Manuel Rabaté

Born in March 1976, Manuel Rabaté is a graduate of the Institut d'Etudes Politiques de Paris (Sciences Po, 1998), and of HEC Business School (2001). He began his career as a Deputy Director at the auditorium of the Musée du Louvre from 2002 until 2005. He participated among other things in the creation of new programmes on Islamic Arts in the context of the first performance contract concluded between the French government and the museum for its modernisation. He joined the Musée du quai Branly as a Deputy Director of Cultural Development a year before its opening in 2006, and structured the administrative and financial management of many key issues for the opening. After the opening, he led the launching of the first exhibitions abroad including "Masques - Beauté des Esprits" exhibition at the Bahrain National Museum, 2008. Manuel Rabaté joined Agence France-Muséums in 2008, a year after the signing of the intergovernmental agreement between France and the United Arab Emirates marking the birth of the Louvre Abu Dhabi project. Subsequently, he has followed the project from its conceptual phase until its operational implementation as a Secretary General and the acting CEO since 2010. He was appointed CEO of Agence France-Museums in 2013 under the proposal of the Board of Directors and its Chairman, Marc Ladreit de Lacharrière, to set up in Abu Dhabi a multidisciplinary team of museum professionals and follow through the phases of the project realization in collaboration with the major French museums and their UAE partners.

In September 2016, Manuel Rabaté was appointed Director of Louvre Abu Dhabi by Abu Dhabi Tourism & Culture Authority (TCA Abu Dhabi). Aside from his duties in the service of museums, Manuel Rabaté has also chaired the reflection group-Culture & Management, in which he had created the museum department. He has also taught Arts and Cultural Management at various universities in France and Abu Dhabi (Paris-Dauphine University, Paris-Sorbonne University Abu Dhabi since the establishment of the Master in "History of Art and Museum Studies").

J Lee Rofkind

J Lee is HOK's regional leader of Hospitality Design in the Asia Pacific Region. Based in Hong Kong, she brings 30 years of experience in hotel design including architecture, operations, interior design, art, lighting and landscape. Her global portfolio includes work with leading hospitality brands including Mandarin Oriental, Shangri-La, St .Regis, Ritz-Carlton and Hyatt International.

J Lee was a founding member and past president of the Hong Kong Chapter of the American Institute of Architects. She also served on the Hong Kong Trade Development Council's Infrastructure and Development Board.

Tadao Kamei

Born in 1955, Tadao Kamei is a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania (1978) and Waseda University (1981). He has 40 years of experience in mixed-use complex, sports facilities and institutional facilities.  His major works include Shibuya Scramble Square, YKK 80 Building, The Diet Members’ Office Building, Tokyo Station City GRANROOF, Saitama Super Arena, Tokyo Dome and Tokyo Sky Tree.

His winning international competitions include One Za’abeel in Dubai (2014), the Future Camp Nou in Barcelona (2016), Sberbank City in Moscow (2019) and Rizhsky Innovation Yard in Moscow (2019).　His works have been recognized by domestic and international awards such as JIA Fine Architecture Selected Work, JIA Environmental Architecture Award / Best Award, BCS (Building Construction Society) Award, AIJ Selected Architectural Designs, Association of Railway Architects Prize / Best Association Award, Ashihara Yoshinobu Award Mention, Nikkei New Office Award, Kanagawa Architecture Concours / Prize for Excellence, the Annual Business Week/Architectural Record Awards and KUKAN Design Award / KUKAN OF THE YEAR.

He was a jury member of Golden Trezzini Award, Shin-Kenchiku Urban Public Space Design Competition, Hulic Students Idea Competition and Central Glass International Architectural Design Competition.

Shigeru Kubota

Takao Kawasaki was born in 1944 in Yokohama and graduated from Kuwasawa Design School in 1964. He was started to collaborate and worked with Rei Kawakubo (Comme des Garçons) for most of the architect and interior design projects since 1975. He also became one of the team members of Tendo Mokko at Seibu, Takami Design House and joined Studio Strawberry Fields in 1978.

Projects

Paris. Comme des Garçons New York, Comme des Garçons Milano. Comme des Garçons Tokyo, Omotesando. Comme des Garçons Kochi. Comme des Garçons Ginza. Matsuya. Comme des Garçons Kobe. Hyogo. Comme des Garçons Shinjuku. Isetan. Comme des Garçons Nishi-Azabu. Clove vs Cloves Minamiaoyama Cerruti 1881 Femme

and more!

Yukio Hashimoto

Literary work 2005　The design world of Hashimoto Yukio - Pace publishing 2009　Designer’s Showcase vol.1 Yukio Hashimoto - Shotenkenchiku-sha 2013　 LED and MAGEWAPPA- An evolving traditional design  -Rikuyo-sha

1962 Born in Aichi Prefecture 1986 Graduated from Aichi Prefectural University of Arts   1996 Graduation Piece purchased by Alma Mater  1986 Designer: Super-Potato Co. Ltd., 1996 Became freelance 1997 Established HASHIMOTO YUKIO DESIGN STUDIO INC.

Awards

1997 2e Prix: Nashop Lighting Award 1998 Nashop Lighting Award 1998 JCD Shorei-sho Award 1999 JCD Shorei-sho Award 2000 JCD 2e Prix Award 2001 JCD 2e Prix Award 2002 Kukan Design Competition Silver Award 2003 Na-shop Lighting Contest  2005 No.32 Japan Copper Development Association Award 2005 Takashimaya Art Award 2006 IIDA Award of Excellence 2010 Perspective Award 2010 Trophy and certificate of excellence 2010 Design for Asia Award Gold Award and Merit Award 2011 IIDA Award of Distinction

Projects:

Oto-Oto(Shinjuku), Beams House(Marunouchi), Suikyou-tei (Ginza-), Billboard Live (Roppong), The Peninsula Tokyo (Hibiya), Silk Palace (Taipei), Hilton Niseko Village (Niseko), Chikusenso (Zao), SUPER CRAFT TREE (Tokyo Sky Tree),  Intercontinental Hotel Osaka (Osaka), Prince Hotel East (Karuizawa), Conrad Osaka(collaborate with N.S.D), Hilton Osaka Restaurant area, Meeting area VIP lounge and IF My place (Osaka), Hyatt Regency Seragaki Island Okinawa (Okinawa), ANA Intercontinental Hotel Beppu Resort and Spa (Beppu)

Manfred Yuen

Manfred is the founder of Groundwork  Architecture + Urbanism, London in 2007 and the co-founder of Groundwork Architects + Associates, Hong Kong and Shenzhen in 2011.  Since 2007, apart from his practice, Manfred also served as a visiting lecturer at Kingston University, London and the Hong Kong Polytechnic University School of Design, teaching architecture design and history.

Prior to the founding of Groundwork, Manfred received his architectural training from the University of Cambridge and the University of Hong Kong (with First Class Honor). Manfred had worked with esteemed design house, Pentagram (London) and Coop-Himmelb(l)au, Vienna, where he was responsible for their operations in China.

Groundwork aspires to be a platform that may explore how architecture, arts, social responsiblities and the poetics of the various urban conditions may be synthesized.  Groundwork is keen on serving the public, thus, apart from instigating various public work initiatives, Manfred is serving as honorable adviser for various organizations, such as the Tung Wah Group of Hospitals, Oxfam International, Scout Association and HK Society of Education of Arts. Some of his notable awards include the "40-under-40 Design Talents/Asia" (2011) and  " The Next Generation Architects, Backstage Architecture, Italy" (2010).  Manfred is also the recipient of the Spirit of Hong Kong 2013 Award,  an award that celebrates the achievements of remarkable Hong Kong people who make our city a better place.  

Groundwork is realizing architecture, art works and social projects globally(Italy, Germany, England, China, Singapore, Cambodia and Hong Kong).  For the past four years, Groundwork had been working with the government of Hong Kong to develop our future playground and hawker stalls policies through public engagments and researches.

Apart from the professional engagements, Manfred is a columnist and he is writing for several local magazines.

Spencer Hung

Spencer was born in Taipei, Taiwan and raised in Vancouver, Canada where he graduated from Emily Carr University of Art and Design. As he had spent half of his life in the East and the other in the West, he decided to join JIA Inc. as design director, and moved back to his birth place, Taipei.

Spencer was centrally involved in many award winning projects while at one of the biggest lighting and furniture company Bocci, located in Vancouver Canada, including Red Dot Design Award, iF Design Award and Good Design Award. After he moved back to Asia to join JIA Inc. as the design director, he has since led and directed many projects with many well-established designers from all over the world and JIA in-house design team that won Good Design Award, iF Design Award, Red Dot Design Award, ELLE DECO International Award, Home Style Award, Golden Pin Award etc. and also were selected by the Good Design Store and the Wallpaper* Store etc. His personal works have also won the prestigious iF Design Gold Award and Best Product Design of Golden Pin Award."

Arthur de Villepin

Arthur de Villepin is an entrepreneur, as well as an avid collector of fine wines and art. As the Founder and CEO of the Art de Vivre Group, Arthur is a staunch believer in the art of living with a unique perspective. Through his work, he sets out on a journey to advocate and propagate art in everyday life.

His work within the group includes his role as the co-founder and CEO of a wine label, Pont des Arts, and the vision behind Art de Vivre Collection - a collection of carefully curated art brands, of which the renowned photography gallery YellowKorner and the worldwide painting and sculpture gallery Carré d’Artistes are both part of.

In 2019, Arthur launched Villepin with his father, a fine art platform created by collectors for collectors. These enterprises are united by a common passion for life and art, all of them feeding into each other and offering a diversified portfolio.

As the Founder and CEO of the Art de Vivre Group, Arthur is a staunch believer in the art of living with a unique perspective. Through his work, he sets out on a journey to advocate and propagate art in everyday life.

He was born in the United States and spent his childhood in India, completed his education in France and graduated with a degree in International Relations in the United

Kingdom. Inspired by his globetrotting upbringing, Arthur is dedicated to share his passion through his group’s diverse portfolio spanning the arts, gastronomy and wine.

Early life :

Arthur de Villepin was born in the United States and spent his childhood in India, with his father, the former French Prime Minister Dominique de Villepin, being posted to the French embassy in each country.

His mother is the celebrated sculptor, Marie-Laure Viebel de Villepin, and it is therefore not surprising that Arthur was instilled with a genuine love of art.

Returning to France at the age of ten, Arthur completed his education in France and graduated with a degree in International Relations in the United Kingdom. Arthur de Villepin had the unusual experience of experiencing France as an outsider before living there, which played a role in shaping his views on French culture and life in general.

A staunch believer in the art of life, Arthur has embarked on a journey to advocate for and propagate art in everyday life.

DAISHI YOSHIMOTO

​Daishi Yoshimoto is an architect and principal of Yoshimoto Associates, an architecture design studio in Tokyo. A licensed architect both in Japan and the US, Daishi’s career spans multiple cultures and over 25 years of experience in residential, commercial, and hospitality design. Some of his major works include the French Embassy in Tokyo, TRI-SEVEN ROPPONGI, and ONSEN RYOKAN YUEN SHINJUKU. His work has received wide recognition in design awards including the BCS Award (Japan), iF Award (Germany), DFA and APIDA (Hong Kong). 

Daishi is a founding member of the Japan Chapter of the American Institute of Architects (AIA), where he served as President and is currently its representative to the International Region board. In parallel with his professional practice, Daishi teaches a design studio at Kokushikan University's architecture program. 

Suzuki Shigechiyo 

Born in 1956. Shigechiyo brings 40 years of experience as a spatial designer, art director and producer to his role of Executive Creative Director at the Japanʼs leading company of architect of interior features.

He leads in the design and art direction in a wide range of commercial facilities, corporate PR facilities, museums and is an advocate for finding design solutions for social agenda, including the revitalization of local communities.

He is a part-time lecturer in the Department of Design Engineering at Chiba University and President of the Japan Spatial Design Association. He is a member of the judging committee for the Wood Design Award in the field of architecture.

Major Works

• Otemachi Café (2005), recognized by Good Design Award

• The Zero Emission House (interior features) for the 34th G8 Hokkaido Toyako Summit (2008)

• 3x3 LabFuture (2016), characterized by its woody spaces designed with domestic wood from various regions.

• Nihonbashi Toyama (2016), a showcase of Toyama Prefecture's culture and lifestyle in the entire space where materials and craftsmanship from the region are used.

• Ocha no Kyoto Exhibition (2017) Worked as a general producer, helped Kyoto Prefecture promote Uji-cha, local Japanese green tea.

• The Japan Olympic Museum (2019), Honored with the Japan Wood Design Award 2020 for Excellence, and the Forestry Agency Director General's Award, for the use of woods that are from the seeds brought to Japan by the worldʼs athletes in Tokyo 1964 to symbolize the enduring legacy of those games.

Naoki Iijima

Naoki Iijima was born in 1949 in Saitama, Japan. He graduated from Musashino Art University in 1973 and became one of the team members of Superpotato in 1976-1985. He established Iijima Design in 1985. Naoki Ijjima became the board of Chairman of Japan Commercial Environmental Design Association (JCD) in 2004. In the same year, he presents as the board chairman of KU/KAN Design Organization, He is also a Professor at the School of Architecture at Kogakuin University in 2011-2016.

Projects and awards

1987 JCD Design Awards Best 100 [EX JUN Kobe] 1995 JCD Design Awards Silver [Cosmetic Garden C] 1997 JCD Design Awards Silver [Maruhan Pachinko Tower] 1999 JCD Design Awards Gold [5S New York] 2000 JCD Design Awards Gold [aflot] 2001 JCD Design Awards Gold [Shin Bungeiza] 2004 Best Store of the Year [Shin Bungeiza]

and more!

Tetsuya Matsumoto

Tetsuya Matsumoto is the founder and Head Architect Designer at KTX archiLAB based in Japan, and a Lecturer of a space design course at Osaka University of Art. After graduating from the same university, he specialized in commercial space design and built a large portfolio of projects varying both in type and scale. Tetsuya has received several local and international design awards including the Red Dot Awards, iF Design Awards, Iconic Awards, Spark Awards, A’ Design Awards, The Chicago Athenaeum Good Design Awards, K-Design Awards, APIDA Awards, Design for Asia Awards, American Architecture Prize, German Design Awards and the Japan based Good Design Awards just to name a few. Since 2017, Tetsuya became jury member for A’ Design Awards, K-Design awards, Asia Design Prize, C-IDEA Awards, and UNI’s Di-Generic cities Tokyo.

1976 Born in Japan. 1999 Bachelor degree in Osaka University of Arts, Department of Architecture. 2001 Completion of courses in Graduate School of Design, Osaka University of Art. 2001 Researcher lab at Graduate school of Design, Osaka University of Art. 2001 Integrate Matsuya Art Works as an Architect Designer.　　　　　 2004 Licensed as first class architect. 2006 Head Architect Designer at Matsuya Art Works 2006 Founded KTX archiLAB, as the design department of Matsuya Art Works. 2019 Design Lecturer at Osaka University of Art.

Keith Lam

Keith Lam is Hong Kong based New Media Artist, an Award winner of PRIX Ars Electronica, Japan Media Arts Festival and Young Artist of Hong Kong Arts Development Awards, selected as “40 under 40′′ of Global Creative Talent by Perspective Magazine. His artworks have been invited to numerous festivals including Ars Electronica Festival, FILE, ISEA, New Technological Art Award, 404 Festival, Split Film Festival, Microwave International New Media Arts Festival and Hong Kong Arts Biennale, around the world at Austria, Belgium, UK, The Netherlands, Brazil, Taiwan, Argentina, Croatia, Italy, Japan, Korea, USA etc.

He and his studio curate numerous of exhibitions including Opening exhibition of National Performing Arts Centre “Encounter Once in a Lifetime － Toyo Ito Architecture Exhibition”, Nuit Blanche Taipei , “Design Fab Lab” of Kaohsiung Design Week, “Design For/The Future” of Shenzhen Design Week, Shenzhen New Media Arts Festival, K11 Hong Kong and The Pier-2 Art Centre “ART FAB LAB”,  Taiwan Performance Art + Technology Project, “Designing Age”, art festival BAY ART at Shenzhen, “Sensory Canvas” of Shanghai Ming Contemporary Art Museum etc. 

Their works were awarded in numerous of design and arts contest, including the Best design of the year of Taiwan Golden Pin Design Award , the Best Gold of Macau Design Award, Tokyo TDC, Asia Digital Arts Awards Japan, Gold Awards of Design for Asia Award Hong Kong, the Winner award of German Design Award etc.

He was External Examiner of Hong Kong Design Institute, full-timely taught in School of Creative Media of City University of Hong Kong, Visiting Lecturer of Hong Kong Art School, Hong Kong Academy of Performing Arts, School of Design of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University and Hong Kong University, University of Hong Kong and Chinese University of Hong Kong. He was also Art Director and consultant of Shenzhen New Media Arts Festival and International Jury of GDC. He is now also Visiting Associate Professor of Guangzhou Academy of Fine Arts.