What Is Timeless Design?

When I started designing textile patterns, I focused on a question: Why do some designs last?

I discovered that timeless design isn’t just about how well something is made; it’s about the connection between the object and the person using it. It’s about harmony. A textile may be beautiful, but if it doesn’t fit the user’s lifestyle, it won’t last to be timeless.

Timeless design occurs when the designer creates honestly, the user connects emotionally, and both invest time. It’s not a formula, it’s a relationship. As designers, we must consider how people live and how our work fits into their lives.

This fabric was printed by hand, layering colors to create deeper, overlaying colors.

Printed in Tokyo, Japan, 2010