowers our customers with positive vibes to help them believe in hope for a better tomorrow. And this works to our advantage as well,because people do not easily throw away the things that “spark joy” for them, the things that make them feel happy and confident.This is why we are committed to create “witty and exciting” one-of-a-kind stationery that our customers enjoy using for a long time and to the very last.
— Now, please tell us how you lead your creative team everyday.
Irie I hate it whenever someone says something like—“Oh! This product has a typical GreenFlash taste,” or “This is a truly Irie-esque design.” I want to emphasize here that Irie Midori is not responsible for creating the GreenFlash style or taste alone.I have never instructed our creative team members to be always conscious of the GreenFlash style or taste.Rather, I encourage them to keep on pushing the envelope incoming up with new product ideas and designs. I want to help them let the individuality shine without the constraints of what they believe the GreenFlash style or taste, because it is the individuality of each product designer that“collectively creates”the taste and style of GreenFlash.
Each product designer has his/her own individuality
Irie In that sense, my current job title of Creative Director does not sit well with me, to be frankly honest. Our team members are highly talented professionals and each has a strong taste,style and preferences. I am envious of them all, because I know I don’t have much individuality to speak of. So first I concentrate on creating the work environment that encourages them to realize the full potential in order to let their individualities shine. Only then, I make some small adjustments to their ideas and designs to make sure to align them to GreenFlash’s ultimate goal—to create products that sell.Perhaps, this is the biggest role Iplay in the entire creative process.
— Not only developing products for our own brands, you are also involved in development of ODM products. What are you most mindful of in the product development for our ODM and OEM partners?
Irie Working on ODM product development projects is a great fun because it gives us a chance to get involved in designing,development and production of a wide range of merchandizes.It allowed us, for instance, to work with some globally loved characters as Miffy and Doraemon.We also thoroughly enjoyed drawing familiar plants and flowers from the scratch in a recent project commissioned by one ODM partner.
