Ishinomaki Stacking Bench

Keiji Ashizawa Design is an architecture and product design studio based in Tokyo, Japan. Formed in 2005 by Keiji Ashizawa, the studio is comprised of both architects and designers, all bringing unique skills to the team. Through logical thinking and open-mindedness, the studio presents works of ‘honest’ design — simple, thoughtful and refined — derived naturally through the process of maximizing the potential of each material. The work of the studio is based on the notion that the sharing of experiences is essential to the creative process, exercised through collaboration on many levels: internally amongst the designers, and in maintaining relationships with clients and other creative professionals to grow, learn and form an evolving dialogue of thought. After graduating from Yokohama National University in 1996, Keiji spent the first ten years of his career working as both an architect and steel fabricator. The unique skills and experience gained throughout these early years, including a valued understanding of materials, continue to influence his approach to design.

Founded in 2011, Ishinomaki Laboratory started as a simple, public workshop for the local community devastated by the tsunami triggered by the Great East Japan Earthquake. Along with running DIY workshops for residents affected by the disaster, we participated in restoring and renovating local shops – as well as creating spaces where people could reimagine the future of the city together. One of the highlights from the early days was working together with local high school students to build over 40 benches for an outdoor cinema. In the fall of 2011, Herman Miller joined the assistance program in areas affected by the earthquake and collaborated with Ishinomaki Laboratory to run furniture workshops for locals, with the furniture constructed offered free of charge. These design-centred workshops, where DIY skills and ideas are shared, are still being run to this day. Combining good design with “handmade” products, the Ishinomaki Laboratory label was launched to market the products beyond the local community. Talented designers from Japan and abroad work with the Ishinomaki Laboratory team to create a lineup of furniture and items that can be enjoyed together. As the world’s first DIY label, Ishinomaki Laboratory is expanding the world and potential of DIY with good design. Through our activities, the belief is that DIY and design can energise people and communities – and life as a whole – in any situation or environment. Our hope is that people around the world can rediscover their own innate creativity, to enrich everyday life and society for a more fulfilling future.