admin, Author at Garde Design Magazine

President Muro Featured in WWDJAPAN’s “CEO Special Issue” Interview

An exclusive interview with GARDE President Muro was featured in WWDJAPAN’s annual “CEO Special Issue”, published on January 27, 2025.

This year’s theme, “Possibilities,” explores reflections on 2024 and expectations for 2025. In the interview, President Muro discusses GARDE’s business developments, future prospects, and the company’s design philosophy. He also highlights the opening of a permanent art gallery in Chelsea, New York, one of the projects commemorating GARDE’s 40th anniversary.
The feature underscores GARDE’s expertise in luxury brand design, its commitment to innovation, and its vision for the future.

TOP PHOTO: Facade of “GOCA by Garde,” a contemporary art gallery in Chelsea, New York.

Becoming the Leading Firm in Luxury Brand Market Design in Japan

GARDE specializes in a broad range of spatial design and branding for department stores, hotels, offices, and more. Notably, in the fashion sector, GARDE has designed stores for over 80 international luxury brands, including those from the industry’s “big three” conglomerates.
GARDE’s ability to continuously expand its portfolio stems from the trust it has built with its clients.

When designing for luxury brands, we prioritize a client-first approach, focusing on elevating service quality. Through extensive discussions with both the Japan offices and global headquarters of our clients, we ensure that their exacting standards and levels of perfection are meticulously met.

Strong communication skills play a crucial role in this process. With a team proficient in both language and technical expertise, we are deeply committed to faithfully executing and expressing brand quality.
We believe that maintaining superior quality directly enhances brand identity and fosters trust between companies.

Design Aesthetics in Spatial Design

Japanese design is characterized by minimalism—where simplicity and precision are paramount.

In commercial spaces, excessive decoration can overshadow the products, which should remain the focal point of the environment. Similarly, in hotels, over-embellished interiors can feel overwhelming rather than relaxing. With long-term stays becoming more common, minimalistic spaces designed to put guests at ease are now more essential than ever.
Achieving minimalism while maintaining functionality is a significant challenge. Without technical expertise, a minimalist approach can risk appearing too simplistic or lacking substance. However, at GARDE, our experienced designers continuously refine their skills, ensuring that minimalism is executed with sophistication and precision—turning it into our greatest strength.

GARDE is currently leading the interior and exterior design for the renovation of the Seibu Ikebukuro flagship store, set to reopen in 2025. As a former specialist in department store design, President Muro brings extensive expertise in retail remodeling and store openings. By leveraging GARDE’s distinctive strengths, we aim to transform this project into a benchmark for architectural and spatial excellence.

Prospects for 2025: Human Resources and Environmental Investment

In the field of spatial design, we are set to unveil a large-scale business project that has been in development for many years. On the brand side, we anticipate the ongoing trend toward larger retail spaces to continue, just as it has over the past 24 years. As a result, the number of branded stores that GARDE collaborates with is expected to grow even further.

Through these projects, we aim to enhance the company’s visibility, invest in talent and the working environment, and strengthen our appeal as a desirable workplace—especially in light of the increasing shortage of skilled professionals.

Specifically, we plan to further reinforce existing initiatives such as design study sessions, which serve as platforms for sharing skills and expertise, and training programs in business-related languages to support professional development.

In Conclusion

This issue of WWDJAPAN provides a retrospective on 2024 and also features the latest updates on our art business, which we were unable to cover in this article.
For more details, please visit the following link:
WWDJAPAN – CEO Special Issue

GARDE Design Magazine provides project portfolio, trends in architecture, design, and art, and event information.
The project portfolio and the latest information on GARDE are now available on our official website.
>Click here to visit our project portfolio.
>Click here for the latest information on GARDE

[Art Gallery Project] Kiyoo Ota Solo Exhibition “Grid”: A Visual Labyrinth Woven with Order and Illusion

Event

The solo exhibition “Grid” by artist Kiyoo Ota, who elevates architectural perspectives into art, is currently being held at GARDE Gallery in Aoyama, Tokyo.
(Exhibition Period: Friday, February 21 – Saturday, March 8, 2025)

We spoke with Ota about the appeal of this exhibition and his future artistic direction.

In “Grid”, Ota explores the concept of grids—an idea he has long pursued—through a variety of artistic expressions, including paintings, sculptures, and installations. Grids, commonly used in fields such as architecture, design, mathematics, and urban planning, are composed of structured lines and points, serving as a fundamental framework that visually and physically conveys order and structure. However, Ota does not merely treat grid structures as rigid frameworks; instead, he constantly seeks new artistic possibilities by incorporating visual effects that challenge and expand conventional perceptions.

One of the most striking aspects of the exhibition is the collection of works utilizing moiré patterns. When meticulously drawn grid patterns overlap, they create a moiré effect that, depending on the viewer’s angle and distance, produces wave-like movements and vibrations. This dynamic illusion brings an unexpected sense of motion to what would otherwise be a static composition.
(Moiré: A visual phenomenon where overlapping layers of regularly arranged dots or lines create an interference pattern of wavy or rippling stripes.)

Additionally, the exhibition features works that deconstruct and reconstruct the cube, a fundamental shape in architecture. By intricately intersecting the cube’s surfaces and lines, these pieces challenge the illusions created by perspective and push its limits, blurring the boundaries between two-dimensional and three-dimensional space to create a unique visual experience.

Regarding this exhibition, Ota shared the following comment:
“The essence of my work is difficult to fully convey through photos or videos. In particular, the pieces utilizing moiré patterns must be seen, felt, and experienced firsthand to truly appreciate their intrigue and uniqueness. I encourage visitors to immerse themselves in the artwork, sense the shifting space and illusions with their own bodies, and freely explore the spatial transformations.”

Future Outlook: Expanding into Public Art

With a background in architecture, Ota is exploring new possibilities in the field of public art. He envisions integrating his works into everyday spaces such as parks and office entrances, making art a more accessible and immersive part of daily life.

Building on his past exhibitions in China and Taiwan, Ota aims to further deepen the connection between architecture and art through his work. His future plans include expanding his exhibitions beyond Japan, actively showcasing his art in major cities worldwide, including New York, Milan, and Paris.

Kiyoo Ota

Born: 1981, Aomori Prefecture (raised in Akita Prefecture)
Education
2007: Completed Master’s Program, School of Engineering, The University of Tokyo
2005: Graduated from the Department of Architecture, Kyoto University

Selected Solo Exhibitions

2024: Order, Gallery TK2
2023: Geometry, Daimaru Umeda Store
2023: Cosmos, Miaki Gallery
2023: Reality, Tagboat Gallery at Hankyu Men’s Tokyo

Selected Group Exhibitions / Art Fairs

2024: Art Central, Hong Kong
2024: ART ART TOKYO, Daimaru Tokyo Store
2024: ART SHINSAIBASHI, Shinsaibashi PARCO
2023: West Bund Art & Design, Shanghai
2023: Sarugaku Festival Art Fair, Art Front Gallery
2023: CHAPTER PATINA, Amanyangyun (Amanyang, Shanghai)
2023: Onbeat Art Show, Ginza Mitsukoshi
2023: China-Japan-Korea Sculpture Invitational Exhibition, Ministry of Culture of China, 2023: Qingdao Sculpture Art Museum
2023: Tennoz Canal Fes, WHAT CAFE, Terrada Warehouse
2023: Pre-Breakout Artists Exhibition, Ginza Six
2023: Contemporary Art from Around the World 2023, Daimaru Hakata Tenjin Store
2023: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/otakiyoo/

Kiyoo Ota Solo Exhibition “Grid”

Dates：February 21 (Fri.) – March 8 (Sat.), 2025 *Closed on Sundays and holidays
Hours：11:00-18:00
Venue：GARDE Gallery (NBF ALLIANCE Bldg. 4F, 5-2-1 Minami Aoyama, Minato-ku, Tokyo)
Admission：free
URL：https://www.art-adf.jp/?sl=en

Kiyoo Ota – Upcoming Exhibition Announcement

“Kokon Tozai” (All times and places)

Set in a Registered Tangible Cultural Property with over a century of history, this exhibition will showcase 14 next-generation artists.

Participating Artists:

Yukino Oishi / Kiyoo Ota / Yoichiro Otani / Chika Kato / Yoshitoshi Kanemaki / Yu Kawashima / Kayoko Kimura / Ryosuke Shiomi / Yosuke Takasaki / Yoshiyasu Tamura / Momoko Nakamura / Yukihiko Haruta / Ryota Nishioka / Jun Matsumura

Exhibition Dates:

April 12 – April 30, 2025 | 13:00 – 20:00

General Public Access (Free Admission): Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays
Reservation Required: Mondays to Thursdays (Please contact the exhibition office in advance via email.)

Venue:

Kyo Art
402 Mongaicho, Shimogyo-ku, Kyoto City, Kyoto Prefecture (Shichijo-dori, Horikawa East Entrance, North Side)

Contact Information:

Exhibition Office:kokontozai.art@gmail.com

Shaping the Future of Local Governments: “Regional Revitalization Metaverse Award” Briefing Report

Event

On December 19, 2024, GARDE hosted an informational session for local governments regarding the Regional Revitalization Metaverse Award. The event was attended by municipalities from across Japan, from Hokkaido to Okinawa.

During the session, Misawa from GARDE, the project manager, emphasized that the Metaverse is more than just a virtual space—it serves as a powerful tool for showcasing regional attractions and contributing to economic and cultural development. Furthermore, the importance of collaboration between local governments and creators was highlighted, stressing that innovative ideas can help solve regional challenges and drive sustainable growth.

Examples of Other Companies Utilizing the Metaverse

In recent years, promotional activities leveraging the Metaverse by local governments have been gaining attention. This trend is driven by advancements in digital technology, restrictions on offline events due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and an increasing number of municipalities focusing on supporting regional migration by targeting the younger demographic, who are the primary users of the Metaverse.

Below are some examples of projects that have been implemented to promote regional revitalization through the Metaverse.

[Fujieda City, Shizuoka Prefecture] Metaverse Business Matching Fair

Fujieda City hosted a Metaverse-based experiential business matching fair. Participants could visit virtual corporate booths within the Metaverse space and engage in real-time voice conversations with avatars acting as company representatives. Unlike traditional face-to-face business matching events, this initiative provided an immersive and realistic atmosphere, enabling a new form of business networking.

[Hagi City, Yamaguchi Prefecture] Promoting Furusato Tax Donations in a Virtual Space

Hagi City, in collaboration with SPECTRUM, launched the “Hagi City x SPECTRUM Metaverse Furusato Tax Donation Campaign.” Visitors could experience furusato tax donations in a Metaverse environment, where they were welcomed by Hagi City’s official mascot, “Haginyan.” The virtual space featured 360 return gift items, allowing users to explore various booths in a friendly and engaging setting. Digital posters placed throughout the venue enabled visitors to access the donation website directly and make contributions on the spot.

[Akita Prefecture] Metaverse Expo to Promote Regional Migration

Akita Prefecture launched the “Akita Migration & Exchange Metaverse Expo” to promote relocation to the region. The Metaverse exhibition was divided into six distinct regional areas, each visually showcasing its unique characteristics in a 3D environment. Visitors could explore the virtual space using avatars inspired by local symbols, such as “Ndacchi” and Akita Inu dogs. This interactive setup allowed visitors to gain insights into regional features while enjoying various immersive experiences.

Regional Revitalization Metaverse Award Details

Call for Entry

This award invites a wide range of ideas that utilize the Metaverse for regional revitalization, including:

Tourism Promotion
Sports Activation
Local Product Sales
Encouraging Regional Settlement
VR Job Training
Other innovative ideas contributing to regional revitalization

Application Guidelines

Theme: Ideas that achieve “regional revitalization through the use of Metaverse technology.”
Application Period: November 1, 2024 – April 30, 2025
Eligibility:
- Applicants can be individuals or groups.
- As of November 1, 2024, applicants must be high school students or older residing in Japan.
- If applying as a group, all members must meet the eligibility requirements and provide consent for participation.
Number of Entries:
- Each participant (or group) can submit one entry specifying a local government or one general entry without specifying a municipality.
- If applying as a group, each group is limited to one entry.
Application Conditions:
- Applicants must agree to and comply with the Regional Revitalization Metaverse Award application guidelines.

Prize Details

Grand Prize (1 Winner): 3 million JPY
Excellence Award (1 Winner): 1 million JPY
Local Government Award (4 Winners): 250,000 JPY each

※ The judging process will be conducted internally at GARDE and will remain confidential.
※ Details regarding the award ceremony will be announced at a later date.

GARDE, leveraging its global network and extensive expertise in design, aims to create new value for local communities. By fostering creative Metaverse-based ideas, we strive to contribute to regional revitalization and problem-solving. We remain committed to supporting initiatives that shape a more vibrant and sustainable future.

Official Website:
https://garde-metaverse-award.com/

GARDE For「CASETiFY STUDiO」 Involvement in the Production of Hiroshima PARCO and Sapporo PARCO Stores

Project

CASETiFY is a global lifestyle brand that offers customizable smartphone cases and tech accessories, allowing users to express their individuality. With a strong presence on social media, CASETiFY has garnered a wide-reaching audience and is loved by international celebrities. In addition to its online sales, the brand has been actively opening physical stores in major Japanese cities, including Tokyo and Osaka.

In 2024, GARDE was responsible for the design, local architecture, and construction of two newly opened CASETiFY STUDiO stores: CASETiFY STUDiO Hiroshima PARCO and CASETiFY STUDiO Sapporo PARCO.

CASETiFY STUDiO Hiroshima PARCO

CASETiFY STUDiO Hiroshima PARCO marked the brand’s first store opening in the Chugoku and Shikoku regions. Located in Hiroshima PARCO, which underwent a major renovation in celebration of its 30th anniversary, the store opened on April 26, 2024. One of the store’s highlight products is an exclusive design created in team up with a Japanese professional baseball team—the first of its kind for CASETiFY.

Opening Date: Friday, April 26, 2024
Address: Honkan 1F, 10-1 Hondori, Naka-ku, Hiroshima City, Hiroshima 730-0035, Japan
Business Hours: 10:00 – 20:30 (subject to change)
Visit Website

CASETiFY STUDiO Sapporo PARCO

As the first CASETiFY store in the Hokkaido region and the ninth store in Japan, CASETiFY STUDiO Sapporo PARCO officially opened on October 17, 2024.

The store offers limited-edition smartphone cases featuring Hokkaido-inspired designs, such as skiing and miso ramen, reflecting CASETiFY’s signature style and creativity.

Opening Date: Thursday, October 17, 2024
Address: 1F, 3-3 Minami 1-jo Nishi, Chuo-ku, Sapporo City, Hokkaido 060-8502, Japan
Business Hours: 10:00 – 20:30 (subject to change)
Visit Website

Sustainability Initiative: Re/CASETiFY

As part of its eco-conscious efforts, Re/CASETiFY is a recycling program that collects used smartphone cases and repurposes them into new products. Both the Hiroshima PARCO and Sapporo PARCO stores feature collection boxes where customers can drop off their old cases for recycling—regardless of the brand.

About CASETiFY

CASETiFY is a Direct-to-Consumer (D2C) global lifestyle brand known for customizable tech accessories and its commitment to sustainability. The brand has collaborated with a diverse range of industries, including character brands, art, and fashion, creating innovative partnerships that have gained worldwide attention.
By utilizing premium materials and cutting-edge designs, CASETiFY offers limitless personalization options and original, high-quality tech accessories. The company serves as an incubator for artists, a design studio for brands, and an international partner for charitable and social initiatives—empowering both creators and customers to make an impact.
www.CASETiFY.com

Art Project at GARDE: Kiyoo Ota Solo Exhibition “Grid”

Event

GARDE Gallery’s ongoing art gallery project will feature the solo exhibition “Grid” by artist Kiyoo Ota, running from Friday, February 21, 2025, to Saturday, March 8, 2025.

The concept of a grid is widely used in fields such as architecture, design, mathematics, and urban planning. It consists of a structured network of lines or points that visually and physically represent order and structure as a fundamental framework. However, when intersected with other dynamics and visual effects, unexpected transformations can occur.

Building on an architectural perspective, Ota delves into the themes of visual perception, space, and order. Using architectural grid structures as a starting point, he explores their visual and philosophical potential from multiple angles. Particularly through the moiré effect, a visual interference phenomenon, his work reveals moments where static order begins to waver, giving rise to dynamic and uncertain spaces that evoke a unique sensory experience.

Kiyoo Ota 〈 Flower Diagonal Stainless Steel 〉2023

In architecture, perspective serves as both a framework for understanding space and a filter that limits perception. Through the process of deconstructing and reconstructing the fundamental architectural form of the cube, Kiyoo Ota challenges the illusions created by perspective and its inherent limitations. This exhibition reexamines this filter, presenting works that disrupt conventional spatial perception.

With his architectural background, Ota brings a unique perspective to the universal structure of the grid, revealing its contradictions and possibilities while offering new spatial experiences. By exploring the intersection of order and fluctuation, the exhibition invites viewers to reconsider their perception of the world.

Kiyoo Ota 〈 Stainless Steel Cube 150 〉2023

Kiyoo Ota

Selected Solo Exhibitions
2024: Order, Gallery TK2
2023: Geometry, Daimaru Umeda Store
2023: Cosmos, Miaki Gallery
2023: Reality, Tagboat Gallery at Hankyu Men’s Tokyo

Selected Group Exhibitions / Art Fairs
2024: Art Central, Hong Kong
2024: ART ART TOKYO, Daimaru Tokyo Store
2024: ART SHINSAIBASHI, Shinsaibashi PARCO
2023: West Bund Art & Design, Shanghai
2023: Sarugaku Festival Art Fair, Art Front Gallery
2023: CHAPTER PATINA, Amanyangyun (Amanyang, Shanghai)
2023: Onbeat Art Show, Ginza Mitsukoshi
2023: China-Japan-Korea Sculpture Invitational Exhibition, Ministry of Culture of China, 2023: Qingdao Sculpture Art Museum
2023: Tennoz Canal Fes, WHAT CAFE, Terrada Warehouse
2023: Pre-Breakout Artists Exhibition, Ginza Six
2023: Contemporary Art from Around the World 2023, Daimaru Hakata Tenjin Store
2023: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/otakiyoo/