Born in 1967 in Saga, Japan, designer Tokujin Yoshioka studied and worked under both designer Shiro Kuramata (1987) and fashion designer Issey Miyake (beginning in 1988) before launching his own studio, Tokujin Yoshioka Design, in 2000. Yoshioka’s ongoing collaborative relationship with Miyake has resulted in multiple shop designs and installations.
Regarded as one of Japan’s most important contemporary designers, Yoshioka is known for subtle, ethereal, and emotionally evocative work that often blurs the lines between design and art. His designs span the arenas of accessories, furniture, large-scale installation, and beyond. His projects are the result of intensive research, often incorporating experimental technology.
Yoshioka's breakout design was the 2001 Honey-pop paper chair. Since that time, his client list has grown to include Hermes, BMW, Lexus, Moroso, Cartier, Swarovski, Kartell, KDDI and others. Yoshioka’s pieces are included in the permanent collections of the world’s most respected museums, including, among others, the Museum of Modern Art New York, the Vitra Design Museum, the Cooper Hewitt National Design Museum, and the Victoria and Albert Museum.
