Qosmo employee interview (Senior Designer Naoki Ise)

Qosmo is a Tokyo-based collective consisting of AI researchers, engineers, artists, and designers, working on expanding human creativity using AI and exploring unknown music. We are exploring new possibilities of creativity and expression by making use of the latest technology including artificial intelligence in the process of creation, and is looking for people who share these values with us. To help you get to know about Qosmo, we conducted an interview with our employee. The fourth one is Naoki Ise, a Senior Designer.

Qosmo: Naoki Ise Born in 1983, joined the Qosmo in 2020. Position: Senior Designer

Can you introduce yourself?

My name is Naoki Ise. I studied media art at the Art and Media course in the Department of Information Design at Tama Art University. I continued my studies within the same course at the graduate school and spent about six months on an exchange program in the New Media Art & Design course taught by Professor Joachim Sauter at the Berlin University of the Arts.

So you didn't originally study design, actually studying media art? In my senior year of high school, I initially aimed for the popular choice of studying graphic design. However, I ended up not getting into that program. Nevertheless, without much specific preference, I had always enjoyed designs incorporating geometric compositions. Eventually I found the Information Design program at Tama Art University, which involved computer-based design. Within this program there were two courses: Information Design and Art and Media. Although I had no prior knowledge of art, I felt intuitively drawn to the Art and Media course because it seemed fun. Thus, during my time at the school, I engaged in activities such as sound performances, installations, and also worked on creating visuals using programming languages like Processing and openFrameworks.

Can you tell me about your student days? While I didn't engage much in design, I was interested in typography and often read design magazines like IDEA. Compared to my high school classes, I found university courses much more enjoyable, so I took numerous classes unrelated to my major in addition to my main research lab courses. Even though I couldn't keep up very well, I assisted with music theory classes by Mr. Satoru Wono(musician / Tama Art University professor) and minimal art class by Ms. Midori Matsui (Art critic). I also delved into Mr. Koichi Kokubun's (philosopher) Spinoza philosophy class. I was particularly drawn to exploring diverse subjects. Moreover, during my graduate studies, I had the chance to design a booklet while in Berlin. As I crafted my own pieces, I found myself creating captions and handouts as well. Consequently, it felt like I gradually transitioned into design through these experiences.

So you weren't studying basic design during your undergraduate years? I didn't particularly study graphic design in school. I mostly learned through trial and error. However, when I studied abroad in Berlin, I was greatly influenced by European typography. I still check out information from them. Starting from designs associated with art, I'm interested in experimental or art-contextual designs, which are not aimed at the general public but rather at those who understand art. I've always been particularly interested in cutting-edge designs. Therefore, now that I'm exploring graphic design related to AI at Qosmo, I feel like my interests haven't changed much since then.

How did you know about Qosmo？ When I was working as an in-house designer at the Yamaguchi Center for Arts and Media, I collaborated with Mr. Tokui (our company's CEO) on his AI DJ project. Also, because I was friends with Mr. Dozono (a computational designer/programmer who was with Qosmo from 2016 to 2022), I knew that Qosmo is creative company using AI. Additionally, during my university days, I attended classes taught by Mr. Akihiro Kubota (an artist/researcher/engineering PhD) and Ms. Seiko Mikami (an artist), where Mr. Tokui came as a guest lecturer with Mr. Takashi Ikegami (a professor at the University of Tokyo). His work “SONASPHERE” was well known, so I knew Mr. Tokui as a famous person (laughs).

Can you tell me about how you ended up joining Qosmo after that? Since I had been dealing mostly with signage and print media, I thought I could explore designs that are a bit more generative, computational, or utilize the characteristics of computers. Although AI was initially unfamiliar to me, when I saw the visuals for the first time, especially those created by Mr. Nakajima (our interactive AI engineer), it felt like I was seeing something completely new (laughs). However, when I saw Qosmo's work exhibited in events like the Japan Graphic Designers Association (JAGDA) exhibition "Graphic Design and Co-Creation with AI," it became apparent that there was a lot of interest in graphic design at Qosmo, which influenced my decision to join the company.

What is your current job description? I collaborate with programmers on visual production. For example, I work with Mr. Nakajima on cutting-edge and experimental visual production utilizing AI for the series featured in WIRED, where Mr. Tokui is contributing as a writer. Additionally, I handle planning and direction, such as the annual greeting series at Qosmo, and occasionally participate in video production. Furthermore, I oversee Qosmo's web operations and management throughout the year, including internal web marketing activities like social media outreach.

The key visuals for the first installment of WIRED series are handled by Naoki Ise and Ryosuke Nakajima

Key visual for the second installment of WIRED series

Can you tell me about a project that left a lasting impression on you so far? I had the opportunity to contribute to the supervision for a graphic design magazine IDEA (Issue 404, Special Feature: "Collaboration with AI"). This experience prompted me to think more deeply about how designers should engage with AI. In addition to supervising, I was also entrusted with designing the cover as a designer. The cover image is a collage of generated images, coded with the assistance of AI. It was a great honor for me as I had been an avid reader of the magazine since I was a student.

The cover design involved Nakajima was responsible for generating the images, and Ise created the collage using the generated image material

One project that particularly stands out to me is the ”Neural Beatbox,” a website project where an AI generates human beatbox sounds. It made a lasting impression on me, especially considering the circumstances of the pandemic as it was the first time we tackled a project entirely remotely. Moreover, having been away from web media for a while, diving back into application design after a long hiatus felt like a refreshing challenge. While I was still reacquainting myself with incorporating sound into the design process, the collaboration was incredibly stimulating. Working closely with frontend developer Robin Jungers (who was with Qosmo from 2017 to 2022) was pivotal. Robin not only possessed frontend development skills but also had a wealth of knowledge in visual design. This meant that beyond coding and implementation, he could also offer valuable design suggestions, which was a novel experience for me. Through such exchanges, the design process took on a different dimension, making it a truly enriching experience.

Is there anything important to keep in mind when designing?

The typical design process essentially involves creating something upon request, but while considering the content, we strive to infuse it with a sense of playfulness. Designs incorporating such elements often result in better outcomes. Additionally, not limited to design alone, at Qosmo we value the attitude of proposing ideas. Therefore, having the ability to direct and express intentions, such as what one wants to achieve, becomes more important than merely possessing skills. Of course, skills are essential, but I believe these aspects could be effectively covered using AI's capabilities (laughs).

Every year, we send out a greeting at the beginning of the year. For 2024, we've combined generative AI with barrier grid animation techniques to create a New Year's greeting that utilizes visual illusions

Do you have any recent interests?

I'm interested in music production. Aside from Neutone, there are various other music creation tools, so I'm eager to explore them while doing some research. And, since I've been spending a lot of time sitting in front of the computer, I've started swimming to get some exercise (laughs).

How do you feel about working at Qosmo? I'm surrounded by a team with a casual atmosphere and brimming with humor. With many interns and external collaborators, I feel like I'm in an open environment. Moreover, I relocated when my daughter was born, and now I go to the office about once a month. As long as the project is running smoothly, there's no problem, so it's a workplace that understands aspects like balancing work and childcare very well. Although I don't have many opportunities to be in the office, I actively participate in company extracurricular activities to maintain communication.

At the beginning of the year, the team visits a shrine near the office together. It's one of our annual traditions

Can you convey a message to those who are interested in Qosmo. Some people might find AI intimidating at first, but I believe that if you have an interest in art and even a slight curiosity about technology, that's a good start. Interest often precedes knowledge and skills, so as long as you have that initial curiosity, the rest can follow later!

We are recruiting for multiple positions, so we look forward to receiving applications from those who are interested in our company. Please check the details on our career page and contact us for inquiries.