Great car design becomes more challenging year by year. However, creativity must still be allowed to soar and new ideas and solutions explored. Masaru Hasegawa recently proved that stunning shapes and forms can still be realised with the striking and aggressive Civic Type R Concept. Here are some of the things that continue to inspire him to look beyond prescriptive legislation to create cars that set hearts pumping.
Classic cars
“I love classic cars, especially from the 1960s. I think you can see many cars with a lot of character from that period. It is the era when manufacturers and carrozzerias (Italian design houses) did a lot of experiments in styling. I’ve owned an Isuzu 117 coupe, which was designed by Giugiaro in 1966; Giorgetto Giugiaro is perhaps the most influential car designer of all time. And I‘ve just bought a 1967 Honda S800, which was one of our very first cars.”
Architecture
“Sometimes I wish I were an architect just so I could design a house for one single person or a family. I like reading and seeing pictures about houses with all kind of different concepts. Visiting the actual sites of Ando, Gaudi and Rietvelt have given me inspiration for many projects.”
Travelling
“I’ve been quite fortunate to be able to live in and travel to many different parts of the world. It is always interesting to see cultural differences: how people live, what they eat, how they drive and so on. Tsumago village in Nagano, Japan, Frogner Park in Oslo and the Lake District in England are my favourite places.”
Getting away from computers
“It is really difficult to get away from any kind of information these days, and it is almost impossible to work without computers. I feel really good when I am away from computer, whether working on a model at work or on holiday. I can sort things out in my head and think more clearly.”
Friends
“Friends of different ages, from different cultures and with different professions… It’s always inspiring to meet and talk to friends, isn’t it?”
Music
“Music is my hobby. I use to play tenor saxophone in an amateur jazz band in Japan before I came to Europe. Being part of an ensemble is such a great feeling! I don’t see it as something with a direct influence on my job, but it is something I would like to do for the rest of my life.”
So that’s a taste of Hasegawa’s inspirations. What’s interesting is the breadth of subjects from which he draws ideas and derives enjoyment. It’s a reminder that inspiration is all around us every single day and when recognised and appreciated it can help nurture extraordinary new creations.
