Such is the inspiration behind Fujifilm’s X-Series, which Imai discussed on Thursday at the Fortune, Time and Wallpaper* Brainstorm Design conference held in Singapore, giving delegates an insight into the creative process of one of the world’s top camera designers.

“The X-Series design completely embodies the true essence of the camera,” says Imai. “A design that preserves the good should not be changed.”

The X-series is a line of 15 mirrorless cameras of varying capabilities reminiscent of a rangefinder. The line is iconic because of the way it couples a vintage design feel with cutting edge camera functions. While other leading brands like Nikon (NIKON) and Canon (CAJ) design some of the most high-tech DSLRs out there, Fujifilm took a step back. For a fraction of the cost and weight, Fujifilm’s X Series delivers quality photos with a sense of nostalgia.

When designing the X-series, Imai wanted to tap into a childhood memory ubiquitous among photographers: discovering their father’s camera.

“Father used to keep very good camera in his room. He would say, ‘Don’t touch that camera!'” Imai recounts. “That’s the camera I saw when I was a child.”

Imai wanted to capture that wistful longing and translate it into the device’s blueprint. He also wanted to design the camera in a way that appealed to all five senses. The manual dials, the synthetic leather, and the sound the camera makes when taking a photo are all designed in a sensuous way.

Demand for digital cameras has dropped significantly with the rise of the smartphone. Camera makers have explored different ways to compete, like adding smart-phone capabilities such as being able to upload to social networking sites directly from the device. But since debuting in 2011, sales of the X-Series have increased five fold and Imai says the X-Series played an important tole in raising the profile of the design department inside the company.

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