Interview with Lexus LS Interior Designer Junko Itou

Posted by Kevin on January 31st, 2018

Design Milk has an insightful interview with Lexus LS interior designer Junko Itou on the need to balance tradition with innovation inside the flagship sedan:

Design Milk: Is there any friction in the process of bridging tradition with the necessity of innovation?

Junko Itou: No. While I admit there is difficulty in simultaneously working between tradition and progress, I find the conflicting elements can ultimately create harmony. We believe that we are the brand who always overcomes these difficulties. It is Lexus. We believe the definition of luxury changes over time, and it is our mission to balance traditional and visionary luxury.

Design Milk: There seems to be a material narrative across every panel and surface inside your design – distinct yet coexisting harmoniously. What was the process in determining which materials to use and how to coordinate their coexistence without creating visual/tactile disharmony?

Junko Itou: We’ve been thinking how we can make things seem conflicting, yet compatible at a high level when choosing each material. Also, choosing materials in line with interior designer’s intention is paramount. To coordinate the coexistence of several materials, we began by formulating three concepts: Superior, Emotional, and Timeless.

Based on each of those themes, we selected color, material and finish as our focus. As the idea of the LS interior world became clear, we were able to coordinate the appropriate color, material and finish, even if it seemed difficult. Additionally, Takumi craftsmanship was necessary to complete it.

Lexus LS: Fourth Generation
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Comments
RichieRich
zeusus
Unfortunately many 'grown adults' don't understand the concept that perception from a screen is not the same as perception in real life.

As well as the difference in how basic car modeling photos are taken from angles that common adult sized human beings do not view from. Cars are not designed to look good in photos, they're designed to look good in person.

Is it too much to ask for people to think for themselves 2 steps ahead instead of 1? :oops::oops::oops:


I'm curious, do you guys prefer the cut glass trim on the hybrid or the traditional on the TT?
Cut glass trim works for my taste buds. Hoping it will be in the LS500 version. It should be :). I also prefer the LS500H exterior looks over the LS500.
The Black color helps in my decision of the LS500H looking better. Black is the color I'm Getting. It's A Beauty :)
RichieRich
zeusus
Unfortunately many 'grown adults' don't understand the concept that perception from a screen is not the same as perception in real life.

As well as the difference in how basic car modeling photos are taken from angles that common adult sized human beings do not view from. Cars are not designed to look good in photos, they're designed to look good in person.

Is it too much to ask for people to think for themselves 2 steps ahead instead of 1? :oops::oops::oops:


I'm curious, do you guys prefer the cut glass trim on the hybrid or the traditional on the TT?
Cut glass trim works for my taste buds. Hoping it will be in the LS500 version. It should be :). I also prefer the LS500H exterior looks over the LS500.
The Black color helps in my decision of the LS500H looking better. Black is the color I'm Getting. It's A Beauty :)
Carmaker1
So I am hearing that it will definitely be a 2018.5 model at this point? Lexus USA now confirms that as well, in showing that it will be available in "early 2018". I don't think it can be re-designated a 2019 model at this point, right? I cannot find an end of production (EOP) date for the LS 460 (L), but can imagine the LS will undergo a hiatus at this point.
Carmaker1
So I am hearing that it will definitely be a 2018.5 model at this point? Lexus USA now confirms that as well, in showing that it will be available in "early 2018". I don't think it can be re-designated a 2019 model at this point, right? I cannot find an end of production (EOP) date for the LS 460 (L), but can imagine the LS will undergo a hiatus at this point.
Joaquin Ruhi
Carmaker1
So I am hearing that it will definitely be a 2018.5 model at this point? Lexus USA now confirms that as well, in showing that it will be available in "early 2018". I don't think it can be re-designated a 2019 model at this point, right? I cannot find an end of production (EOP) date for the LS 460 (L), but can imagine the LS will undergo a hiatus at this point.
Looks that way. I guess that if the higher-volume GS skipped a whole model year (2012) in the transition from 3rd-gen to 4th-gen, Lexus can manage a few months (and no skipped model years) in the 4LS to 5LS transition.
Joaquin Ruhi
Carmaker1
So I am hearing that it will definitely be a 2018.5 model at this point? Lexus USA now confirms that as well, in showing that it will be available in "early 2018". I don't think it can be re-designated a 2019 model at this point, right? I cannot find an end of production (EOP) date for the LS 460 (L), but can imagine the LS will undergo a hiatus at this point.
Looks that way. I guess that if the higher-volume GS skipped a whole model year (2012) in the transition from 3rd-gen to 4th-gen, Lexus can manage a few months (and no skipped model years) in the 4LS to 5LS transition.
Carmaker1
Joaquin Ruhi
Looks that way. I guess that if the higher-volume GS skipped a whole model year (2012) in the transition from 3rd-gen to 4th-gen, Lexus can manage a few months (and no skipped model years) in the 4LS to 5LS transition.
Well, that is unless the fourth generation ends production in December and is allowed to be sold as an untitled 2017 model in early 2018. It might end production though in Q3. Do have to wonder if the GS was supposed to arrive as a 2012 model instead, but like the LC, they pushed it back and made it an early 2013 model year introduction in late February 2012.

I feel they should commemorate end of XF40 production this year by doing a long press piece on it, as Mercedes-Benz always does with every S-Class generation. Eleven and half years is an achievement, no matter how you slice it.

Sales have only dipped due to market trends and reveal of the successor, as even the LS 430 sales drop post January 8, 2006 cost Lexus the best selling flagship title against the new W221 S-Class. The LS 460 barely went on sale to stave off losses in mid-October 2006. In 2007, the LS made serious sales records of 73,000 cars sold and then lost its title for good in 2010 because of a meagre refresh.

Only Mercedes-Benz achieved this feat with their W126 (official second generation S-Class) that was in production for 11 1/2 years from late 1979 to mid-1991. When MB used to overstretch life-cycles, they turned lemons into lemonade by acting it was the death of an icon, instead of an aging model.

The brand really needs to do more in-depth pieces and documentaries on the Lexus brand and its products, the way that competitors do. I understand that certain types of information and processes are privileged in being too sensitive to publicize, but they should also remember this is what creates a brand history to refer to and also aids in building a great heritage.

There are video documentaries on how each generation of S-Class came to be, as well as that of books and articles in print. I can only reference one short video for the first generation LS and that's it.

It seems at times, that I have to do deep research all over the place and compile all that information together, to create a history and timeline for each LS generation, but even at that it is difficult and disjointed when you are not an insider.

BMW has marketing experts all over the place, speaking the virtues of their products and dropping info on future models in the pipeline.

I really want to hear in-depth information on this car, to confirm what I heard or assumed during the past several years and learn more about it. Knowing typical Lexus, I probably won't hear much, except for brief soundbites and generic press fluff. Same goes for the LC, in just relying on Motor Trend to "tell the story".

I wish they would just give krew exclusive pieces on such processes or milestones, as the amount of traffic it would bring here would be something else.
Carmaker1
Joaquin Ruhi
Looks that way. I guess that if the higher-volume GS skipped a whole model year (2012) in the transition from 3rd-gen to 4th-gen, Lexus can manage a few months (and no skipped model years) in the 4LS to 5LS transition.
Well, that is unless the fourth generation ends production in December and is allowed to be sold as an untitled 2017 model in early 2018. It might end production though in Q3. Do have to wonder if the GS was supposed to arrive as a 2012 model instead, but like the LC, they pushed it back and made it an early 2013 model year introduction in late February 2012.

I feel they should commemorate end of XF40 production this year by doing a long press piece on it, as Mercedes-Benz always does with every S-Class generation. Eleven and half years is an achievement, no matter how you slice it.

Sales have only dipped due to market trends and reveal of the successor, as even the LS 430 sales drop post January 8, 2006 cost Lexus the best selling flagship title against the new W221 S-Class. The LS 460 barely went on sale to stave off losses in mid-October 2006. In 2007, the LS made serious sales records of 73,000 cars sold and then lost its title for good in 2010 because of a meagre refresh.

Only Mercedes-Benz achieved this feat with their W126 (official second generation S-Class) that was in production for 11 1/2 years from late 1979 to mid-1991. When MB used to overstretch life-cycles, they turned lemons into lemonade by acting it was the death of an icon, instead of an aging model.

The brand really needs to do more in-depth pieces and documentaries on the Lexus brand and its products, the way that competitors do. I understand that certain types of information and processes are privileged in being too sensitive to publicize, but they should also remember this is what creates a brand history to refer to and also aids in building a great heritage.

There are video documentaries on how each generation of S-Class came to be, as well as that of books and articles in print. I can only reference one short video for the first generation LS and that's it.

It seems at times, that I have to do deep research all over the place and compile all that information together, to create a history and timeline for each LS generation, but even at that it is difficult and disjointed when you are not an insider.

BMW has marketing experts all over the place, speaking the virtues of their products and dropping info on future models in the pipeline.

I really want to hear in-depth information on this car, to confirm what I heard or assumed during the past several years and learn more about it. Knowing typical Lexus, I probably won't hear much, except for brief soundbites and generic press fluff. Same goes for the LC, in just relying on Motor Trend to "tell the story".

I wish they would just give krew exclusive pieces on such processes or milestones, as the amount of traffic it would bring here would be something else.
mikeavelli
Carmaker1
So I am hearing that it will definitely be a 2018.5 model at this point? Lexus USA now confirms that as well, in showing that it will be available in "early 2018". I don't think it can be re-designated a 2019 model at this point, right? I cannot find an end of production (EOP) date for the LS 460 (L), but can imagine the LS will undergo a hiatus at this point.
Yeah seems it was moved back...thought it was going to be fall.....
mikeavelli
Carmaker1
So I am hearing that it will definitely be a 2018.5 model at this point? Lexus USA now confirms that as well, in showing that it will be available in "early 2018". I don't think it can be re-designated a 2019 model at this point, right? I cannot find an end of production (EOP) date for the LS 460 (L), but can imagine the LS will undergo a hiatus at this point.
Yeah seems it was moved back...thought it was going to be fall.....
F
http://www.carscoops.com/2017/03/2018-lexus-ls-500h-debuts-in-north.html

Also it looks like it's an AWD model if you look at that teeny-tiny badge just right of the LS500h badge.



I wish Lexus somehow was more elegant in indicating that this has AWD than just slapping an "AWD" badge as if it were some family sedan.
F
http://www.carscoops.com/2017/03/2018-lexus-ls-500h-debuts-in-north.html

Also it looks like it's an AWD model if you look at that teeny-tiny badge just right of the LS500h badge.



I wish Lexus somehow was more elegant in indicating that this has AWD than just slapping an "AWD" badge as if it were some family sedan.
Ian Schmidt
Nice picture. And I don't know a more elegant way to say "AWD". Mercedes and BMW use the same nomenclature (4MATIC and X-Drive) all the way up and down the line.
Ian Schmidt
Nice picture. And I don't know a more elegant way to say "AWD". Mercedes and BMW use the same nomenclature (4MATIC and X-Drive) all the way up and down the line.
meth.ix
Lexus needs some fancy nomenclature for AWD like Mercedes-Benz and BMW.
meth.ix
Lexus needs some fancy nomenclature for AWD like Mercedes-Benz and BMW.
Ian Schmidt
You don't want it to be too fancy though. On that score, Mercedes does OK because even non-car-people can figure out that 4MATIC means AWD/4WD. Similarly, Acura's SH-AWD is unpackable, and the "Super Handling" part describes more or less what it does for you. But "X-Drive" sounds like something that's going to go wrong on Star Trek: The Next Generation and strand Picard with the Klingons.
Ian Schmidt
You don't want it to be too fancy though. On that score, Mercedes does OK because even non-car-people can figure out that 4MATIC means AWD/4WD. Similarly, Acura's SH-AWD is unpackable, and the "Super Handling" part describes more or less what it does for you. But "X-Drive" sounds like something that's going to go wrong on Star Trek: The Next Generation and strand Picard with the Klingons.
zeusus
Ian Schmidt
Nice picture. And I don't know a more elegant way to say "AWD". Mercedes and BMW use the same nomenclature (4MATIC and X-Drive) all the way up and down the line.
I don't know, 4MATIC sounds pretty silly to me but its important to chose a name and commit to it or don't change the name at all if you can't take it all the way home. X-drive sounds much cooler.
zeusus
Ian Schmidt
Nice picture. And I don't know a more elegant way to say "AWD". Mercedes and BMW use the same nomenclature (4MATIC and X-Drive) all the way up and down the line.
I don't know, 4MATIC sounds pretty silly to me but its important to chose a name and commit to it or don't change the name at all if you can't take it all the way home. X-drive sounds much cooler.
F
Well, that's the thing....4Matic, Xdrive, Quattro....yeah, it may come off as gimmicky but it does a good job of highlighting an option or a feature that a customer may not be aware of.
F
Well, that's the thing....4Matic, Xdrive, Quattro....yeah, it may come off as gimmicky but it does a good job of highlighting an option or a feature that a customer may not be aware of.
mikeavelli
LEXUSATTACKMATIC!
mikeavelli
LEXUSATTACKMATIC!
mikeavelli
KREW will post soon.....

http://pressroom.lexus.com/releases/2017nyias+lexus+ls+500+f+sport+global+debut.htm?view_id=39709
mikeavelli
KREW will post soon.....

http://pressroom.lexus.com/releases/2017nyias+lexus+ls+500+f+sport+global+debut.htm?view_id=39709
zeusus
mikeavelli
LEXUSATTACKMATIC!
QUAXUS DRIVE
zeusus
mikeavelli
LEXUSATTACKMATIC!
QUAXUS DRIVE
Madi
zeusus
QUAXUS DRIVE
AWD stands for " ALL WEATHER DRIVE " This is known for the Full-time all wheel drive in sedans such as IS , GS , RC and LS :





But AWD in the NX and RX stands for ALL WHEEL DRIVE which is Part-time all wheel drive .
Madi
zeusus
QUAXUS DRIVE
AWD stands for " ALL WEATHER DRIVE " This is known for the Full-time all wheel drive in sedans such as IS , GS , RC and LS :





But AWD in the NX and RX stands for ALL WHEEL DRIVE which is Part-time all wheel drive .

M