Profile: Yu Watanabe – Only Natural Design Competitions

Yu Watanabe

University of the Arts London

Central Saint Martins, MA Material Futures

After completing a BA Graphic Design, I worked as an Art Director at an advertising agency. Through various projects, I became interested in the relationship between creativity and social issues such as environmental problems and climate change. To further develop my knowledge in these topics, I completed the MA Material Futures at Central Saint Martins, University of the Arts London, UK. My research focuses on how design can function to address increasingly complex social issues through colliding different perspectives, materials, technology and science. While utilising the ability to communicate effectively through advertising, I have been exploring how design can function in various aspects, not only in graphics, but also through materials, products and other areas. I contribute to people, culture, nature and the earth by discovering the value of things from both a future perspective and a problem-solving mindset, and by appropriately converting and communicating these solutions to society and the world.

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SYMBIOSIS GARDEN

Category: Interior

Competitions: Home Competition 2025

SYMBIOSIS GARDEN explores the boundary between craft and mass production through vases made from Urushi and mycelium. Urushi, a traditional Japanese lacquer, is a sustainable, biodegradable, and repairable material known for its deep luster and durability. Mycelium, the root system of fungi, is grown on natural substrates like wood chips or grains — making all materials in this project renewable and environmentally conscious. The mycelium is cultivated inside molds over the course of more than a month, gradually taking the form of a vessel. While the shape is defined by the mold, the surface develops organically during growth, resulting in natural textures that are unique and unrepeatable. Applying Urushi to the surface reveals and preserves the intricate structures of the mycelium. Traditional lacquer techniques such as makie or layering different types of Urushi are used to create finishes that resemble soil, wood, or stone. The contrast between Urushi’s gloss and hardness and mycelium’s porous textures expresses the vitality of living matter and our coexistence with nature. This project embraces the slow rhythms of natural growth and the expressive potential of craftsmanship. It invites a deeper connection to nature — not only through visual form or function, but through material origin and process. By combining ancient techniques with emerging biomaterials, SYMBIOSIS GARDEN proposes a sustainable approach to design that is shaped by both human hands and natural forces.