About
Originated from Japan, Daisuke Nagatomo graduated from Meiji University in Tokyo, and decided to pursue his passion of architecture at Columbia University, where he received master degree in advanced architectural design. Daisuke began his career in the metropolitan New York area with architecture firms, including TEN Arquitectos and Design Office for Research and Architecture. He also co-taught graduate studio at Pratt Institute (New York).
Minnie Jan received Bachelor of Architecture from University of Southern California, and she continued to pursue in the field of architecture at Columbia University, where she obtained master degree in 2004. Jan was a designer at FXFOWLE Architects in New York for 3 years, where she concentrated in sustainable building development, including projects in Dubai, India, and Saudi Arabia.
MisoSoupDesign was established in New York City in 2004, and has expanded the area of activity in Barcelona, Spain, and Tokyo, Japan. Currently, Jan and Nagatomo are the selected researchers for Solar Decathlon Europe 2010 in the Institute for Advanced Architecture of Catalonia, Barcelona. They dedicate their practice on researching material property, systematic strategy, and re-evaluate functionality. Both being USGBC LEED accredited professionals, they are aware of the direct connection between environment and limited resource, and the concept of their design constantly incorporates new ideas with minimal wasted material. With the aid of digital technology, they began to apply the systematic way of thinking in furniture design, and discover the surprising moment when form meets function.
MisoSoupDesign has received numerous design awards, including honorable mention in Biennale Miami 2005, 1st prize in ACADIA competition 2007 and FEIDAD design merit award 2008. Their work has been published globally, including Frame magazine, L’arca, Once Upon a Chair (Gestalten) and New Product Design (Zeixs). MisoSoupDesign has won 1st prize of the Hot Seat Competition, and have successfully produced a prototype chair with OFS, which was displayed at Neocon 2009. MisoSoupDesign has exhibited in the “100% Professional” during Tokyo Designer’s Week in 2009.
