Our ‘Design Directory’ 2026: The architects, studios and designers to know around the world
As the stories in our Design Directory have demonstrated, the global design industry is thriving. Here we have compiled an international directory of the firms, studios and individuals at the top of their game, drawing on the crafts and vernaculars of the countries where they work to produce objects and buildings that enhance our lives.
Europe
Europe’s architectural and design landscape has a rich history, from ancient castles and cathedrals to modernist masterpieces. Contemporary designers are using this as a foundation for cutting-edge adaptive reuse and the establishment of circular economies, setting global industry standards.
Austria
The country’s contemporary designers build on a foundation of secessionist art and early modernist rigour.
Bernardo Bader
This Vorarlberg-based studio’s practice draws on the region’s timber-building traditions and exacting craftsmanship.
Klostergasse 9A, Bregenz
+43 5574 44440, bernardobader.com
Daniel Fügenschuh
Innsbruck architect behind light-filled houses, schools and rooftop extensions, with a gift for breathing new life into existing buildings.
Höttinger Auffahrt 11, Innsbruck
+43 5122 38601, fuegenschuh.at
Mostlikely
Architecture studio known for designing markets, civic buildings and public spaces. Most recently, it completed Vienna’s Naschmarkt, a hybrid timber market hall and public green space.
Schottenfeldgasse 62/2/22, Vienna
+43 1 890 8921, mostlikely.at
Belgium
Tapping into a storied heritage of art nouveau and Flemish urbanism, modern Belgian design is a leader in minimalist creativity.
Bas Smets
Landscape architect who designs with the climate and microclimates in mind, working with prevailing conditions to create welcoming, self-sustaining environments.
Place Eugène Flagey 7, Brussels
+32 2 219 75 21, bassmets.be
Veld
Architecture and urbanism practice designing housing and mixed-use city blocks, including in the canalside City Dox district.
Square Eugène Plasky 92-94, Brussels
+32 2 381 01 12, veld.work
Vincent Van Duysen
Architect and designer (and Molteni creative director) renowned for creating pared-back, material-rich homes and furniture.
Lombardenvest 34, Antwerp
+32 3 205 91 90, vincentvanduysen.com
WeWantMore
Studio that fuses branding and identity work to create engaging, narrative-driven spaces.
Hessenstraatje 1G, Antwerp
+32 3 290 62 73, wewantmore.studio
Czechia
From gothic towers to brutalist works, Czech architecture offers a wide range of styles. Today the nation is a pioneer in adaptive reuse.
SOA Architekti
Renowned for its thoughtful, community-minded approach to schools and civic infrastructure, including an extension to Prague’s Deutsche Schule.
Vaclavske namesti 828/23, Prague
+420 774 322 109, s-o-a.cz
TaK Architects
Adept at marrying old and new, this studio has worked on heritage sites, transformed historic city gates and made gentle additions to civic spaces.
Hollarovo namesti 2275/2, Prague
+420 272 730 714, tak2002.cz
U/U Studio
Architecture studio that turns neglected urban spaces such as underpasses into sculptural skateparks and lively public areas.
Kamenicka 5, Prague
+420 724 819 859, uustudio.cz
Denmark
A new generation of designers is now standing on the shoulders of the country’s mid-century masters, ensuring that Denmark remains a leader in functional minimalism.
Asca Studio
Cassandra Bradfield and Sofia Olsson’s studio for material-focused interiors and objects, spanning hospitality, retail and homes.
Sturlasgade 14, Copenhagen
ascastudio.com
Atelier Axo
Copenhagen studio that designs galleries, boutiques and furniture with crisp geometry and warm materials.
Bredgade 66, Copenhagen
+45 22 25 65 47, atelier-axo.com
Cecilie Manz
Designer making elegant utilitarian objects, from chairs and speakers to lamps and textiles.
Sølvgade 7, Copenhagen
+45 26 25 10 34, ceciliemanz.com
GamFratesi
Danish-Italian duo fusing Nordic craft with Italian conceptual rigour, making furniture for the likes of Gubi, Koyori and Porro.
Vermundsgade 40B, Copenhagen
+45 51 90 01 17, gamfratesi.com
Henning Larsen
Founded in 1959, Henning Larsen is celebrated for light-filled civic buildings such as Reykjavik’s glittering Harpa concert hall.
Vesterbrogade 76, Copenhagen
henninglarsen.com
Maria Bruun
Furniture designer winning awards for her sculptural contemporary updates to Denmark’s traditional design heritage.
+45 51 29 78 20, mariabruun.com
OEO Studio
Danish practice with Japanese sensibilities creating pared-back furniture and restaurant, retail and hotel interiors.
Forbindelsesvej 12, Copenhagen
+45 41 42 21 00, oeo.dk
SLA
Nature-based studio of landscape architects and biologists creating biodiverse parks and urban spaces.
Njalsgade 17B, Pakhus 2, Copenhagen
+45 33 91 13 16, sla.dk
Spacon
Cross-disciplinary studio that specialises in world-building, combining architecture, scenography and furniture design.
Løgstørgade 2, Copenhagen
spacon.studio
Finland
The home of organic modernism, Finland has a contemporary scene that celebrates natural materials and human-centred design, while making room for new ideas and technological innovations too.
Avarrus Architects
Helsinki practice that champions traditional construction materials and methods, such as the use of solid brick and natural ventilation.
Punavuorenkatu 1, Helsinki
+358 40 517 4241, avarrus.fi
Sistem
Storied interiors firm that has completed more than 1,600 workplaces, schools and public spaces since its foundation in 1972.
Bulevardi 5A5, Helsinki
+358 9 636 520, sistem.fi
Studio Kukkapuro
Established by the late Yrjö Kukkapuro and run by his daughter, this Kauniainen-based museum continues to release colourful, playful archival designs.
Alppitie 23, Kauniainen
+358 9 505 1080, studiokukkapuro.com
France
French design expands on centuries of haute-couture craftsmanship, pairing new technologies with exceptional handicrafts.
Corpus Studio
Design practice that plays with form and materiality to create sculptural, geometric architecture, interiors and furniture.
+33 1 71 20 31 01, corpus.studio
Chzon
Dorothée Meilichzon’s studio weaves local history into cinematic hotels, bars, restaurants and lounges.
54 Rue Greneta, Paris, chzon.com
Garnier & Linker
École Camondo-trained duo making lights and furniture in alabaster, plaster and cast glass in partnership with French ateliers.
22 Rue de l’Echiquier, Paris
+33 6 73 51 76 18, garnieretlinker.com
Hall Haus
Young collective taking inspiration from Bauhaus design, the African and Arabic diasporas, and street culture to create bold furniture and scenography.
shop.hall.haus
L’Atelier Senzu
Paris-based practice creating climate-sensitive architecture through adaptive reuse, renovation and low-carbon architectural interventions.
5 Rue de Charonne, Paris
+33 1 75 43 76 31, lateliersenzu.com
Lina Ghotmeh
Beirut-born architect committed to paying tribute to place and shaping culture and communities through large-scale housing and civic projects.
75 Rue de la Fontaine au Roi, Paris
+33 1 43 38 12 47, linaghotmeh.com
Modern Metier
Design house commissioning craft-made furniture and lighting by emerging European creatives.
102 Rue du Faubourg Poissonnière, Paris
+33 1 87 66 45 22, modernmetier.com
Pierre Yovanovitch
Designer who creates sculptural, shapely furniture and calming interior spaces.
6 Rue Beauregard, Paris
+33 1 40 98 98 90, pierreyovanovitch.com
Pierre-Alexis Guinet
Art director helping luxury clients to understand and express their identity through narrative-led brand-development campaigns.
pierrealexisguinet.com
Studio KO
One of the most sought-after contemporary studios, Karl Fournier and Olivier Marty’s firm has a reputation for atmospheric, tactile interiors, furniture and architecture.
6 Bis Rue Gabriel Laumain, Paris
+33 1 42 71 13 92, studioko.fr
Studio Marant
Creative agency with a sharp eye for emerging collectable design, connecting artists, designers and brands.
studiomarant.com
Germany
There’s more to German design than the Bauhaus and industrial precision. The country’s contemporary design scene is a respected leader in efficient architecture and savvy design.
Büro Ole Scheeren
Practice known for building tall towers with a sensitivity to place and human scale – showing that bigger can also be better.
Gubener Strasse 47 (Fabrik), Berlin
+49 30 346492830, buro-os.com
Kéré Architecture
Pritzker Architecture Prize winner Francis Kéré’s Berlin studio has a focus on using regional materials and building capacity in communities.
Arndtstrasse 34, Berlin
+49 30 78952391, kerearchitecture.com
Sebastian Herkner
Industrial designer bringing raw materials and craft to contemporary industrial-production methods.
Ludwigstrasse 4, Offenbach am Main
+49 69 82368081, sebastianherkner.com
Greece
Classical antiquity and modern regionalism combine to define the contemporary Greek design scene.
K-Studio
Architecture studio known for making hotels, housing developments and cultural venues at scale.
Isavron 5, Athens
+30 210 677 7522, k-studio.gr
Local Local
Architecture practice focused on reworking historic buildings with Greek materials and a minimalist aesthetic, while displaying a sensitivity to context.
Xenokratous 15, Athens
localocal.org
Objects of Common Interest
Split between Athens and New York, this studio is turning heads for its colour-shifting objects, furniture and installations that sit at the intersection of art and design.
Plateia Karytsi 6, Athens
+30 210 331 2860, objectsofcommoninterest.com
Point Supreme Architects
A studio creating sunny, contemporary residences with bright colours and raw materials.
pointsupreme.com
Italy
Renaissance roots and postwar radical design continue to have an influence on contemporary Italian design, which now strikes a balance between industrial efficiency and elegant opulence.
AMDL Circle
Acclaimed architect Michele de Lucchi’s studio works at all scales, from well-designed desk chairs to community master plans.
Via Varese 15, Milan
+39 02 637 8681, amdlcircle.com
Casa Milana
Furniture and interiors studio pairing Brianza craftsmanship with a commitment to promoting wellbeing, exploring the link between the mind, the body and the spaces that we inhabit.
casamilana.it
Diez Office
Industrial-design studio that is a pioneer of modular and repairable furniture, as well as lighting for circular economies.
Via Sarson 185, Bassano del Grappa
diezoffice.com
Dimorestudio
Interiors and furniture studio creating moody, nostalgic works that mix mid-century traditions with contemporary influences.
Via Solferino 11, Milan
+39 02 3653 7088, dimorestudio.eu
Federica Biasi
Industrial designer making clean-lined, organically curving furniture and objects for major design labels.
Via Privata Giovanni Ventura 5, Milan
+39 340 551 3672, federicabiasi.com
Harry Thaler
South Tyrolean designer whose studio is capable of distilling grand ideas down to singular forms and visions.
Zona Industriale 8, Lana
harrythaler.it
Keiji Takeuchi
Milan-based Japanese designer constructing precise furniture and lighting.
Via Giuseppe Ripamonti 15, Milan
+39 02 3669 6624, keijitakeuchi.com
Parasite 2.0
Research-led architecture practice responding to modern challenges such as resource shortages and environmental pressures.
Via Boncompagni 51/10, Milan
parasiteparasite.com
Raffaella Mangiarotti
Designer creating sensual domestic objects spanning ceramics, furniture, lighting and appliances.
Via Alfonso Lamarmora 40, Milan
+39 333 815 6840, raffaellamangiarotti.com
Studio Klass
Milan-headquartered industrial-design studio producing clean-lined furniture and objects.
Corso Magenta 56, Milan
+39 02 0995 9003, studioklass.com
Simple Flair
Creative agency responsible for the lived-in Simple Flair Apartments in Milan and New York that double as design showcases.
Via Gorani 4, Milan
simpleflair.it
Studioutte
Milan studio that has a well-earned reputation for its warm, minimalist interiors and solid-wood furniture.
Via Volturno 45, Milan
+39 02 3293 2044, studioutte.com
Ireland
The rugged Irish landscape shapes the country’s modern architecture and design scene with a creative output defined by robust and timeless works.
Grafton Architects
Yvonne Farrell and Shelley McNamara’s Pritzker Architecture Prize-winning practice reshapes communities for the better with its cultural, civic and housing projects.
12-14 College Green, Dublin
+353 1 671 3365, graftonarchitects.ie
Ryan W Kennihan Architects
Dublin practice designing distinctive, stout houses and public buildings rooted in the Irish landscape and vernacular.
30 Mountjoy Square, Dublin
+353 1 888 1916, rwka.com
Malta
At their best, Maltese designers deliver smart enhancements that bolster the appeal of the island’s ancient fortifications and rocky shores.
Chris Briffa Architects
A studio weaving new interventions into historical structures.
146 St Paul Street, Valletta
+356 2122 1407, chrisbriffa.com
Richard England
The sculptural, light-filled buildings of Maltese architecture’s elder statesman fuse modernism with Mediterranean tradition.
18 Oleander Street, The Gardens, St Julian’s
+356 9925 4363
Netherlands
Contemporary Dutch design brings together the legacies of game-changing 20th-century movements and centuries of water management, frequently resulting in savvy, sustainable works.
Aldo Bakker
Industrial designer making sculptural objects in glass, copper and urushi lacquer.
Rechtboomssloot 89H, Amsterdam
aldobakker.com
Bothi
Design house that makes furniture, lighting and objects with Dutch manufacturers and independent creators.
Buiksloterweg 95, Amsterdam
+31 6 20965875, bothi.design
Mecanoo
Practice creating civic landmarks that are reflective of their communities, taking a poetic approach to places and serving the needs of their users.
Oude Delft 203, Delft
+31 15 2798100, mecanoo.nl
Piet Oudolf
Garden designer known for naturalistic planting built around seasonality and microclimatic understanding.
Broekstraat 17, Hummelo
+31 314 381120, oudolf.com
Norway
Nordic timber traditions and fjord landscapes have influenced generations of Norwegian designers to create climate-sensitive, smartly crafted works.
Anderssen & Voll
Studio behind robust, cleverly engineered furniture and lighting, typically in natural materials.
Trondheimsveien 2, Oslo
anderssen-voll.com
Gartnerfuglen Arkitekter
Architects using timber to make homes and cabins that sit lightly in the Norwegian landscape.
Hegdehaugsveien 14, Oslo
gartnerfuglen.com
Oslo Works
Architecture studio working across interiors, identity and more.
Gøteborggata 27B, Oslo
+47 400 03 032, oslo.works
Poland
Born of a rich craft tradition and the legacy of postwar modernism, the Polish design industry skilfully melds tradition with innovation.
Jan Strumillo
Architect, urbanist and graphic designer interested in housing and its intersections with sociology, economics and sustainability.
Ulica Szpitalna 6A, Lokal 5, Warsaw
+48 504 059 884, janstrumillo.com
Maja Ganszyniec Studio
Industrial design practice creating elegant furniture and homeware for both Polish and international brands.
Odynca 9/4, Warsaw
studioganszyniec.com
89 Stopni
Studio working on everything from architecture to branding, imbuing projects with emotion and a strong sense of place.
Ulica Marszałkowska 27/35, Warsaw
Cudo
This architecture firm’s recent hospitality projects have helped to reshape Warsaw’s modern culinary and commercial landscape.
Powstancow Slaskich 112, Wrocław
+48 732 012 032, cudostudio.pl
Portugal
Modern Portuguese design melds artisan crafts, minimalism and a proud sense of regionalism to produce places and items with a distinct Lusitanian charm.
Aires Mateus
Manuel and Francisco Aires Mateus’s architecture studio produces work that plays with volume and geometry.
Rua de Campolide 62, Lisbon
+351 213 827 500, airesmateus.com
Atelier Miguel Marcelino
Architect known for bold, sculptural concrete buildings.
Calçada da Boa-Hora 87, Lisbon
+351 213 472 265, marcelino.pt
Hugo Passos
Designer making furniture and objects that invite play and joy into daily life.
hugopassos.com
Luso Collective
Lisbon-based independent creative platform uniting Portugal-based design studios, makers and independent practices.
luso.works
Mircea Anghel
Romanian-born designer making handcrafted furniture and lighting with an emphasis on materiality.
Herdade da Barrsinha, Alcácer do Sal
mirceaanghel.com
Origin Made
Portuguese brand producing furniture, objects and lighting in cork, clay, wood and stone.
Rua do Almada 586/588, Porto
+351 965 322 249, origin-made.com
Spain
From Moorish architecture to Catalan modernism, Spanish designers have a rich history of sunny vernaculars to inspire them.
Bofill Taller de Arquitectura
The late Ricardo Bofill’s studio furthers his legacy, making colourful, monumental geometric architecture.
Avenida de la Indústria 14, Barcelona
+34 934 999 900, bofill.com
Isern Serra
Interior designer creating minimalist spaces and furniture, in which raw materials and soft light do the talking.
Carrer de Llull, 47-49, Barcelona
+34 65 029 3485, isernserra.com
Isla Architects
Architecture practice that prioritises place and culture, revealing hidden potential and championing craft.
Tous i Maroto 12, Entlo B, Palma, Mallorca
+34 871 036 937, isla-architects.com
Jorge Penadés
This designer turns waste – from leather offcuts to cork refuse – into handsome furniture.
Ronda de Toledo 16, Madrid
+34 91 552 4270, penades.xyz
Locus Landscape Architecture
Landscape practice with studios in Madrid, Seville and Marbella, known for its tranquil outdoor spaces.
Calle Maestro Ripoll 5, Madrid
+34 67 547 1342, locuslandscape.com
Ohlab
Design studio that embraces the elements and material innovation, producing environmentally sensitive hotels, homes and restaurants.
Francesc de Borja Moll 6A, Palma de Mallorca
+34 971 919 909, ohlab.net
Viruta Lab
This studio draws on local heritage in homes such as Casa Cabanyal, a fisherman’s house reworked with blue-and-white tiling.
Calle del Mar 47, Valencia
+34 622 876 384, virutalab.com
Sweden
Scandinavian functionalism meets cutting-edge innovation, from industrial circularity to flat-pack designs, resulting in a creative economy whose products are as useful as they are sleek.
Contem
Innovative furniture company known for turning timber felled for Dutch elm disease into traceable, locally made collections.
Tavastgatan 2B, Stockholm
contemfurniture.com
Form Us with Love
Studio with a focus on reforming the industry by working closely with materials and producers to make furniture, lighting, acoustic panels and more.
Norr Mälarstrand 58, Stockholm
+46 736 41 66 99, formuswithlove.se
Joy Objects
Stockholm brand that does exactly what its name suggests, creating playful chairs, benches and storage solutions.
joyobjects.com
Veermakers
Interior designer Louise Liljencrantz’s made-to-order furniture, built in workshops in Stockholm and Fiskars, is rich in materiality and detail.
Brahegatan 26, Stockholm
+46 76 654 00 05, veermakers.com
Switzerland
Precision meets Alpine engineering traditions in Switzerland, whose creative community delivers work that’s both practical and expressive.
Design by INI
Neuchâtel-based US designer Ini Archibong makes otherworldly contemporary sculptural furniture, glass and watches.
designbyini.com
Karamuk Kuo
Studio known for the expressive quality of its structures, whether working on schools, sports halls or public buildings.
Binzstrasse 29, Zürich
+41 44 533 08 20, karamukkuo.com
Leopold Banchini Architects
Practice renowned for creating sensitive, richly detailed homes across the globe.
Rue De-Grenus 12, Geneva
leopoldbanchini.com
Panter&Tourron
Lausanne-based duo Stefano Panterotto and Alexis Tourron blend industrial and craft traditions to make furniture, objects and exhibition designs.
Avenue Bergières 22, Lausanne
pantertourron.com
Sébastien El Idrissi
Industrial designer known for distilling objects such as coffee roasters, side tables and planters down to their archetypal forms.
Baurstrasse 2, Zürich
sebastienelidrissi.com
Studio Seitz
Swiss-American furniture firm that makes pared-back, locally made pieces in an Alpine workshop.
Hauptstrasse 5, Muotathal
studioseitz.com
Turkey
At the crossroads of Europe and Asia, Turkey boasts a lively contemporary design scene that blends modern urban innovation with the legacy of Byzantine-Ottoman craftsmanship.
Autoban
Working across architecture, interiors and product and experiential design, this Istanbul-based firm has risen to prominence with its work on hospitality projects and its transport-hub innovations.
Dibek Sokak 48, Istanbul
+90 212 243 86 41, autoban.com
Sour
Design studio based between Istanbul and New York that tackles social and urban problems through architecture, research and public tools.
Asmali Mescid Mahallesi Nergiz Sokak, Karateke Is Hani, 8/5, Beyoglu, Istanbul
+90 212 243 90 45, sour.studio
Superpool
Design practice that combines architecture with urban research, known for its housing, schools and mapping projects.
Büyük Parmakkapi Sokak 14/4, Istanbul
+90 212 252 74 24, superpool.org
United Kingdom
Despite a design history that spans everything from brutalist experimentation to a Georgian focus on symmetry and proportion, the UK doesn’t rest on its laurels. Its contemporary scene remains among the most exciting in the world, marked by material innovation and a playful approach to architecture.
Alison Brooks Architects
Stirling Prize-winning studio best known for its sculptural housing and materially rich education buildings.
53-79 Highgate Road, London
+44 20 7267 9777, alisonbrooksarchitects.com
Andu Masebo
London-based furniture and product designer whose sleek objects sit at the intersection of craft and industry.
andumasebo.com
Feilden Fowles
This environmentally minded practice makes low-carbon timber and rammed-earth-inspired buildings, such as those in the gardens of Tate Britain gallery.
8 Royal Street, London
+44 20 7033 4594, feildenfowles.co.uk
Frost Collective
Vince Frost’s strategic design studio shapes brands, wayfinding and places. Founded in Sydney, it’s back in London 20 years after closing its last UK outpost.
300 St John Street, London
+44 20 7362 0775, frostcollective.com
Holloway Li
Alex Holloway and Na Li’s studio makes bold, intricate and research-driven interiors and architecture for hospitality and retail companies.
6 Baker’s Yard, London
+44 20 7993 5997, hollowayli.com
Joe Armitage
London lighting specialist known for his cleverly engineered and playful modernist pieces.
joearmitage.com
Boronkay Studio
Founded by Linda Boronkay, this London studio specialises in what it calls “spatial couture” – colourful, layered residential and hospitality interiors.
60 Gray’s Inn Road, London
boronkay.studio
Michael Anastassiades
This Cyprus-born, London-based designer creates considered, geometric lighting and furniture, often employing polished brass.
50 Rochester Place, London
+44 20 7928 7527, michaelanastassiades.com
Philippe Malouin
Born in Quebec but based in London, designer Philippe Malouin’s experimental interiors and furniture – from tables and chairs to sofas and lighting – play with notions of making and materiality.
+44 20 3222 5531, philippemalouin.com
Rio Kobayashi
Japanese designer and maker whose irreverent furniture and characterful interiors often feature bold primary colours and unusual shapes.
3 Independent Place, London
riokobayashi.com
Simone Brewster
Designer and artist whose furniture, vessels and jewellery explore notions of identity and form through the lens of black British and Afro-Caribbean histories.
simonebrewster.co.uk
Middle East and Africa
Creative communities across the Middle East and Africa balance distinct regional styles and traditional masonry with forward-looking architecture and design – all adapted to meet the demands of life in warmer climes.
Bahrain
Contemporary design in the Kingdom of Bahrain has long reflected the country’s island heritage, Dilmun history and pearl-diving lineage.
Maraj
This emerging architecture and design studio run by Latifa Alkhayat and Maryam Aljomairi focuses on research informed by culture and the climate.
maraj.works
Studio Anne Holtrop
The practice of a Dutch architect working between Bahrain and Amsterdam, known for materially-rich cultural, retail and hospitality projects.
Building 1502, Road 1551, Muharraq
anneholtrop.nl
Egypt
With a deep connection to desert landscapes, as well as the legacies of the nation’s pharaonic and Islamic histories, modern practices in Egypt excel in climate-smart residential architecture and creating localised brand identities.
Dar Arafa Architecture
This Cairo-based practice designs slick contemporary homes and public buildings that respect both the needs of the environment and materiality.
New Cairo 1, Cairo Governorate
+20 10 2600 0669, dararafa.com
Matter
Based between the Egyptian capital and Riyadh, this brand consultancy focuses on building identities, naming and packaging for some of the region’s biggest companies.
2 El Malek El Afdal, Cairo
matterbranding.com
Shahira Fahmy Architects
Giza-based architecture studio whose research-led cultural and residential projects draw on Egypt’s desert landscapes and heritage.
10 Geziret Al Arab Street, Giza
+20 2 3749 6144, sfahmy.com
Ethiopia
Contemporary Ethiopian design has a bountiful hinterland of ancient, rock-cut masonry and indigenous crafts.
Miriam Hillawi Abraham
Addis Ababa-born architect and designer exploring craft, memory and urban change through objects, installations and space.
miriamhillawi.com
RAAS Architects
A leading voice, working on housing, education and civic buildings.
Gabon Street, Enat Bank Building, Addis Ababa
+251 114 160 303, raasarchitects.com
Ghana
Modern Ghanaian design is informed by the country’s tropical vernaculars and vibrant urban cultures.
Dot Ateliers
Design residency that facilitates the exchange of perspectives, knowledge and experiences in Ghana.
254A Third Kaadjano Street, Accra
dotateliers.space
Limbo Accra
Spatial-design collective that encourages the reclamation of forgotten and abandoned spaces, transforming unfinished buildings into new opportunities.
limboaccra.online
Lebanon
Taking cues from Levantine craft and mid-century cosmopolitanism, modern Lebanese design blends art deco and graphic geometry into light-filled architecture and fine bespoke furniture.
A130
Studio designing atmospheric homes, restaurants and industrial buildings.
Armenia Street, Mar Mikhael, Beirut
+961 3 433 500, atelier130.com
David/Nicolas
Beirut-based duo David Raffoul and Nicolas Moussallem create confident graphic furniture, lighting and interiors.
119 Pharaon Street, Beirut
davidandnicolas.com
Morocco
Grounded in centuries of earthen kasbah construction, contemporary Moroccan architecture focuses on the restoration of historic granaries and sustainable vernacular building techniques, celebrated at the Casablanca Design Week.
Driss Kettani Architecte
For more than 20 years, this studio has been creating sleek, grounded and geometric residences, villas and private facilities.
85 Rue Driss Lahrizi, Casablanca
+212 522 22 40 17, drisskettani.com
Othmane Bengebara
Multidisciplinary architecture and design practice established by its namesake French-Moroccan professor, known for its atmospheric residences and art installations.
othmanebengebara.com
Nigeria
Modern Nigerian design is renowned for its refined industrial works that transcend resource restrictions through the raw ingenuity of the country’s informal manufacturing sector.
NLÉ
With outposts in Lagos and Amsterdam, this architecture practice is focused on solving global challenges in a way that is sensitive to local scale.
nleworks.com
Nmbello Studio
Founded by Nifemi Marcus-Bello, this Lagos-based studio draws on the city’s informal manufacturing and scrap-metal know-how to create refined furniture and objects.
nmbello.com
Oshinowo Studio
Architecture practice celebrated for its innovation across high-end residential, cultural and civic-housing initiatives.
CBC Tower, Lagos
+234 201 293 0622, oshinowostudio.com
Qatar
Qatari design pairs regional motifs informed by Bedouin and maritime traditions with luxury contemporary craftsmanship.
Abdulrahman Al Muftah
Parsons-trained Qatari artist and designer who reworks local heritage and materials into contemporary pieces.
abdulrahmanalmuftah.com
FROMM.
Founded in Msheireb and Milan, this furniture brand pairs Qatari regional designers with an Italian approach to making.
M7 – Msheireb Cultural Forum, Doha
+974 3350 8887, from-m.com
Sameh ElNahas
Art director and branding designer who creates identities for Qatari cafés, dairies, sports clubs and more.
+974 3367 4742, samehelnahas.com
Saudi Arabia
Modern Saudi practices focus on participatory heritage restoration and regionally sensitive architectural interventions and additions.
AN Studio
Riyadh-based architecture and interiors studio that aims to ground homes, cafés and hotels in local identity and materials.
3663 Imam Saud Bin Abdulaziz Bin Mohammed Road, Riyadh
+966 58 033 0413, anstudio.sa
Muntj Studio
Research-led product design studio that reinterprets Saudi craft and everyday rituals as contemporary products and cultural experiences.
muntjstudio.com
SAL Architects
Salwa Samargandi’s Jeddah-based practice was behind the participatory restoration of AlUla’s Ammar bin Yasser Mosque, which was shaped by interviews with locals.
Jameel Square, 2091 Prince Mohammed Bin Abdulaziz, Jeddah
salarchitects.sa
South Africa
South African design brings together time-tested Indigenous craft skills and diverse cultural narratives, making for potent ideas and works that respect their setting.
Counterspace
Sumayya Vally’s Johannesburg-based studio bridges the gap between African and Islamic architectural ideas and identities.
138 Jan Smuts Avenue, Johannesburg
counterspace-studio.com
James Mudge
Along with a small team of skilled artisans, this Cape Town-based furniture designer crafts pared-back, solid-timber, made-to-order pieces with a sculptural edge.
1 Calcutta Street, Cape Town
+27 79 448 1683, jamesmudge.com
Lemon
Based in Cape Town and Amsterdam, this furniture brand crafts pieces by hand with impeccable detailing and a rich sense of materiality.
24 Waterkant Street, Cape Town
+27 66 035 3183, lemonfurniture.co
United Arab Emirates
Evolving rapidly from a landscape of traditional courtyards to one of hyper-modern towers, the UAE leads the way in climate-conscious desert architecture and innovation.
Anarchitect
UK architect Jonathan Ashmore’s Dubai-based practice makes climate-conscious buildings and interiors.
Office 137, Al Shafar Investment Building, 655 Sheikh Zayed Road, Al Quoz 1, Dubai
+971 4 239 1993, anarchitect.com
Latifa Saeed
Emirati designer and artist whose studio spans spatial and object work, alongside residencies, classes and a biannual art majlis gathering.
1 16B 5 Street, Ras Al Khor Industrial Area, Dubai
latifasaeed.com
Modu Method
Dubai-based furniture label known for its playful, modular tables, seats, hangers and storage pieces that can be adapted as life changes, as well as quirky, colourful rugs.
+971 58 525 6638, modumethod.com
Mula Studio
Founded by Emirati architect Abdalla Almulla, this research-led practice works on everything from furniture and buildings to material and design innovation.
5B 15A Street, Al Quoz, Dubai
mula.ae
Ripple Collective
This collective is home to strategic design firm Slash, industrial design outfit Fabrica and concept shop Fount – plus Oxalá, a product line made by Fabrica and sold by Fount.
Level 3, Erth, Armed Forces Officers Club, Abu Dhabi
+971 2 679 8800, ripplecollective.ae
Studio Obliq
Dubai workshop and creative studio that makes sculptural, made-to-size furniture in nuanced tones, luxe textures and refined finishes.
Street 15A, Al Quoz, Dubai
+971 56 734 1767, studioobliq.co
The Americas
Across North, Central and South America, design traditions range from indigenous handicrafts and colonial masonry to mid-century modernism and sweeping post-industrial experimentation. Contemporary practices in these continents are exploring climate resilience, manufacturing localisation, indigenous knowledge systems and more.
Argentina
Modern Argentine design is rooted in a unique blend of European grandeur, resourceful industrial adaptation and high-quality craftsmanship.
Cristián Mohaded
Designer who draws on the weaving and craft traditions of Argentina for his sculptural furniture and objects.
Avenida del Libertador 1902, Buenos Aires
cristianmohaded.com
Espina Corona
Argentine furniture and lighting studio that pairs natural materials with digital fabrication.
Calle Algarrobo 1041, Buenos Aires
espinacorona.com.ar
Estudio Ramos
Design practice that excels at creating calm, carefully detailed houses and interiors.
Zeballos 2740, San Isidro, Buenos Aires
+54 11 6243 5351, estudioramos.com
Estudio Galera
Storied Architecture studio that is best known for creating austere concrete and brick houses, as well as impressive commercial and revitalisation projects.
Las Golondrinas Gallery, Cariló, Buenos Aires
+54 22 5457 0995, estudiogalera.com
Brazil
Built on a foundation of tropical modernism and traditional crafts, Brazil is home to creative communities that excel at blending the country’s many and varied approaches to design.
Anastassiadis
Interior design and architecture studio drawing on art, history and anthropology to create soulful residential and hospitality projects.
436 Rua Ceara, Higienópolis, São Paulo
+55 11 2182 7400, anastassiadis.com.br
Etel
Furniture house that reissues Brazilian modernist designs by the likes of Oscar Niemeyer and Lina Bo Bardi, alongside producing new work.
Alameda Gabriel Monteiro da Silva, 1834, São Paulo
+55 11 3064 1266, etel.design
Estúdio Campana
São Paulo-based studio that turns everyday materials into exuberant, expressive furniture that can take a variety of forms.
Rua Doutor Miranda de Azevedo, 934, São Paulo
+55 11 98421 5553, estudiocampana.com.br
Isabel Duprat
Landscape architect creating lush, native-planted gardens for homes and public spaces throughout São Paulo and beyond.
1170 Rua Haddock Lobo, São Paulo
+55 11 3088 1826, isabelduprat.com.br
Isay Weinfeld
Architect known for his warm and witty take on modernism, with each project, from houses to hotels, responding to place.
Rua Senador Cesar Lacerda Vergueiro 380, São Paulo
+55 11 3079 7581, isayweinfeld.com
Mercado Moderno
Rio de Janeiro gallery that specialises in vintage Brazilian mid-century furniture and design.
Rua do Lavradio 66, Rio de Janeiro
+55 21 98812 0328, memobrasil.com
Studio MK27
Marcio Kogan’s São Paulo-based practice is acclaimed for its serene modernist houses that often feature sliding walls, timber screens and generous proportions.
Alameda Tietê 505, São Paulo
+55 11 3081 3522, studiomk27.com.br
Canada
Modern Canadian design is every bit as varied as the country’s vast landscapes and extreme climates – natural assets that are reflected in a scene that remains as resilient as it is innovative.
Full Room
Company specialising in sourcing and reissuing pieces by iconic Québecois designers.
99 Rue Chabanel Ouest, Montréal
fullroom.ca
MacKay-Lyons Sweetapple Architects
Based in Nova Scotia and Boston, this studio’s spare, barn-like houses reimagine the region’s vernacular farm buildings as works of modern architecture.
Suite 130, 1715 Lower Water Street, Halifax
+1 902 429 1867, mlsarchitects.ca
Michael Green Architecture
Working across commercial and residential projects, this studio is a pioneer of towering mass-timber buildings.
1,535 West 3rd Avenue, Vancouver
+1 604 336 4770, mg-architecture.ca
Omar Gandhi Architects
Based in Halifax, Toronto and Berlin, this architecture studio is known for its clear forms, minimalist material palettes and sensitivity to the locations of its projects.
Suite 300, 1209 Marginal Road, Halifax
+1 902 420 1580, omargandhi.com
Shim-Sutcliffe Architects
Well-established studio known for its finely detailed buildings with respect for landscape and natural materials.
441 Queen Street East, Toronto
+1 416 368 3892, shim-sutcliffe.com
Thom Fougere Studio
The studio creates elegant, restrained furniture, objects and interiors.
305 Rue de Bellechasse, Montréal
+1 204 960 5586, thomfougere.com
Yabu Pushelberg
The Toronto and New York interiors powerhouse behind hotels and furniture for leading brands.
55 Booth Avenue, Toronto
+1 416 778 9779, yabupushelberg.com
Chile
Demanding geography, rigorous seismic codes and a focus on utility over ornament shape a contemporary Chilean design culture that is both resourceful and function-forward.
Bravo
Specialising in object, interior and furniture design, this studio fuses local craftsmanship with modern technology to deliver simple but purposeful solutions.
Alvar Aalto 1170, Vitacura. Santiago
+56 2 2785 0981, bravo.io
Cristián Romero Valente
Residential architecture firm that strips forms to their essentials to seamlessly blend clean lines, natural light and consideration for the environment.
+56 9 9345 3252, romerovalente.cl
Pezo von Ellrichshausen
Architecture studio responsible for striking, monolithic and symmetrical structures.
Santa Lucia Alto S/N, Casilla 6, Yungay
pezo.cl
Colombia
The Colombian creative scene is booming, built on a dynamic fusion of ancestral craftsmanship and tropical modernism.
Ar_ea
Medellín-based architecture and design studio creating warm, polished interiors across hotels, residences and commercial spaces.
Astorga Loft Building, 7D Street #43C-23, Medellín
+57 300 343 8152, ar-ea.com.co
Cinco Sólidos
Architecture firm that turns out uplifting, material-rich homes and hotels.
Calle 10A # 38-31, Medellín
+57 320 635 5070, cincosolidos.com
Del Valle Studio
This interiors studio takes a holistic, human-centred approach to the crafting of atmospheric homes and offices.
Astoga Building L, El Poblado, Medellín
+57 300 465 7260, delvalle.studio
Studio Fango
Working closely with artisans, this studio weaves craft traditions into collectable design objects.
fangostudio.com
Mexico
Famed for its monumental pre-Hispanic structures and globally celebrated mid-century regionalism, contemporary Mexican design is pursuing fresh ideas and is deservedly having a moment.
Fernanda Canales
This Mexico City-based architect specialises in contextually sensitive residences and cultural projects, and enjoys a parallel career writing about Mexican housing.
fernandacanales.com
Francisco Pardo
Architect working on projects that revitalise urban spaces, honouring the past and supporting the local community – but always with an eye to the future.
Dr Erazo 172, Colonia Doctores, Mexico City
+52 55 5525 2556, franciscopardo.mx
Kenya Rodríguez Estudio
The Guadalajara-based interior designer creates calming homes in the city, in the country and on the beach.
Calle José Guadalupe Zuno Hernández 2,141, Guadalajara
kenyarodriguez.com.mx
Lanza Atelier
Award-winning Mexico City-based architecture practice known for its inventive small buildings, installations and furniture that draw on the best of local lore and craft.
lanzaatelier.com
Ludwig Godefroy
French-born, Mexico City-based architect of calming, monumental concrete houses, as well as retail and commercial spaces.
ludwiggodefroy.com
Manuel Cervantes Estudio
Architecture studio that works on everything from single homes to entire communities. Its projects are always developed with respect for the relationships between landscape, space and materiality.
+52 55 5201 3500, manuelcervantes.com.mx
Productora
Architecture studio renowned for cultural and urbanism projects that focus as much on communities as on spatial outcomes.
Calle Doctor Lucio 181, Mexico City
+52 55 3092 7746, productora-df.com.mx
Taller Héctor Barroso
This Mexico City-based architect creates residences that are rooted in place and responsive to landscape, light and shade.
+52 55 5038 9088, tallerhectorbarroso.com
Tatiana Bilbao Estudio
Architecture firm known for its people-first, narrative-driven approach across residential, cultural and civic projects.
Paseo de la Reforma 382, Mexico City
+52 55 8589 8822, tatianabilbao.com
Uruguay
Uruguay’s design scene fuses European colonial roots with modern innovation – all while celebrating local landscapes and materials.
Estudio Diario
Montevideo-based studio that creates simple, well-proportioned and timeless furniture and accessories.
Bulevar General Artigas 2,315, Montevideo
+598 9913 4045, estudio-diario.com
Gualano + Gualano Arquitectos
This Montevideo practice designs rigorous, understated houses and public buildings.
Manuel Haedo 2918, Montevideo
+598 2707 9074, gualano.com.uy
Menini Estudio
Industrial designer Agustín Menini’s studio has built its reputation on bold and unexpected furniture.
San José 967, 11100 Montevideo
+598 9922 5642, menini.uy
USA
Much like the country itself, contemporary American design offers an astonishing range of approaches and ideas, with creatives inspired by everything from industrial production and radical pop culture to indigenous traditions and civil-rights movements.
Astraeus Clarke
Design studio that makes narrative-focused, nostalgia-inducing lighting fixtures, furniture and objects from its base in Manhattan.
114 Bowery, No 301, New York
astraeusclarke.com
Diller Scofidio + Renfro
Interdisciplinary studio that works on grand, city-shaping projects, from civic spaces to museums and art galleries.
601 West 26th Street, New York
+1 212 260 7971, dsrny.com
Estudio Persona
Uruguayan designers Emiliana Gonzalez and Jessie Young’s studio makes bold, sculptural furniture and lighting in collaboration with makers.
3,469 Casitas Avenue, Los Angeles
estudiopersona.com
Ken Smith Workshop
Landscape architect known for his witty, art-minded public spaces and urbanism projects.
450 West 31st Street, New York
+1 212 791 3595, kensmithworkshop.com
Michael Van Valkenburgh Associates
This landscape firm is respected for reshaping post-industrial waterfronts and urban sites into thriving civic spaces and public parks.
16 Court Street, New York
+1 718 243 2044, mvvainc.com
Norman Teague Design Studios
Chicago-based practice whose furniture and public installations are rooted in community and local contexts.
4,429 West Division Street, Chicago
normanteaguedesignstudios.com
Perron Studios
This studio is responsible for the stage sets for some of fashion and pop music’s biggest names, alongside interiors, retail and furniture design.
4,160 Santa Monica Boulevard, Los Angeles
perronstudios.com
Sophie Lou Jacobsen
French-American designer of rippled glassware and sculptural lighting that plays with refraction and colour.
371 Madison Street, New York
sophieloujacobsen.com
Stephen Burks Man Made
This Brooklyn-based studio co-creates furniture, objects and materials with artisan communities worldwide.
141 Flushing Avenue, New York
stephenburksmanmade.com
Asia-Pacific
From China and Japan in East Asia to Australia and New Zealand in Oceania, this region is home to more than 60 per cent of the world’s population. Its design scenes are as big and varied as its geography.
Australia
Built largely in isolation, Australia’s design scene is frequently grounded in climate-responsive living, an appreciation for resource scarcity and respect for indigenous land.
ACME
Sydney studio creating nostalgic, story-rich hospitality venues.
46A Macleay Street, Potts Point, Sydney
+61 411 367 444, acme-co.com.au
Aspect Studios
Multinational landscape architecture practice transforming streets, parks and waterfronts into shaded, people-friendly public spaces.
160 Queen Street, Melbourne
+61 394 176 844, aspect-studios.com
Breathe
This Melbourne practice is a global leader in sustainable, community-minded residential architecture.
7 Alfred Place, Melbourne
+61 393 812 007, breathe.com.au
Brud Studia
Design studio making furniture and objects that merge primitive, brutalist principles with advanced production methods.
122 Gertrude Street, Fitzroy, Melbourne
brudstudia.com
Tom Fereday
Sydney furniture and product designer making statuesque pieces in timber and metal with Australian manufacturers.
16 Chester Street, Camperdown, Sydney
+61 404 941 504, tomfereday.com
Tamsin Johnson
Sydney interior designer and antiques dealer known for relaxed spaces that combine vintage and bespoke pieces.
1 Victoria Street, Paddington, Sydney
+61 491 112 546, tamsinjohnson.com
The Letters
Type foundry creating fonts and lettering for clients including the Museum of Contemporary Art Australia and Sydney Opera House.
154 Abercrombie Street, Redfern, Sydney
theletters.co
Malli
Metal fabricator Guthike Watawala established this Melbourne-based furniture brand, creating precision stainless-steel pieces.
malli.com.au
Kerstin Thompson Architects
Architecture firm designing civic, educational and residential buildings shaped by landscape and a generous public spirit.
6 Lothian Street, North Melbourne
+61 386 628 800, kerstinthompson.com
Troppo Architects
Practice founded in Darwin that pioneers climate-responsive, breezy tropical buildings made from lightweight timber and tin.
15 Quarry Crescent, Stuart Park, Darwin
+61 889 819 585, troppo.com.au
Whispering Smith
Preservation-driven Perth architecture practice designing low-key, contextually respectful residential buildings.
6 King William Street, Perth
whisperingsmith.com.au
Bangladesh
Informed by the country’s river delta landscapes and monsoon climates, contemporary Bangladeshi practice is known for smart, climate-adaptive and community-built structures.
Marina Tabassum Architects
Dhaka practice behind the Aga Khan Award-winning Bait Ur Rouf Mosque and moveable Khudi Bari homes for flood-prone communities.
House 40, Road 6A, Dhanmondi, Dhaka
+880 2 911 1886, marinatabassumarchitects.com
Moofer Architecture
Architecture studio creating poetic, open and airy residences that respond well to Bangladesh’s tropical climate.
+880 1 517 839 111
Paraa
Multidisciplinary design and architecture studio that collaborates closely with communities in Bangladesh and beyond to enrich public spaces.
Flat 1B, House 3, Road 7, Block C, Niketon, Gulshan 1, Dhaka
+880 1 708 656 031, paraa.org
China
Historic spatial philosophies, rapid urbanisation and industrialisation drive an exceptionally agile and ambitious design culture.
Jiakun Architects
Chengdu architect and 2025 Pritzker laureate known for vernacular designs rooted in communities.
1-2-6, 3 Yulin South Road, Chengdu
+86 28 8558 9491, jiakun.com
MAD
Architecture firm known for futuristic, organic designs that draw inspiration from both advanced technology and traditional Chinese concepts of connections to nature.
Tower A, 107 Dongsi North Street, Dongcheng District, Beijing
+86 10 6402 6632, i-mad.com
Neri & Hu
Research-led practice renowned for working vernacular ideas into hotels, homes and furniture.
Building 31, 322 Jiaozhou Road, Jing’an District, Shanghai
+86 21 5286 2900, neriandhu.com
Panglossian Studio
Split between Shenzhen, Hong Kong and Venice, this studio creates joyful identities for restaurants, bars and retail spaces.
4F Building 15, Honghuayuan Village, 38 Honghua Road, Nanshan, Shenzhen
+86 152 2137 5946, wearepanglossian.com
Hong Kong
Dense vertical urbanism and an East-meets-West heritage position Hong Kong design at an intersection of cultures and technologies.
Beau Architects
Design practice with an established reputation for its galleries and exhibitions, characterised by an expressive austerity.
Nathan Commercial Building, 430-436 Nathan Road, Yau Ma Tei
beau.hk
Design Eight Five Two
Creative studio designing spaces, brands and experiences for hospitality and commercial clients.
1F Arran Tower, 7 Arran Street, Kowloon
+852 2385 2228, designeightfivetwo.com
Joyce Wang Studio
Interior-design firm behind cinematic hotel and restaurant spaces, among other projects.
12 Kennedy Street, Wan Chai
+852 2804 1138, joycewang.com
One Bite Design
Multidisciplinary design studio bridging the gap between people and physical spaces through thoughtful placemaking.
50-54 Lok Ku Road, Sheung Wan
+852 2803 0202, onebitedesign.com
India
India’s architecture is well known for its fusion of Hindu, Islamic and Mughal traditions, and this ancient heritage continues to animate the country’s contemporary design scene.
Casegoods
Architecture studio Case Design’s furniture line blends ancient craft traditions with a contemporary look and feel.
A49, Nandjyot Industrial Estate, Andheri Kurla Road, Mumbai
+91 80972 70837, casegoods.in
Frozen Music
The Jaipur-based workshop partners with international creatives in hand-carving stone, metal and wood into inlay, jali screens and mosaics for hotels, yachts and homes.
H147 Riico Industrial Area, Mansarovar, Jaipur
+91 98290 12530, frozen-music.com
Phantom Hands
Furniture firm producing heritage design and new pieces made by Indian craftspeople.
12/1 A5, Lakshmipura Main Road, Abbigere, Bangalore
+91 77603 29191, phantomhands.in
Samira Rathod Design Atelier
Firm working closely with the communities that it designs for, drawing from material and historical experience.
421, Unique Industrial Estate, Twin Tower Lane, Swatantryaveer Savarkar Road, Prabhadevi, Mumbai
+91 22243 27249, srda.co
Studio Mumbai
Architecture studio known for testing ideas on-site using large-scale mock-ups, material studies and physical models.
563 NM Joshi Marg, Byculla West, Jacob Circle, Mumbai
+91 22230 00754, studiomumbai.com
Vikram Goyal
Design studio that’s reviving brass repoussé and other Indian crafts in its sculptural furniture, lighting and interiors.
A4, Sector 64, Noida, Gautam Buddha Nagar, Uttar Pradesh
+91 93105 80433, vikramgoyal.com
Indonesia
Rooted in tropical timber craft and island vernaculars, Indonesian practices are innovating in the face of rapid urbanisation while maintaining a deep respect for their nation’s heritage.
Alexis Dornier
Based in Bali, German-born architect Alexis Dornier designs sculptural, climate-responsive tropical homes and hotels.
Jalan Raya Penestanan Kelod 1, Ubud, Bali
+62 812 4188 1599, alexisdornier.com
Andramatin
Jakarta architect behind tropical modernist houses and cultural buildings that play with light, shade and raw materials.
Jalan Manyar III Blok O-3 Kavling 29-30, No 4-6, Bintaro Jaya Sektor I, Jakarta
+62 21 735 3338, andramatin.com
Bitte
Creative studio bridging architecture and interior design, taking a holistic approach to crafting residential and hospitality spaces.
Jalan Jurang Mangu Barat 8, Tangerang Selatan
+62 811 858 1773, bitte-design.com
SHAU
Indonesian-Dutch practice known for its monumental residential, civic and religious architecture.
Jalan Adipati Kertabumi 21, Bandung
+62 22 2052 4973, shau.nl
Sungai Design
Bali studio upcycling plastic recovered from the environment into furniture, which is sold to aid further river clean-ups.
Jalan Pangkungsari 18A, Banjar Taman Kerobokan, Kuta, Bali
+62 812 3456 7890, sungaidesign.com
Japan
From ancient wood joinery to postwar minimalism, Japan has shaped international design and its scene continues to go from strength to strength.
Design Studio S
Tokyo product designers creating human-centred everyday objects, from homeware to medical and electronic devices.
MT3 2F, 1-12-24 Mita, Meguro-ku, Tokyo
+81 3 5724 3200, design-ss.com
Keiji Ashizawa Design
Design studio celebrated for its meticulous attention to detail across architecture, interior design and bespoke furniture.
5-6-13 Asakusabashi, Taito-ku, Tokyo
keijidesign.com
Kohseki
Design firm bridging Japanese lighting and Danish-inspired furniture, glass and objects, uniting two fertile manufacturing cultures.
15 Murasakino Nishigosho-cho, Kita-ku, Kyoto
kohseki.com
Nendo
This industrial design studio is famous for witty, minimalist products, branding, furniture and interiors.
Sogetsu Kaikan 6F, 7-2-21 Akasaka, Minato-ku, Tokyo
nendo.jp
Sanaa
Pritzker Architecture Prize-winning practice, known for ethereal, glassy cultural and civic buildings.
1-5-26 Tatsumi, Koto-ku, Tokyo
+81 3 3450 1754, sanaa.co.jp
Shigeru Ban Architects
Tokyo architect celebrated for construction techniques and material innovation, pioneering the structural use of recycled cardboard, paper tubes, timber and bamboo.
5-2-4 Matsubara, Setagaya-ku, Tokyo
+81 3 3324 6760, shigerubanarchitects.com
Sou Fujimoto Architects
Architect behind monastic buildings blurring the boundary between architecture and nature.
2-1-38 Etchujima, Koto-ku, Tokyo
+81 3 5875 8990, sou-fujimoto.net
Tomohiro Hata Architect & Associates
Studio constructing sculptural, geometric residences and civic buildings.
1-4 Onohamacho, Chuo-ku, Kobe
+81 78 599 9035, hata-archi.com
Torafu Architects
Studio making playful interiors, products and installations.
2F, 1-9-2 Koyama, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo
+81 3 5498 7156, torafu.com
Yamazaki Kentaro Design Workshop
Studio creating people-first architecture, prioritising communities.
Suzumori Building 4F-5F, 3-12-7 Higashi Nihonbashi, Chuo-ku, Tokyo
+81 3 6661 9898, ykdw.org
New Zealand
Informed by Maori and Pacific design principles, contemporary practice in New Zealand produces meticulous typography, landscape-led timber homes and generous civic buildings.
Bull O’Sullivan Architecture
Auckland- and Christchurch-based firm that designs expressive residential and civic buildings.
3-13 Shortland Street, Auckland
+64 9 358 3882, bosarchitecture.co.nz
Jasmax
Auckland studio behind public buildings and places that aim to foster connections between culture, nature and architecture.
2 Marston Street, Parnell, Auckland
+64 9 366 9626, jasmax.com
Klim Type Foundry
Kris Sowersby’s Wellington foundry draws authentic typefaces used by newspapers, banks and brands worldwide.
23-B Totara Road, Miramar, Wellington
klim.co.nz
Monk Mackenzie
Multidisciplinary studio that designs sculptural and poetic architecture, ranging from bespoke residential buildings to monumental civic projects.
106-108 Quay Street, Auckland
+64 9 600 3335, monkmackenzie.com
Seear-Budd Ross
Design-led architecture and interiors studio balancing a restrained, minimal aesthetic with a tactile material palette.
+64 27 763 5067, seearbuddross.com
Warren and Mahoney
Multinational practice founded in 1955 in Christchurch, where it designed the town hall and civic and education buildings.
254 Montreal Street, Christchurch
+64 3 961 5926, wam.studio
Singapore
The city-state’s youth and compact footprint have fostered a design and architecture scene that’s nimble, efficient, forward-looking and environmentally focused.
Brewin Design Office
Interior design practice celebrated for material-driven residential and hospitality spaces.
201 Henderson Road, 05-25, Singapore
+65 6221 8339, brewindesignoffice.com
Lanzavecchia + Wai
Singaporean-Italian studio behind projects focused on improving quality of life.
115A Commonwealth Drive, 02-01, Singapore
lanzavecchia-wai.com
Practice Theory
Creative agency turning strategy and storytelling into brand identities.
4B Lorong 32 Geylang, Singapore
practicetheory.com.sg
Roger&Sons
Family-run studio making well-crafted furniture for homes and hospitality.
115 King George’s Avenue, 01-01, Singapore
+65 9788 4887, rogerandsons.sg
WOHA Architects
Pioneers of plant-covered, climate-responsive structures.
29 Hong Kong Street, Singapore
+65 6423 4555, woha.net
South Korea
Blending traditional hanok aesthetics with sleek modernism, South Korean design produces bold graphic identities, woven-cable furniture and adaptive public parks.
Kwangho Lee Studio
Seoul designer knotting and weaving everyday materials such as electrical cables and enamelled copper into sculptural furniture and lights.
B1, 1F 12-6, Seongsu Il-ro 1-gil, Seongsu 1-ga, Seongdong Gu, Seoul
kwangholee.com
Mass Studies
Award-winning architecture studio creating spaces that take inspiration from traditional Korean architecture.
46 Hoenamu-ro 44-ga-gil, Yongsan District, Seoul
+82 2 790 6528, massstudies.com
Studio FNT
Seoul publishing and graphic-design studio known for bold, systematic identities, books and posters for cultural clients.
32 Noksapyeong-daero 40-na-gil, Yongsan District, Seoul
studiofnt.com
Studio Showmakers
Experimental spatial design and branding studio that specialises in immersive environments and experiential retail spaces.
7 Toegye-ro 48-gil, Jung-gu, Seoul
+82 70 7812 0102, studioshowmakers.com
Wise Architecture
Seoul practice designing geometric cultural and residential buildings.
10 Musumak 18-gil, Seongdong-gu, Seoul
+82 2 2256 9070, wisearchitecture.com
Thailand
Influenced by the nation’s tropical climate, Thai practices are renowned for lush landscape urbanism and lively furniture designs.
Moonler
Moonler’s Chiang Mai artisans create furniture with an impressive network of designers, handcrafted from premium Chamchuri wood.
51 Sam Ran Rat, Doi Saket District, Chiang Mai
+66 81 791 9661, moonler.com
Landprocess
Bangkok landscape studio designing resilient urban landscapes that capture carbon and combat the climate crisis.
+66 2 641 8483, landprocess.co.th
P Landscape
Landscape practice creating lush, climate-savvy gardens for hotels, homes and public spaces.
59/3 Sukhumvit 39, Khlong Tan Nuea, Watthana, Bangkok
+66 2 261 3700, plandscape.com
Shma
Landscape and design practice based in Bangkok, shaping parks and resorts with a focus on ecology and connections to place.
93/2 Ekkamai 3, Sukhumvit 63, Klongton Nuer, Vadhana, Bangkok
+66 2 390 1977, shmadesigns.com
Studio Make
This team of designers and creators works across architecture, interiors, furniture design and prefabricated construction.
44/4 Soi Baan Sai Ma, Rattanathibet Road, Nonthaburi
+66 2 528 6212, studiomake.com
Vietnam
With abundant natural materials and a tropical climate, Vietnam is a leading light in environmentally conscious architecture.
Base Saigon
Creative studio building brand identities for cultural clients and consumers.
47B Pham Ngoc Thach Xuan Hoa Ward, Ho Chi Minh City
+84 283 822 9559, basedesign.com
Tropical Space
Architecture studio designing sensitive, climate-aware houses and community buildings.
11A Nguyen Van Mai Street, Tan Son Nhat Ward, Ho Chi Minh City
+84 338 211 443, tropicalspaceil.com
VTN Architects
Ho Chi Minh City practice creating lush, plant-covered offices and homes.
23 Duong So 55-TML, Cat Lai, Thu Duc, Ho Chi Minh City
+84 286 287 4411, vtnarchitects.net
For more recommendations about the best architects, designers, branding experts, furniture makers and graphic designers, subscribe to the Monocle Minute On Design newsletter. It hits inboxes every Wednesday with a swath of design tips. Visit monocle.com/newsletters to subscribe.
The post Our ‘Design Directory’ 2026: The architects, studios and designers to know around the world appeared first on Monocle.
