Making "New Year's" Fun

Introducing "Ideas to Make XX More Interesting" from a young art director at Dentsu Inc. This time, Yuji Higuchi presents "Making 'New Year' More Interesting."

Lucky money envelopes that spark conversation when given

──Why did you choose "New Year's" as the theme?

Higuchi: My assignment was for the December issue of Monthly Dentsu Inc. News, the last issue of the year. I wanted something that evoked the season, so I decided on "New Year's." Also, back in my student days, I loved graphic design and made nothing but that kind of work. I wanted to recapture that fresh feeling from back then and create a product rooted in graphic design. That's how I arrived at the lucky money envelope.

You see lots of cute lucky money envelopes in stores—some with designed mizuhiki cords, others with charming illustrations—but I couldn't find any that became three-dimensional. So I thought, if I could make one that transforms from flat to 3D, it would be something a little different. Inspired by the Year of the Rooster, I decided to make a chicken out of a lucky money envelope. After some trial and error, this design came together.

I have a nephew myself, and I thought that if I gave him a doll-like lucky money envelope, it would be a great conversation starter and the kids might really enjoy it. Using this, I think you could become the hero among the relatives (laughs).

Disposable cameras that don't take pictures too perfectly

──Tell us what you're into right now.

Higuchi: My passion for photography has reignited. I used to shoot a lot with an SLR back in my student days, but lately I'm hooked on disposable cameras. They're light, and I can just toss them in my bag without worrying about carrying them around. They're perfect for casually snapping everyday moments or when I'm out and about, and I use them to create little memories.

Plus, I like that they don't take overly perfect photos like smartphones do. They might come out blurry, out of focus, or with colors that don't quite match, but that casual feel actually makes them feel more real as memories.

When you get them developed, they burn the data onto a CD-R for you, which makes managing the files surprisingly convenient.