A Place to Encounter Items Chalie Discovered on His Travels

Chalie Vice is constantly traveling the world, surrounded by talented friends. He knows how to savor life, and the things and people he favors are always stimulating and witty. Recently, digital gadgets have become a significant part of what he brings back to "THE GALLERY by CHALIE VICE."

Gadgets That Fit Like Tools in Your Hand

—Where did you meet Chalie?

In New York. I met him when I visited for a client's exhibition. He was a man who seemed perfectly suited to cities like Manhattan and Brooklyn, with their sense of nostalgia.

—What kind of person is Chalie?

He has strong opinions about fashion and the things he owns, but his approach is smart. It's not about brands, price, or performance; his fundamental principle is whether something is "worth owning" or "enriches his life," and he values his own aesthetic judgment.

Everything he wears, the places he visits, the people he meets—it all seems to align with his lifestyle. That's the strong impression I get.



—What are your thoughts on the digital gadgets he selected?

Digital products and their accessories can do so many things. They can replace other devices, and I often feel there are many products that are hard to form an attachment to. However, the items Chalie selected have simple functions, are intuitive to use, and become familiar like tools. I think that's why they're easy to cherish.

—What constitutes a design that fosters attachment?

Products whose mechanisms are understandable, those with an analog feel, or those with limited functions tend to be easier to cherish. For highly multifunctional and high-performance digital products, designing for attachment becomes more challenging. Of course, designing those is also our job (laughs).

For example, a vinyl record has grooves, and the needle vibrates as it follows the groove, amplifying the vibration to produce sound. The mechanism is analog, so it's somewhat understandable. But with digital audio sources like CDs, the mechanism isn't clear. Digital and analog differ significantly in this regard.

CDs were designed to mimic the shape of records, so those familiar with records can use them intuitively. But they can't quite grasp how the audio source becomes sound. Human senses haven't evolved as rapidly as machines.

However, with records, different grooves produce different sounds, and it's intuitively understood that a scratch can cause the sound to skip. Products like these are easy to cherish. They are "irreplaceable," which makes them easy to love.

Products like these, where the mechanism synchronizes with our senses, and designs that are simple and have clear purposes, tend to evoke affection. The gadgets Chalie selects, and Apple products, seem to possess an analog, tool-like quality that resonates with human senses, even while being digital.

—What other digital products are easy to form an attachment to?

When it comes to computers, I find Macs easy to cherish. Older computers often felt like they were confronting the user, but Macs have a feel closer to the "tools" humans have used for ages. It's been that way since the days of the rainbow apple logo.

Of course, they're digital, but Apple devices have always had a tool-like feel, and this seems to carry through to the latest MacBooks. MacBooks are designed to appear simple overall. The new MacBooks consolidate the interface into a single port, making it impossible to connect "unnecessary" things. This allows you to immerse yourself in using the machine, providing a tool-like user experience. Furthermore, they are thin, light, and easy to carry.

Using a Mac feels like it molds to your hand, and I wouldn't want anyone else to use my Mac, nor would I feel comfortable using someone else's.

I felt that the products Chalie selected were made with a similar approach to Apple's design. Rather than being multifunctional gadgets that can do anything, their simple functions allow them to blend with human senses and lifestyles. They become familiar, personal products.—That's the feeling I get.


Yota Kakuda
Designer. Born in Sendai. Moved to the UK in 2003, gaining experience at various firms. Completed his studies at the Royal College of Art (RCA) in 2007. After returning to Japan in 2008, he worked as a product designer for MUJI before establishing YOTA KAKUDA DESIGN in 2011. He is currently serializing "Tokyo Roman Sakaba" for OPENERS.Tokyo Roman Sakabais currently being serialized
http://www.yotakakuda.com/

Chalie Vice
His age, profession, and place of origin are unknown, but he is an avid traveler who travels to various countries, drawing inspiration from their cultures and customs to refine his sophisticated sense. He is a "chic connoisseur of play" with expertise in diverse fields such as music, photography, and cuisine. Through his encounters during his travels, he has made many friends around the world. At "THE GALLERY by CHALIE VICE" on the 8th floor of Isetan Shinjuku Men's Building, he shares items and experiences from around the world that enrich life.
http://chalievice.com/