Shin and Tomoko Azumi are Japanese product and furniture designers who met while studying at Kyoto City University of Art. They collaborated on designs while Shin later studied at the Royal College of Art in London, where Tomoko also enrolled in furniture design courses. The two designers worked together under the name Azumi until divorcing in 2005 and pursuing separate careers, though both continued working in furniture and product design. Their work brought new creativity and imagination to graphic design through stylish yet functional pieces that could be used in multiple ways.

1. Graphic Designer Shin and Tomoko Azumi JungKo 15 Vinat 23 5/12

2. Biography/History Shin and Tomoko Azumi are two Japanese product an furniture designers . Both of them were born in Japan . Shin was born in Kobe in 1965 and Tomoko in Hiroshima in 1966 . They met each other at Kyoto City University of Art, where they studied product design . They first work together was a group sculpture project in their first year in Kyoto . After Shin had graduated in 1989, he worked in the personal computer department of NEC, the Japanese electronics group, and for Tomoko joined Kazuhiro Ishii’s architectural practise .

3. Then in1992, Shin won a place on the industrial design course at London's Royal College of Art . So Tomoko moved to London with him . She started the RCA's furniture design course in 1993 . During the previous year she studied english and art history at Goldsmith's College . Until 1995, they formed Azumi and started establishing themselves in the design world by putting limited editions into their production . Finally, Shin and Tomoko were divorced in 2005 and separated at that time . In April 2005, Tomoko launched her t . n . a . design studio and Shin officially launched his solo practice .

5. What they brought to the world of graphic design With their imagination and creativity that they had produce and include into their work, makes it interesting and bring a new creation to the world of graphic design . They brought new ways of looking at things aswell .

6. Examples of their work SHIN + TOMOKO AZUMI Snowman Salt and Pepper Shakers, 1999 Shin & Tomoko Azumi Manufactured by Authentics

7. SHIN + TOMOKO AZUMI Table = Chest, 1995 Shin & Tomoko Azumi Manufactured by Azumi's

8. SHIN + TOMOKO AZUMI Big Arm Chair, 2001 Shin & Tomoko Azumi Manufactured by Bruhl  SHIN + TOMOKO AZUMI Wire Frame Chair, 1998 Shin & Tomoko Azumi  Manufactured by Azumi's

9. Lapalma LEM Stool  Lapalma Za Bench 

10. Magis Strings Chair  Magis Strings Stool 

11. What do you like about their style ? Shin and Tomoko Azumi design furniture and products in an elegantly playful style . The reason I like the work that they produce because it's very stylish but also functional too . You can use their product not only for one purpose but you can use it in many other ways . Such as the Table = Chest which can be quickly converted from a low table into an equally elegant cabinet . As well as the Salt&Pepper Shakers which are very easy to use . It's very useful !

12. The style of their work is very unique and creative . They adapt their ideas and make it into a modern style . Some looks really weird and you kept wondering what dose it look like? Or where they got the idea from? Which I think its quite cool and I enjoy looking at their work they had done .

13. Would graphic design be the same today without the designer? Well, for me I don't think it would be the same as we see today without these designers . Their work maybe a basic idea for some other designers today to create their own work which might have been inspired by the designer who have made them originally . They could even made it much more nicer and attractive nowadays because of all the trends and high technology that we now have .

14. Makes graphic design even more useful and are used in almost every industry. For example the designer Shin&Tomoko Azumi produce product in the furniture industry but they combine graphic design into their work so well . Most of the product designer would say that the inspirations for their work, would be from those whom made them before but they like it so they want to improve it and then made them into their own style .

15. Thank you for Attention 