Bags of mysterious materials and Toyota-original fragrance recipes. What exactly do these four designers do?
A carmaker crafting fragrances
The Color Management Department’s An Minami thought she would be working with body colors and interior design. After obtaining aromatherapy certification, she now mixes and samples her own fragrances.
An Minami
The fascinating thing about fragrances is that they can change your mood in an instant.
I look at how fragrances can be used to provide a more pleasant mobility experience for drivers and passengers. As well as aiding relaxation or concentration, fragrances can also help to heighten feelings of well-being.
Most recently, we received a request for a fragrance that brings a sense of nature into the car, so I created an original recipe based on natural aromatics.
Japanese people are said to be finely attuned to fragrances. I want to emphasize these unique sensibilities to make multifaceted sensory designs. You can look forward to new experiences created by Toyota.
The Color Management Department is constantly breaking out into new territory. Besides handling requests from across the company, the designers often also pitch their own ideas.
Okamoto
I provide consistent direction across the Lexus and GR brands, from advanced development to mass production. At Lexus, for instance, when I make CMFX-driven proposals, I am very conscious of our contribution to Japan’s manufacturing and industry as a whole.
As fewer people take up traditional industries, it is getting harder for new, uniquely Japanese creations to emerge. By proactively focusing on Japanese craftsmanship, I believe Lexus can send a message to the broader society.
CMFX design is not simply about attractive interiors and exteriors, but also about the experiences these offer for the user. At Lexus, it is also linked to the question of what premium mobility experiences Japanese craftsmanship can offer.
Happiness is diverse
Kato
In working towards Toyota’s mission of “producing happiness for all,” rather than thinking about what our cars can offer, we first have to consider what happiness means to our customers.
There are diverse ways to be happy in this world. We are all working to figure out how our cars can embody that diversity of happiness and well-being through CMFX design.
Cars are one of the few industrial products that can still be called “beloved” with people speaking of their cars with real affection.
These designers are trying to dream up ever more reasons to fall in love.
Whether it’s exploring the possibilities of comfortable materials, delving into human happiness, or keeping an eye on social trends, Toyota’s CMFX designers continue branching out into new fields as they seek to spread happiness through cars.
