When developing the All-New QX80, the team behind it were influenced by the world around them. Listen as they discuss what inspired them.
INFINITI MAKERS
The Makers
The Makers series focuses on creators who are redefining traditional crafts and skills with modern techniques and materials. Their innovative work inspires us at INFINITI.
A Lasting Legacy
The team wanted to create a luxury SUV that would be cherished for generations. Inspired by traditional Japanese craftsmanship, the All-New QX80 stands as a timeless symbol of heritage and forward-thinking design.
Creating the Extraordinary
The design philosophy of Kabuku means to create something extraordinary. The aerodynamic car shape was designed to create visual pleasure, and the welcoming exterior light draws its influence from the entrance of a Japanese inn.
Episode Soundbites
A Space That Inspires
Takuma Kadotani: the rhythm of aerodynamics.
Antonio Lopez: luxury is about shared experience.
Megumi Mitsui: nature within design.
All Episodes
Watch All Episodes
The latest season goes behind the scenes and meets the team who make INFINITI vehicles. In previous seasons, we focused on the work of designers, architects and craftspeople who are a source of inspiration to us.
EP 1 – Antonio Lopez
The QX80’s Chief Product Specialist talks about how his understanding of people’s needs helps to create a better experience for both driver and passengers.
EP 2 - Tom Hu
Tom Hu, Interior Designer, talks about how striving to create something iconic led to the All-New QX80’s visionary cabin.
EP 3 - Megumi Mitsui
Megumi Mitsui, Color and Trim Designer, talks about how nature inspired the color of All-New QX80’s luxury interior.
EP 4 - Takuma Kadotani
Takuma Kadotani, Aerodynamics Engineer, talks about how science and design work together to create the All-New QX80’s sleek exterior.
EP 5 - Naomichi Ide
Naomichi Ide, the All-New QX80’s Lighting Designer, talks about how he created welcoming lighting that anticipates your needs.
EP 6 - Hiroyuki Sakurai
Hiroyuki Sakurai, INFINITI designer, talks about his role in shaping the brand’s visual identity and designing the car dealerships.
EP 1 – Nada Debs
Nada Debs believes craft goes beyond geography, language and culture. She discusses her creative process and the repetitive patterns that feature in her work, and we draw a parallel with those which can be found in the INFINITI QX60.
EP 2 - EJ So
Taiwanese shoemaker EJ So wants to maintain the value of shoe craftsmanship. His aim is to make pieces that are timeless. The INFINITI QX55 has a bold fresh design which we hope will be timeless, like EJ So’s shoes.
EP 3 - Hitoko Okada
Hitoko Okada brings traditional materials and techniques together in a contemporary way to create powerful statement pieces that play with light. We introduce her to the INFINITI QX60 which has a bold shape that also plays with light.
EP 4 - Rodrigo Ortigosa
Rodrigo Ortigosa, founder of Nami Sake, discusses how they use a balance of tradition and innovation to create a beautifully refined, modern product. He drives the INFINITI QX55 and finds that it follows the same principles.
EP 1 – Ryue Nishizawa
In the first episode, we meet Ryue Nishizawa, a Japanese architect who discusses the connection between interior and exterior space in Japanese architecture. We compare his views to the design of the INFINITI QX60.
EP 2 – Shigeru Ban
Shigeru Ban is a Japanese architect known for his innovative buildings and use of unconventional materials. In this episode, he talks about how buildings should be strong on the outside and feel natural on the inside, like the INFINITI QX60.
EP 3 - Junya Ishigami
We meet Junya Ishigami, a talented architect who blends traditional elements with new ones. He discusses how he wants to make architecture that will be around for a long time. We have a similar ambition for the INFINITI QX60.
EP 4 - Yuko Nagayama
Yuko Nagayama is a leading architect influenced by nature. In this episode, she talks about how her buildings draw on leaf patterns, water and natural geometry to create texture. We also focused on texture when designing the INFINITI QX60.
EP 5 - Yuri Naruse
In this episode, we meet Yuri Naruse, a talented architect whose designs aim to keep people connected to nature and its benefits. The benefits of nature are why we designed the QX60 cabin to let in as much natural light as possible.
EP 1 - Takahiro Yagi
Takahiro Yagi’s family-run workshop uses ancient Japanese design practices to bring his traditional creations to life and provide a lasting sense of comfort. He admires the comfort and luxury when we show him the interior of the QX50.
EP 2 - Toru Tsuji
Toru Tsuji was doubted by his peers because of his tattoos. But he’s proved them wrong by using unconventional methods to help his craft thrive. He works with metal to give it a soft elegance, something he discovered in the styling of the QX55.
EP 3 - Shuji Nakagawa
Shuji Nakagawa’s blend of traditional woodworking craft and modern methods are brought to life in contemporary shapes. He discovered the same attention to detail is in abundance in the QX60’s cabin.
EP 4 - Horiki Eriko
Horiki Eriko is an expert washi paper designer, a traditional form of Japanese papermaking. She fuses technology with traditional craft by blending innovation and tradition. She found the QX55 to be powerful and elegant.
EP 5 - Hosai Matsbayashi
Hosai Matsbayashi is a ceramic artist, who combines traditional techniques with modern aesthetics to make beautiful tea ceremony wares. He admires the way the QX60’s body shape is so fluid it almost feels soft.
EP 6 - Tatsuyuki Kosuga
Tatsuyuki Kosuga used to hang out with biker crews. Nowadays he’s a leading craftsman. He creates objects from natural materials that improve with use and age. We introduce him to the QX55, which he thinks is elegant and powerful.
The Makers Roundtable
This episode serves as a wrap up to season 1. It features all 6 Kyoto craftspeople in conversation with Taisuke Nakamura, Head of INFINITI Design, as they explore modern Japanese craftsmanship, timeless beauty, and more.
Featured Vehicles
Design Philosophies in Focus
Throughout The Makers series, we teamed each episode with the INFINITI vehicle we believe reflects the same design philosophies we so admire in our subjects’ work.
All-New QX80
Explore INFINITI's flagship luxury SUV. Powerful and sophisticated, it offers unrestrained hospitality for up to eight people.
QX60
INFINITI’s mid-size 7-seater SUV. Outside, the athletic silhouette is balanced with subtle features. Inside, the luxurious cabin has everything you need for modern life.
QX55
Our radically styled 5-seater crossover. It has the soul of a performance coupe and the body of a stylish crossover SUV.
QX50
Our compact 5-seater SUV made for the city. With swooping lines and a luxurious cabin, it’s perfect for those who are searching for something different.
Next Steps
Find INFINITI Near You
Visit your local website to explore the full breadth of what INFINITI offers near you.
On the Horizon
Discover our visionary new INFINITI models including our first all-electric vehicle, Vision Qe.
