Blair Ballard is a founding partner of Clean Line Designs, a design and manufacturing company of Canadian made Solid Wood Furniture for the contemporary home. Though born in London, England, his heritage is Canadian and he now calls Vancouver B.C., home. As a result of work with international hotel chains, Blair traveled extensively. The travel sparked his interest in architecture and design; specifically how different cultures would express and achieve their functional objectives within the various vernacular aesthetics. These experiences combined with a degree in Engineering from Cambridge University where he honed his eye for detail and structure, resulted in a passion for the furniture industry. Since 2000, Blair and his partner have been involved in all aspects of the furniture realm, whether in designing, manufacturing, retailing or wholesaling. Their clients have ranged from award winning architects to boutique hotels.

Graduated from Osaka Unisversity in 1973. After working at Nissan Motor Co. Ltd., started to work for NAKAGAWA LUMBER Co., Ltd. in 1975. In 1976 studied about 2×4 construction at the British Columbia Institute of Technology. In 1985 was qualified as a wooden architect. In 1989 established the outdoor facilities department. Has applied for more than 20 patents and converted the company from a distributer to a manufacturer. In 1995 Panasonic used one of those patents. In 2001 designed and built 90% of outdoor area of a theme park in Osaka. In 2002, got a patent for outdoor wood fence which was adopted as a prefectural venture technology. The company's website is No.1 in Japanese wood and building industries.

Yoshikawa took part in the IMD/IML product project management in the Industrial Materials Division of NISSHA Co., Ltd., a technology developed to apply designs on products as they are formed for overseas information terminal manufacturers, and engaged in the process of manufacturing and grew expertise in resin and film materials. She later established a department aimed to develop and promote the design of in-house products based on CMF design, integrating the idea of ​​design management, which at the time was not widely recognized in Japan. She also took part in launching Material ConneXion Tokyo in 2013, providing services and proposals to link materials and processing technologies to product, design, innovative development and manufacturing. In April 2014, she took office as Chief Executive Officer, managing business development with the goal of contributing to creating innovative products and revitalizing Japanese manufacturing.

Born in 1940 in Ceggia, Venice.

After some experience working with Veneto based companies, he founded Magis in 1976 as a no-factory production company for the mass production of furniture and household accessories with a high technological profile and worldwide distribution.

Magis is now appreciated for the high quality of its projects and products and cooperates with highly respected designers.
Some of Magis’ products are also part of the permanent collections in important museums around the world.

Wallpaper - one of the most important English fashion and design magazines - describes Eugenio Perazza as one of the ten persons “who will change the way we live”.

Began designing in Japan and Milano from 1969. Since then, Kita has designed many best-seller products from European and Japanese manufacturers world-wide. Many of his works are selected for permanent collections in world famous museums such as The Museum of Modern Art in New York (MOMA), Centre Georges Pompidou (Paris), etc. He is also very active in revitalizing and promoting local Japanese traditional crafts and industries as well. Producer of the international trade fair for home and lifestyle renovation “Living & Design” and a proponent of Japanese lifestyle renovation, the “RENOVETTA” project. Professor of The Osaka University of Arts. He was awarded the prize “ADI carrier internazionale of Compasso d’Oro” of Italy in 2011. In 2016, he served as The International Jury of Compasso d’Oro, Italy. His recent publications include “Power of Design”, “Local Industry + Design”, “Venture for Design”, and many more.

Born in Kochi prefecture, in 1946. Graduated from Osaka University of Arts. After working at the advertising department of Takashimaya Department Store, Osaka Branch, becomes an independant illustrator.
Established Oda Illustration Office. Co-founded CHAIRS, a chair laboratory with Ms. Kinuko Senoo in 1980, with the aim of researching and collecting superbly designed chairs and other everyday items from the 20th century.
Relocated from Osaka to Asahikawa, Hokkaido in 1994.
Taught at Tokai University School of Art and Engineering as professor until 2012.
Professor Emeritus at Tokai University from 2015 to present.
Received 27 awards related to advertisement including Suntory Encouragement Prize.
1997 Dannish Design Award (Denmark)
2012 Director Emeritus of Denmark Finn Juhl Institute (Denmark)
2013 Reproduction of the easy chair designed by Nanna Ditzel named the "Oda chair". (Denmark)
2015 The 1st Hans J. Wegner Award (Denmark)
2018 Inoue Yasushi Memorial Culture Award Special Prize (Japan)

Born in 1975. Studied architecture at university and graduate school. Joined Nomura Co., Ltd., in 2001.
Engaged in a wide range of space design in Japan and overseas from restaurants, boutiques, hotels, commercial facilities, to airport environments. The only Japanese to win "40 Under 40" in 2015 awarded to forty active Asian designers under 40 taking place in Hong Kong.

Major Works
Overall supervision of Hankyu Men's Tokyo / Hall of Manufacturing Ingenuity, Panasonic Museum / Environmental design of "The Food Times", "Ramen Runway" etc. in "greenblue" of Fukuoka Airport / NIWAKA, Kyoto flagship store / Dining & Bar Aiju, Rihga Royal Gran Okinawa / All Dining REMONE, Rihga Royal Hotel / Dempsey Hill Store, Henri Charpentier Singapore, and more.

Masataka Hosoo, innovator and brand director of HOSOO, a Kyoto-based traditional kimono textile maker, is bringing Nishijin-ori weaving techniques and textiles to the forefront of the design and fashion scenes worldwide. Popularized by the nobles of the Imperial Courts of Kyoto and the samurai class, Nishijin is a special yarn dyeing and weaving technique developed more than 1,200 years ago which is used for garments, such as kimonos.
HOSOO’s history can be traced back to the Kyoto silk industry of the sixth century, and today the company is widely acknowledged both for its exceptional skills within traditional Japanese three-dimensional weaving techniques and for applying richly textured Nishijin weaving to contemporary design. Introducing elements of modern technology and his innovative business acumen to this traditional craft has allowed Hosoo to establish ongoing relationships with artists including Teresita Fernández, Sputniko!, Peter Marino, as well as international design firms, such as Louis Vuitton, Chanel, and Dior.
www.hosoo-kyoto.com