Go Inside the AF Design Lab with Designer Yoshimi Kono

INSIDE THE AF DESIGN LAB AF New York’s award-winning design team, AF Design Lab, is bringing new ideas to market. This spring, you’ll have the opportunity to meet and collaborate with AF New York partners including Yoshimi Kono of Kono Designs. We caught up with the innovative product, graphic and interior designer to get his insider perspective.
	What inspired you to participate as an AF Design Lab partner? I have always enjoyed working with AF and realizing design concepts into functional products. Is there a single word or phrase that encompasses your philosophy? Unobtrusive, functional and timeless. How will you work with AF Design Lab clients to help them realize their kitchen and bath visions? AF Design Lab features many designers with varying style and aesthetics for their clients to choose from. How do you think the AF Design Lab will change design for everyday consumers? As AF Design Lab provides an opportunity for up-and-coming designers to showcase their work, consumers can benefit by accessing this fresh talent to realize their design. What’s your take on the current state of design and architecture in New York City? I feel the recent design and architecture scene in NYC has been rather conservative. However there are good changes within the city at urban scale such as more bike lanes and more pedestrian friendly street. Highline Park for example is a unique and creative urban intervention that utilized abandoned existing infrastructure into public use. What’s next in New York City Architecture & Design? I believe that new sustainable designs and environmentally friendly ideas that suggest smarter and more modest living will be the next big thing.