The Hall of Fame for Asian Interior Architecture & Design
Behind every visually compelling space, lies a creative mind. Through monthly featured interviews, Distinguished Design Personalities brings in the spotlight design personalities who play a crucial role in shaping the global interior architecture and design scene.
We speak with influential designers and industry leaders who have in common stand-out works to flaunt, and a stellar career denoted by accolades and prestige, as well as academia thought leaders who shape design pedagogy and practice, to glean insights into prominent design personalities of our time.
Korakoth Kunalungkarn
Korakoth Kunalungkarn is a prominent leader in the regional interior design scene, currently serving as Chairman of Interior Architecture 103 Co., Ltd. (ia103) and President of the Thailand Interior Designers’ Association (TIDA) for the 2023-2025 …
Continue readingChatpong Chuenrudeemol
Chatpong Chuenrudeemol, Principal and Founder of CHAT Architects, leads a Bangkok-based research and design practice. In 2012, Chatpong launched the “Bangkok Bastards” project, an innovative initiative that delves into creative architectural solutions crafted by everyday …
Continue readingIDr Ooi Boon Seong
IDr Ooi Boon Seong, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Ooi Design & Associates (OD&A), is an esteemed interior designer who has garnered over 30 prestigious awards in the course of his career spanning over …
Continue readingSanjay Puri
Sanjay Puri is the award-winning Principal Architect of Sanjay Puri Architects, established in 1992. With numerous international and national accolades, Sanjay Puri is a distinguished architect in India who emphasizes the importance of contextual architecture. …
Continue readingPatrick Leung
Dr. Patrick Leung is the Founder and Principal Designer of P A L Design Consultants, a multi-award-winning interior design consultant established in 1994. One of the most celebrated interior designers in Hong Kong, Patrick has …
Continue readingKezia Karin
Kezia Karin, Principal of KEZIAKARIN Studio and the proud recipient of the Young Designer of the Year award at the APSDA Awards 2023, is emerging as a formidable presence in Indonesia’s interior design landscape. With …
Continue readingClint Nagata
Clint Nagata, Founder and Creative Partner of Blink Design Group, infuses in his practice his profound passion for travel, hospitality, and design. His dedication to crafting exceptional spaces stems from his early love for design …
Continue readingAngela Spathonis
As Principal and Managing Director of Gensler’s Singapore office, Angela Spathonis spearheads the development and execution of pivotal business strategies. Garnering over two decades of experience, Angela specialises in pushing design boundaries across workplace, retail, …
Continue readingJoe Cheng
Joe Cheng, the visionary CEO of Cheng Chung Design (CCD), is a prominent leader in the hospitality industry, masterfully blending Eastern and Western design principles to redefine luxury. Established three decades ago, CCD has ascended …
Continue readingJean-Michel Gathy
Jean-Michel Gathy, an internationally award-winning architect-designer, is revered for designing iconic luxury hotels and resorts. Born in Belgium but based in Malaysia, Gathy established Denniston in 1983, excelling in architecture, interiors, and landscape design. …
Continue readingKris Lin
Kris Lin is the founder and Design Director of KLID (Kris Lin International Design). Since its inception in 2001, KLID, headquartered in Shanghai, has earned international acclaim, receiving numerous awards for its outstanding contributions to …
Continue readingHorace Pan
Horace Pan is a prominent figure in design, renowned for his innovative approach to commercial interior disciplines and the creation of immersive spatial experiences. Horace holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Interior Design and …
Continue readingEd and Terence
AB Concept, a design studio founded in Hong Kong in 1999 by architect Terence Ngan and interior designer Ed Ng, boasts over two decades of global experience. They collaborate with top hospitality brands to craft …
Continue readingJoyce Wang
Joyce Wang is the creative force behind Joyce Wang Studio. With studios in Hong Kong and London, Joyce has worked on numerous stellar international projects and earned global acclaim for her elegant and luxurious designs. …
Continue readingKenneth Ko
Born in 1943 in Shanghai, but raised in Hong Kong, Kenneth Ko embarked on a remarkable design journey. Graduating with first-class honours from the University of Melbourne, he founded his design studio at the age …
Continue readingKoichiro Ikebuchi
Born in Osaka in 1965, Koichiro Ikebuchi’s design journey unfolded with a passion for architecture. After obtaining an architecture degree from Osaka, Ikebuchi ventured to Singapore, where he continued to grow his portfolio by assuming the …
Continue readingMakoto Tanijiri
Makoto Tanijiri, co-founder of Suppose Design Office in Hiroshima and Tokyo, is an architectural visionary known for his captivating and ingenious designs. With expertise in contemporary architecture, his immersive creations span housing, business spaces, commercial …
Continue readingChang Ching-ping 張清平
張清平先生是天坊室內計劃有限公司創世人,這是一家位於台灣中国屢獲殊榮的多學科設計公司。他以獨特的心奢華設計獲得國際肯定,展現出他卓越的成就和對設計的熱情。亞洲設計師名錄與張清平先生聯繫,來理解他的設計理念和其中的訊息。 Chang Ching-ping is the founder of Tienfun Interior Planning, an award-winning multi-disciplinary studio in Taipei. His work exemplifies his passion and exceptional mastery in design, seamlessly blending Eastern and Western influences to create exquisitely …
Continue readingIvy and Cynthia Almario
Sisters Ivy and Cynthia Almario are the founders of Atelier Almario, an award-winning interior design firm based in the Philippines. Ivy graduated with Bachelor of Arts in Interior Design from the University of Santo Tomas and …
Continue readingAmata Luphaiboon and Twitee Vajrabhaya
Amata Luphaiboon and Twitee Vajrabhaya are principals of Department of ARCHITECTURE Co., an award-winning multi-disciplinary studio in Bangkok, Thailand. The design duo, who graduated from Harvard University and Princeton University, respectively, founded the studio in …
Continue readingNathan Yong
Nathan Yong is the founder of Nathan Yong Design, a multidisciplinary design consultancy practice that covers a wide design spectrum entailing industrial design, graphics and interior design. He obtained a degree in Industrial Design from …
Continue readingEtan Kimmel
Etan Kimmel is the co-founder of award-winning Kimmel-Eshkolot Architects, an Israeli architecture firm established in Tel Aviv in 1986. Over the years, the firm has worked on numerous high-profile public projects in Israel and Europe, …
Continue readingTeo Yang
Teo Yang is the founder of Seoul-based Teo Yang Studio, known for designing commercial and high-end residential projects that interchange traditional and modern designs. After obtaining an undergraduate degree in interior architecture from the School …
Continue readingIzumi Sugimoto
Following the departure of Takashi Sugimoto, his wife, Izumi Sugimoto took over as President of Super Potato. Nearly half a century later after Super Potato was founded, Izumi fronts the space design firm. Asia Designers …
Continue readingBen Wu
Based in Shanghai, Ben Wu is one of China’s most highly-acclaimed interior designers. His design studios, W.Design and W+S Deco Group, have worked on the Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport, among landmark hotels, historic redevelopment projects, …
Continue readingJoey Ho
Joey Ho is the design partner at P A L Design Group, a prominent, award-winning interior design consultancy firm based in Hong Kong. Born in Taiwan, raised in Singapore and graduated in Hong Kong, Joey …
Continue readingNguyen Hoang Manh
Founder and principal architect of MIA Design Studio, Nguyen Hoang Manh lights up the Vietnamese architectural scene with iconic buildings that reflect modernist flair. Since its inception in 2003, the studio, specialising in architecture, interior …
Continue readingAjax Law and Virginia Lung
Ajax Law and Virginia Lung are co-founders of One Plus Partnership, a Hong Kong-based, multiple award-winning interior design firm. Since its inception in 2004, One Plus has received more than 800 international interior design awards …
Continue readingPitupong Chaowakul
Architect Pitupong Chaowakul is the founder of award-winning Supermachine Studio, a multi-disciplinary design studio based in Bangkok. After attaining a Master’s degree in Architecture from the Berlage Institute of Architecture, Rotterdam, Chaowakul worked with Nox …
Continue readingDaniel Song and Kate Cho
In this edition, Asia Designers Directory casts the spotlight on Daniel Song and Kate Cho, principals and co-founders of intg. Based in Seoul, this husband-and-wife duo leads in the country’s architectural design scene, with a …
Continue readingSyed Fawad Hussain
This month, Asia Designers Directory casts the spotlight on Syed Fawad Hussain, founder and principal architect of award-winning Pakistani architectural firm, Metropolitan Studio of Architecture (MSA). With an academic background covering both architecture and philosophy, Syed …
Continue readingPeter Tay
This month, Asia Designers Directory casts the spotlight on Peter Tay, a celebrity interior designer whose star-studded client list includes Zhang Ziyi and Stephanie Sun. Peter graduated from the Architectural Association in London in 2000 …
Continue readingAnnika Fernando
Annika Fernando is a Colombo-based renowned interior designer. A multi-faceted entrepreneur and creative at heart, Annika Fernando inspires living through her line of work and has also carved success as founder of concept store and …
Continue readingElora Hardy
Elora Hardy leads an international team in creating home hospitality projects, school campuses, private homes, and bespoke furniture collections made of natural materials and built in ways that reconnect one with nature. Asia Designers Directory interviews Elora, …
Continue readingBill Bensley
Award-winning founder and creative director of design studio Bensley, Bangkok-based American architect and designer Bill Bensley is a world-renowned hotel designer who has partnered with global hospitality brands including Four Seasons, Capella, JW Marriott, and …
Continue readingKeat Ong
An architect by training, Keat Ong is the creative director of Keat Ong Design, a multidisciplinary consultancy specialising in interior and product design. He is also the president of the Society of Interior Designers Singapore …
Continue readingDai Kun
Dai Kun is China’s famed architect and interior designer. A multi-awarded designer, Dai Kun’s works are widely publicized in China’s media and showcased in the international design scene. He has authored several design books and …
Continue readingShabnam Gupta
One of the most acclaimed and awarded interior designers in India, Mumbai-based Shabnam Gupta is globally recognized for her stellar portfolio of iconic Bollywood celebrity homes and stunning commercial projects. Founder of The Orange Lane, …
Continue readingKenneth Cobonpue
Kenneth Cobonpue is an internationally-renowned Filipino furniture maker who showcases high-end hand-crafted furnishing made of rattan, bamboo, and abaca. A multi-awarded furniture designer and manufacturer from Cebu, Kenneth Cobonpue studied Industrial Design at Pratt Institute …
Continue readingIDr Lai Siew Hong
Co-Founder and Chief Executive Designer of Malaysia-based Blu Water, IDr Lai Siew Hong is the creative lead in award-winning projects such as The Edison George Town (Penang), EQ Kuala Lumpur and Hard Rock Hotel at …
Continue readingDesmond Freeman
Once the Federal President of the Design Institute of Australia in the 1980s and founder of one of the leading interior and museum design practices in Australia, Desmond Freeman is now an artist, author, and …
Continue readingTony Chi
Tony Chi is the Founder of tonychi studio, a global design practice based in New York. A design maverick best known for collaborations with international luxury hospitality brands such as Rosewood Hotels, Ritz Carlton and …
Continue readingRyu Kosaka
Ryu Kosaka joined Japan-listed Nomura Co. Ltd in 1985 and has since risen the rungs to become the executive creative director of its Commercial Facilities Division and the head of Aoyama Nomura Design (A.N.D), the …
Continue readingVipavadee Pao Patpongpibul
As the founder and CEO of P49 Deesign & Associates, Vipavadee leads one of the largest interior design companies in Thailand and South East Asia. Boasting a stellar career, Vipavadee earns global acclaim for stand-out …
Continue readingSteve Leung
Lauded as a prominent architect and designer in Asia, Steve Leung impresses as a multi-faceted creative whose works have garnered many international awards. He established his practice in 1987, before founding Steve Leung Design Group …
Continue readingLyndon Neri & Rossana Hu
Lyndon Neri and Rossana Hu, founders of internationally-acclaimed Neri&Hu are a power couple and an unmistakable force in the global design scene. They founded inter-disciplinary architectural design practice Neri&Hu in 2004, after having worked for …
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