Hideshi Hamguchi describes himself as a concept creator, strategist + designer who cannot draw pictures. But as a “self-proclaimed diagram-lover, Hamaguchi uses visual models to bring what he calls “simplexity” and “structured chaos” to the process of brainstorming, helping businesses generate creative ideas and strategies in various industries & businesses” (Wikipedia).
On Thursday, Bram Pitoyo and I met with Hideshi Hamaguchi at a small tea shop near Ziba Design in NW Portland. To say that we were excited to meet him is an understatement. He talked to us in graphs and images, and we saw a little into how his brain worked. We were blown away by how he considered the world, and how he represented it on paper.
Workshop on Idea Creation
We’re excited to announce that Hideshi will be hosting a workshop on how to think and be creative. We’re looking forward to learning with him.
History
Hideshi was born in Osaka, Japan, majored in “Physical Chemistry” at Kyoto University, likes “Business Chemistry” loves “Human Chemistry” and has been living in Beaverton / Portland for eight years, so he is “10% Oregonian -not concentrated-” so far (if he will live up to the age of eighty).
Before starting up LUNARR, Hideshi was Director of New Business Planning Group, Matsushita Electric Works (known for their Panasonic and National brands) in Japan, and Executive Vice President of Panasonic Electric Works Laboratory of America, Inc (R&D company in US). Also, From 1998 to 2000, he served as a strategist at Ziba Design in Portland, which gave him the opportunity to consult with its clients and help them develop new products and services.
Hamaguchi has led more than one hundred projects, from corporate vision to the product strategy or manufacturing process levels for many companies.
Q&A
Portland on Fire asked Hideshi some of the following questions:
On Could you describe your secret process to come up with unique concept / strategies for variety of businesses?
Step 1: Get information – as minimal as possible
Step 2: Draw and play with lots of diagrams
Step 3: Touch, think, talk, and thank.
Step 4: Take a walk
Step 5: Shake head, squash hair, hit the wall
Step 6: Take a shower
Step 7: Enjoy the moment of “what if…!?” and “a-ha!”
The key is; Keeping the think-mode at “Structures Chaos” and using both right brain [ intuition ] and left brain [ logic ].
Connect with Hideshi
We’re honored to have Bill DeRouchey, a Sr. Interaction Designer in the Interaction Design group at 
