Ed Ng

Co-Founder & Principal at AB Concept

One of Hong Kong’s foremost creative designers, Ed Ng is one-half of multi-disciplinary international design studio ab concept alongside co-founder Terence Ngan. Born and raised with both Asian and Western influences in Hong Kong, Ed’s formative years shaped his design principles and aesthetic, enabling him to understand different cultures and fuse them together in his design approach.

Over the past two decades, Ed has crafted innovative spaces for prestigious clients in luxury hospitality, wellness, and F&B sectors. Collaborations with brands like Four Seasons, Rosewood, Mandarin Oriental, Waldorf Astoria, and Ritz Carlton highlight his commitment to excellence and innovation at AB Concept.

Inspired by the serene beauty of the Japanese Alps, Ed currently resides in the hills of Karuizawa. Ed remains deeply engaged in the global design landscape, leveraging his experiences and insights to shape the future of contemporary interior design.

Tetsuji KURODA

Yasuhiro SUZUKI

Artist

After graduating from Tokyo Zokei University in 2001, he created a video installation "Perspective of the Globe Jungle" (2001) using the "Globe Jungle" playground equipment in a park, and "Blinking Leaves" (2003), in which paper leaves with open and closed eyes are drawn on them, blinking and falling into the space. These works are fresh and new approaches to the memories and experiences that we all have. "Zip-Fastener Ship," in which the ship's wake opens up oceans and rivers, and "Apple Kendama," which transforms the earth's gravitational pull into "play," are examples of artworks that use familiar industrial products as a medium to connect humans and nature from new perspectives. Major solo exhibitions include "Neighborhood Globe" at Art Tower Mito in 2014, "Spontaneous Garden" at the Hakone Open-Air Museum in 2017, and his first solo exhibition at an overseas museum in 2021 at the Tikotin Museum of Japanese Art in Haifa. Major international exhibitions include the Seville Biennale 2008, Setouchi International Art Festival 2010, and the 4th Moscow Biennale. He exhibited as a representative of Japan at the 1st London Design Biennale 2016. He received the Mainichi Design Award 2014. His major public artworks include "Quantum Apples" (Towada Art, Center) and "SHIBUYA HACHI COMPASS" (Shibuya City). Professor at Musashino Art University. Senior Visiting Researcher, Research Center for Advanced Science and Technology, The University of Tokyo. Member of The Japan Design Committee.

Eisuke TACHIKAWA

Design Strategist

Eisuke Tachikawa is the head of NOSIGNER, a design firm aiming to create a hopeful future. He has worked on many projects tackling social issues, like climate change mitigation and adaptation, renewable energy, disaster prevention, community revitalization, and more. He advocates “Evolutional Creativity,” which tells the essence of creativity from the natural phenomenon of biological evolution, and this aims to foster innovators in various sectors of industry, academia, and government. This approach won him the prestigious Shichihei Yamamoto Prize, the leading academic award in humanities. Aside from being the chairman of the Benesse Educational Research & Development Institute's "Future of Higher Education" group, Tachikawa is working to spread creative education. As a highly expressive designer of products, graphics, and architecture, he has won over 100 design awards in Japan and internationally, including the Good Design Gold Award, the Design for Asia Grand Award, and the German Design Gold Award. He was also a judge for the Good Design Awards, ACC Tokyo Creative Awards, Design for Asia Awards, and World Architecture Festival. In 2021, he became the youngest president of the Japan Industrial Design Association (JIDA), Japan's oldest national design organization. He contributed to holding the World Design Conference in Japan for the first time in 34 years. In 2023, he joined the board of directors for the World Design Organization (WDO), which is an advisory group for the United Nations.

Hiroshi NAKAMURA

Hiroshi Nakamura, born in 1974 in Tokyo and spent his childhood in Kamakura and Kanazawa, completed his master's degree in architecture at the Graduate School of Science and Technology, Meiji University in 1999. After graduation, he joined Kengo Kuma & Associates before establishing Hiroshi Nakamura & NAP, in 2002. In addition to being a Guest Professor at the Faculty of Science and Technology, Meiji University, he is also the representative of NAP Architectural Consulting, NAP International, and NAP Design Works, dealing with a wide range of fields from urban development to furniture.
His philosophy is to create an organic relationship between architecture, nature, and the human body through "microscopic design" that draws on natural phenomena, human behavior, and emotions. Furthermore, he aims to create "architecture that can only be found there" by working in harmony with the region's history, culture, industry, materials, and other unique characteristics. In recent years, he has found the essence of his design philosophy in traditional Japanese architecture and garden culture and is actively engaged in their reconstruction.
Awards: AIJ Prize Architectural Design Division, JIA Sustainable Architecture Award Grand Prize, Japan Federation of Architects & Building Engineers Associations Architectural Work Awards Grand Prize, KUKAN DESIGN AWARD KUKAN OF THE YEAR/Nikkei Inc Award, ARCASIA Awards for Architecture Building of the Year, LEAF AWARDS Overall Winner, WAN Sustainable Buildings of the Year Winner and more.
Books: 'Microscopic Designing Methodology' INAX Publishing, ' Regional Social Sphere Model' (joint authorship) INAX Publishing, 'JA114, Summer 2019: Hiroshi Nakamura & NAP' Shinkenchiku-Sha, etc.

Yuri NARUSE

Architect, NARUSE INOKUMA ARCHITECTS Co., Ltd.

Born in Aichi Prefecture in 1979. Completed a Master's degree in Architecture at the Graduate School of Engineering, University of Tokyo in 2004. Withdrew from the Doctoral program after completing the coursework in 2007. Co-founded NARUSE INOKUMA ARCHITECTS in 2007. Appointed as a specially-appointed assistant professor at the University of Tokyo in 2009, and as an assistant professor from 2010 to 2017. Since 2022, serving as a juror for the Good Design Award.
Naruse is engaged in the planning and design of architecture and interiors, focusing on the concept of "creating spaces to share."
Her notable works include "Onn Nakatsugawa," "LT Josai," "Kashiwanoha Open Innovation Lab," and "Seoul Metro Noksapyeong Station Design Renovation (Dance of Light)."
Her major awards include the 2024 Wood Design Award Encouragement Prize, the 33rd AACA Award Excellence Award, the Grand Prize of the Public Design Award of the Republic of Korea, and a Special Award at the 15th Venice Biennale International Architecture Exhibition.
Key publications include Designing Share Spaces (co-authored), Design Methods for Shared Spaces (editor), and Balancing Parenting and Architecture as a Career (editor), all published by Gakugei Publishing.

Hisaaki HIRAWATA

MOMENT / Interior Designer

Founded MOMENT Inc. with Tomohiro Watabe in 2005. The basis of MOMENT's design concept is a seamless design that encompasses both space and graphic.
Recent projects include “PLEATS PLEASE ISSEY MIYAKE New York Flagship Store”, “PAYSAGE Daikanyama”, “LIVING MOTIF”, "SUQQU" and “BRIDGESTONE Innovation Gallery".
"Seamless Design”(Graphic-sha) and "Redefining the Brand Experience"(FRAME) have recently been published.
http://www.moment-design.com

Brian van Stipdonk

creative director, Starbucks Global Concepts

Brian is originally from Detroit, Michigan. He has developed his own unique design approach by observing the contradictions that lurk in our everyday lives and finding hidden possibilities within them. He continues to hone his creativity by embracing contradictions and through them seeks to enrich people's lives.

He has worked in 15 countries on a wide range of projects, from furniture design to large-scale mixed-use developments. For over 30 years, he has collaborated with a wide range of clients and teams at renowned architectural firms such as RTKL, Gensler, and ZGF Architects in Los Angeles, San Francisco, Tokyo and Seattle. He has designed for international corporations such as CapitaLand, Central Pattana, Brown Brothers Harriman, Hard Rock Cafe, Ayala Land, Microsoft, Vodafone and Itoki.

Currently based in Tokyo, he serves as creative director for the Starbucks Global Concepts team, driving projects across the Asia Pacific region, China, and Japan.

Kaname MURAKAMI

Editor-in-Chief of WWDJAPAN

Born in Shizuoka Prefecture, Kaname Murakami pursued a specialization in the education of children with disabilities at Tohoku University’s Faculty of Education. Upon completion, he embarked on a career with Shizuoka Shimbun, a local newspaper, serving as a crime reporter in the social affairs department. Due to personal reasons, he resigned and relocated to New York, USA, where he furthered his education in Fashion Communication at the State University’s Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT). His career trajectory continued to ascend as he gained editorial assistant experience with two magazines before returning to Japan. Upon his return, he joined INFAS Publications, where his roles have included managing tie-ups for WWDJAPAN, overseeing the launch desk for WWDBEAUTY, and serving as the editor-in-chief of FASHION NEWS. Currently, he holds the position of editor-in-chief of WWDJAPAN, where he is responsible for orchestrating the editorial content across both the print and web media platforms.

Naomi YAMAMOTO

CEO, NY4 Co., ltd. / Specially appointed professor, Tohoku University

Since joining Shiseido in 1987, Naomi Yamamoto has consistently produced in display, spatial, product, and communication design. After serving as Creative Director for global projects in Tokyo, New York, Beijing, and Shanghai, Yamamoto was successively appointed Executive Creative Director and General Manager of the Advertising Department, Managing Director of the Creative Division, and Chief Creative Officer of Shiseido Co., ltd. In 2022, Yamamoto established Shiseido Creative Company as a subsidiary and became the CEO and the representative.
She focuses on global branding, brand identity, corporate communications, and CI management. Now, she is involved in several projects for new brand development, business revitalization, DE&I activities, and cultural inheritance, creating new values through beauty and nurturing the next generation.

Ai YOSHIDA

Architect / CEO
SUPPOSE DESIGN OFFICE

Born in Hiroshima in 1974, Ai Yoshida is the co-founder of SUPPOSE DESIGN OFFICE Co., Ltd. Based in both Hiroshima and Tokyo, she has worked on numerous projects in Japan and internationally, ranging from interiors and residences to large-scale mixed-use developments. She has received multiple accolades, including the JCD Design Award.

Notable works include NOT A HOTEL NASU, ONOMICHI U2, and Shibuya City Fureai Botanical Center.

In recent years, she has expanded into new business ventures, overseeing the production and management of projects such as Zekkei Real Estate and Shashokudo. In 2021, she established etc inc., a company specializing in spatial production and interior styling. Following the relocation of the Hiroshima headquarters in 2023, she launched the commercial facility Nekoyamachi Building and simultaneously started an ice cream business called yacone, further broadening her scope of work. Her work transcends architectural boundaries, integrating various fields into her practice.

Her published works include SUPPOSE DESIGN OFFICE - Building in a Social Context (FRAME) and the 20th-anniversary non-fiction book Beautiful Noise (Shufu no Tomo Sha).

Shigeru KUBOTA

President of Degins JP Inc. / Chairman of Japan environmental Design association（JCD）

1969 Born in Tokyo Japan
2003 Established Kubota Architects and Associates Inc.
2023 Change company name to Degins Jp Inc.
Planning, design producing, and design work has covered a wide range of categories including architecture, interior, products, and so on. The famous works are The WAREHOUSE, Galaxy HARAJUKU, MERCEDES-BENZ CONNECTION, Café 1886 at Bosch, METoA Ginza (Mitsubishi Electric’s Showroom), HIYORI CHAPTER KYOTO HOTEL, etc. We won many prizes, MERCEDES-BENZ CONNECTION, Imabari Towel Minamiaoyana, UT (UNIQLO T-Shit Store) and more.

Hidehito IZUHARA

President, Japan Design Space Association; Space Producer; Part-time Lecturer, Komazawa Women's University, Faculty of Human Sciences, Department of Living Space Design

Born in Tokyo in 1960. He has been involved in a wide range of business planning and concept design in the fields of large-scale commercial facilities, entertainment environments, hotels and resorts, exhibitions, and medical spaces, using his unique "scene-making" design method, in which he perceives space not as a 3D visible form, but as a scene, and programs emotional elements (sound, scent, light, conversation, transition of time, stories, etc.) of that scene. He has been involved in business planning, concept development, and design direction in a wide range of fields, including large-scale commercial facilities, entertainment environments, hotels & resorts, exhibitions, medical facilities, and spaces.
Representative projects: Planning and comprehensive environmental direction for Tokyo Disney Resort "Ikspiari", concept development and comprehensive commercial environment direction for "Yokohama Red Brick Warehouse No. 2", concept development and comprehensive commercial environment direction for the International Expo "Yokohama Red Brick Warehouse No. 2", and design direction for the International Expo "Yokohama Red Brick Warehouse No. 2". Expo 2005 "EXPO 2005 AICHI JAPAN" exhibition design direction and architectural lighting design, Yokohama Motomachi Shopping Street design and town rebranding, Sapporo Grand Hotel and Park Hotel rebranding and comprehensive design direction, and the rebranding and rebranding of the Sapporo Grand Hotel and Park Hotel.　Rebranding and comprehensive design direction for the Sapporo Grand Hotel and Park Hotel, etc.