Design By Japan: 20 Top Interior Design Firms You Should Know - Part 1 (2024)

Here’s 10 of the top interior design firms in Japan you should know about!

Japan is known as one of the biggest design markets in the world, specially considering the innovation factor that has brought into the design market. Here at Mid-Century Furniture blog, we’re going on a journey to discover the best interior design firms in Japan, divided in two parts. Today, we present you the first 10 top interior design firms, but be on the lookout for the part 2 to get to know all the inspiration you need this second half of 2019!

Aoyama Nomura Design

Design By Japan: 20 Top Interior Design Firms You Should Know - Part 1 (1)

Aoyama Nomura Design (A.N.D.) it’s a magnificent, high-end interior, architectural and product design company of Nomura Co. Ltd.. This design firm is recognized as one of Japan’s most incredible and innovative group of designers, constructors and operators. Led by creative director Ryu Kosaka, this company contains a team of experts and a large amount of award-winning interiors for commercial, hotel, office, restaurant, retail, exhibition, and residential projects in Japan, China, Hong Kong, and Singapore. Their design identity is focused on innovation, creativity and uniqueness, through the faithful reflection of the client’s vision!

Arata Isozaki

Design By Japan: 20 Top Interior Design Firms You Should Know - Part 1 (3)

The architect established Arata Isozaki & Associates in 1963, after the allied occupation when Japan had regained its sovereignty and was seeking physical rebuilding amidst political, economic and cultural uncertainty from the decimation of WWII. He has won the 2019 Pritzker Architecture Prize in a ceremony at the Château de Versailles in France thanks to his transnational and fearlessly futurist approach to design. With more than 100 projects, Isozaki is the 49th architect and eight Japanese architect to receive the honor. “The City” in the Air, in the Shinjuku neighborhood in Tokyo, Japan, is one of his renowned projects in the urbanism industry.

Atsushi Kitagawara

Design By Japan: 20 Top Interior Design Firms You Should Know - Part 1 (4)

The Kitagawara Thermal Architecture Research Institute was founded in 1980 by Kitakawahara Thermal and reorganized into a corporation in 1982 and began full-scale design work. His link with nature is ever enduring, as one can deduce by his magnificent work with the Japan Pavilion at the Milan International Exposition in 2015, Shibuya’s cinema building Rise, completed in 1986. The architect also envisioned some conceptual furniture designs, some of which are pieces that could very well come from an imaginative fantasy world of the highest order, a treat to both the eye & heart, proving that the creative landscape of his mind is quite eclectic.

FHAMS

Design By Japan: 20 Top Interior Design Firms You Should Know - Part 1 (5)

Based in Kyoto, Fhams is an incredible design team that have worked on a wide range of project types and scales such as interior design, hotels and retail shops. The design company founded by Ryotaro Ando in 2000, proposes designs by considering various aspects, both contextual conditions, and legal conditions, context, climate, and concerns. From the first planning stage, the FHAMS design team proposes designs that combines both contextual conditions and legal conditions, such as programs, context, climate and environment.The FHAMS design team strive to pursue the finest quality and the most exclusive designs.

Gwenael Nicolas – Curiosity

Design By Japan: 20 Top Interior Design Firms You Should Know - Part 1 (7)

CURIOSITY is a multidisciplinary studio based in Tokyo, created by French designer Gwenael Nicolas. From bespoke interior design projects, to architecture and product design, the studio is constantly redefining the boundary of design, not in an abstract way. They collaborate with a large spectrum of companies and clients, to create new products, develop new materials and define new design identities.

Hashimoto Yukio

Design By Japan: 20 Top Interior Design Firms You Should Know - Part 1 (8)

Ranging from private restaurants, offices, retail and commercial spaces, to hospitality, restaurants, cafes, clinics and banquets, the Hashimoto Yukio has a very diverse project portfolio. His philosophy focuses on designing ambience instead the material, that allows him to create timeless and harmonious yet quite minimalistic interiors, where the finest details are brought to our attention by a subtle play of light.

Kanji Ueki

Design By Japan: 20 Top Interior Design Firms You Should Know - Part 1 (9)

Interior Designer and Representative director of Casappo & Associates, Kanji Ueki was born in Tokyo in 1945. After graduating from Keio University in Tokyo, Ueki went to Italy where he worked at RINASCENTE Department Design section in Milan. In 1971 he started working for Aldo Jacober Architect Studio in Milan, but in 1975 he moved to his homeland and established the top design office Casappo & Associates in Tokyo. His remarkably simple yet striking design style transcends the Asian minimalist vibe most clients search for. From all the accolades the designer has won over the years, we highlight the 2003 Industrial Design Excellence Award for his work on an Apple Store.

Koichi Futatsumata

Design By Japan: 20 Top Interior Design Firms You Should Know - Part 1 (10)

Koichi Futatsumata was born in Kagoshima, Japan. After graduating from Department of Engineering and Architecture at Kyushu Industrial University, Futatsumata set up design unit “CASE-REAL” and started his incredible professional career as an interior designer. Thanks to his amazing design solutions in the areas of space, architecture and furniture, Futatsumata has exhibited his work at various exhibitions domestically and internationally. In 2013, Futatsumata set up “KOICHI FUTATSUMATA STUDIO” where he developed his product design practice further.

Ryoji Iedokoro

Design By Japan: 20 Top Interior Design Firms You Should Know - Part 1 (12)

At the office, Ryoji Iedokoro constantly strives to help people realize the importance of architecture through his unique and innovative designs. By combining everyday objects and new approaches the studio takes the spaces central to our day to day lives to a completely new level. Iedokoro believes that architecture is a critical part of every society and community , since it can shape our perceptions and has the power to enrich every human life. Committed to achieve excellence, their amazing design projects portfolio was based in the engagement relationship with their clients, giving them the opportunity to meet and discuss everything about their goals in terms of design.

SANAA

Design By Japan: 20 Top Interior Design Firms You Should Know - Part 1 (13)

Also known as the Sejima and Nishizawa and Associates. this multiple award-winning architectural firm is based in Tokyo, Japan. It was founded in 1995 by architects Kazuyo Sejima (1956–) and Ryue Nishizawa (1966–), who was awarded the Pritzker Prize in 2010. Notable works include the Toledo Museum of Art’s Glass Pavilion in Toledo, Ohio; the New Museum of Contemporary Art in New York; the Rolex Learning Center at the EPFL in Lausanne; the Serpentine Pavilion in London; the Christian Dior Building in Omotesandō, Tokyo; the 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art in Kanazawa; and the Louvre-Lens Museum in France.

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Design By Japan: 20 Top Interior Design Firms You Should Know - Part 1 (2024)

FAQs

Design By Japan: 20 Top Interior Design Firms You Should Know - Part 1? ›

The school places students in proximity to actual industry personnel which makes networking a significant aspect of their professional journey. The Kyoto University Fine Arts is also well-loved for its program in interior design which has a blend of traditional Japanese elements and modern technology at the forefront.

Is Japan a good place to study interior design? ›

The school places students in proximity to actual industry personnel which makes networking a significant aspect of their professional journey. The Kyoto University Fine Arts is also well-loved for its program in interior design which has a blend of traditional Japanese elements and modern technology at the forefront.

What is the name of the Japanese interior design company? ›

Aoyama Nomura Design is a high-end interior, architectural, and product design company. This design firm is recognized as one of Japan's most incredible groups of designs and its team has a large amount of award-winning interiors for commercial, hotel, office, restaurant, retail, exhibition, and residential projects.

What is the Japanese interior design theory? ›

The Japanese design ethos is one that values clarity and purpose in every aspect of the home, creating a harmonious balance that is both aesthetically pleasing and spiritually calming.

What is the hardest part of interior design? ›

7 Challenges Interior Design Firms Struggle With
  • Keeping up with Social Media.
  • Building Workflow Automation.
  • Managing Client Expectations (and Communication)
  • Communicating with Your Team.
  • Filling the Pipeline.
  • Sourcing Products.
  • Clients Shopping You.

What is the highest paid interior designer? ›

High Paying Interior Design Jobs
  • Interior Design Director. Salary range: $86,500-$133,500 per year. ...
  • Senior Interior Designer. Salary range: $72,500-$105,000 per year. ...
  • Interior Decorator. ...
  • Space Planner. ...
  • Interior Designer. ...
  • Commercial Interior Designer. ...
  • Residential Designer. ...
  • Design Studio Consultant.

Where is the best country to study interior design? ›

In this article, you can find the best 6 countries to consider for learning interior design.
  • Japan. Japan is known for its unique traditional architecture with a modernized twist. ...
  • Spain. Spain is one of the most affordable countries for international students. ...
  • England. ...
  • Turkey. ...
  • China. ...
  • Italy. ...
  • Final Words.

Who are the big three Japanese designers? ›

Miyake, Kawakubo, and Yamamoto are often referred to as The Big Three. Their clothing is described as conceptual and deconstructed. But what do these words mean?

Who is the most famous designer in Japan? ›

1. Yohji Yamamoto. Though he began his career pursuing a law degree, high fashion designer, Yohji Yamamoto, altered his course to help his mother at her dressmaking shop. The designer won the Soen and Endo awards while doing his fashion degree at Bunka Fashion College in Tokyo, which eventually led him to Paris.

What is the most famous company from Japan? ›

Top Japanese Brands Globally
  • 1: Toyota.
  • 2: Honda.
  • 3: Nissan.
  • 4: Canon.
  • 5: Sony.
  • 6: MUFG.
  • 7: Panasonic.
  • 8: Uniqlo.

How can I make my room look Japanese? ›

Japanese design uses a neutral color palette inspired by nature. Select shades of beige, taupe, gray and soft greens for your home. These colors create a tranquil atmosphere. You can add depth and contrast to your space by using accents of black or darker hues.

How can I make my house look Japanese? ›

Keep it simple: Japanese design is all about clean lines and minimal decor. Stick to simple shapes and avoid clutter. Go natural: Japanese design often uses natural materials like wood, bamboo, and stone. Try incorporating these materials into your decor.

What is Japanese interior design known for? ›

Modern Japanese interior design is rooted in minimalist principles, clean lines, and natural materials. With modern Japanese-style rooms, you'll see simple, oftentimes low, furniture, blank walls, as well as a neutral color palette. In modern Japanese-style homes, less is more.

Is interior design harder than architecture? ›

Interior Design allows you more freedom to be creative and it is certainly easier to learn than Architecture. But Interior Design pays less and is in less demand when compared to Architecture. Architecture carries much more weight than Interior Design. It is the art of structures, space and mass.

Is interior design hard to get a job? ›

Getting any job can be tough- but in the interior design field most of us look for “some” sort of experience- there are specific skills that are important but we are willing to teach- if the right mind set and personality is present.

Is interior design math heavy? ›

For interior design, the knowledge of mathematical operations like addition, subtraction, division, and multiplication is a must. You can use them to figure out the dimensions accurately, plan the space requirements, and determine the cost of materials.

Do interior designers make good money in Japan? ›

Interior Designer Salaries in Japan

The national average salary for a Interior designer is ¥2,00,000 in Japan. Filter by location to see Interior designer salaries in your area. Salary estimates are based on 5 salaries submitted anonymously to Glassdoor by Interior designer employees.

What is the best field to study in Japan? ›

But there are some that are regarded as the the best courses in Japan for international students:
  • International Relations.
  • Finance.
  • Robotics and Mechanical Engineering.
  • Aerospace Engineering.
  • Business Management.
  • Biological Sciences.
  • Health Sciences.
  • Tourism and hospitality Management.

Is it a good idea to study in Japan? ›

Excellent safety, accessibility, and high quality of life standards make Japan a top location for students. Studying abroad in Japan means you will further your studies in a well-rounded education system, experience a unique new culture, and gain a more international perspective!

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