About
Aya is a designer, and artist from Tokyo, Japan. She currently splits her time between her job in NYC and travelling to speak at design festivals throughout Europe.
Her work has been shown at Milan and Paris design week, London Design Festival, ICFF NYC, and Tokyo Design Week. She was also featured by Vogue Magazine UK, Maison&Objet Paris, Textiel Plus Netherlands and more.
More recently, her work was a finalist for addition to the permanent collection of the Cranbrook Art Museum in Michigan and the Stedelijk Museum in the Netherlands.
She earned a Master's degree from Cranbrook Academy of Art where she developed her style and approach to design - combining the modern and traditional. Her second major was in architecture which also gives her a deep understanding and perspective on spacial design.
From ages 3 to 18 she studied classical violin; this early and extensive study of music continues to be a big influence on her process. While growing up in Japan, her hobbies included Japanese fencing, and the philosophy and practice of the traditional tea ceremony.
Recent Recognition:
2017
Chosen to attend SaloneSatellite in Salone del Mobile in Milan design week as founder of Aya Kawabata Design.
2016
Winner “best new talent” at the DMY Berlin International Design Festival.
2015
Featured in Designboom design magazine and TL mag. Selected as a Adobe Creative Jam Young Best Local Designer in NYC. Her design work for Dutch Invertuals exhibition was featured by New York Times, Global interview, The Face and more.
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