Member

Mitsutaka Nakao

Creative Director

Born in 1979 in Kobe and raised in Kyoto.
Initially aspired to become an architect during his student years but realized his passion for crafting visually appealing presentation boards, which led him to transition to the world of 2D design.
He taught himself graphic design and web design and founded Econosys Design while studying in the Faculty of Arts at Kyoto University of Arts.
As a creative director, he engages in a wide range of activities, focusing primarily on branding. He views design as a tool for solving problems, delving into the core issues faced by clients, and offering tailored solutions to meet their needs.
To combine his love of travel with his work, he opened "MON", a gallery and wine bar themed around travel. The establishment aims to evoke the excitement and inspiration encountered during journeys.

Yuji Kinoshita

Director

Born in 1984 in Hirakata City, Osaka Prefecture.
Studied architecture and applied for a part-time position at Econosys Design while pursuing a graduate degree at Kyoto Prefectural University.
Discovered the joy of design during this time and subsequently joined the company full-time.
After gaining experience in a variety of projects, he left Econosys for a while, but in 2019 he returned to the team with a new perspective.
As a child, he was engrossed in creating his own board games and indulging in imaginative play. Recently, he has been enjoying nature through camping and mountain climbing.
Interestingly, he is also a certified second-class architect.

Yoshitaka Kurumi

Director

Born in 1982 in Fukui Prefecture, raised in Nagoya and Kyoto, and currently residing in Shiga Prefecture.
While attending culinary school, he discovered the internet, which led him to enroll in the Web Design Department at Kyoto Computer Gakuin.
After graduation, he managed e-commerce websites for a furniture store and a food manufacturing company, achieving remarkable sales success.
Later, he joined Econosys Design after meeting Nakao.
Specializes in web development, focusing on system-based projects using original CMS, WordPress, and EC-CUBE.
He enjoys watching movies and visiting temples and appreciates serene and dignified atmospheres.

Takashi Kuroyanagi

Art Director / Cinematographer

Born in 1988 in Aichi Prefecture. Graduated from the Graduate School of Design Science at Kyoto Institute of Technology.
While studying graphic design, he worked as a sports photographer and taught himself video production.
From 2015 to 2020, he was part of Econosys Design as a designer and cinematographer. His creative approach focuses on uncovering and visualizing the inherent value within organizations and individuals through careful dialogue.
A devoted foodie, he makes it a habit during business trips to visit local recommendations and bring back locally produced seasonings and snacks.
Rejoined Econosys Design in 2024 to continue contributing his expertise.

Megumi Harano

Senior Designer

Born in Osaka. Graduated from the Visual Design program in the Design Department of Kyoto City University of Arts. Afterward, she studied abroad at École nationale supérieure des arts décoratifs de Paris (EnsAD) in France. Upon returning to Japan, she joined Econosys in 2018.
With a strong interest in art and culture, she excels at creating sophisticated and refined worlds through thoughtful consideration of clients' backgrounds and aspirations.
Her hobbies are tea and travel. When traveling, she makes it a habit to visit places where she can experience the local tea culture and to purchase a piece of local craftsmanship.

Yusaku Hashimoto

Backend Engineer

Born in Hiroshima. Moved to Kyoto when he entered university, but quit after half a year and entered Kyoto Computer Gakuin the following year. He realized that he was not suited for the embedded systems department, where he worked with a soldering iron every day, and began studying web technology, which he was originally interested in, on his own. After graduation, he immediately quit his job at the company he had just graduated from and joined Econosys Design. His favorite quote is, "For example, if I told you that elephants are flying in the sky, people would not believe me. But if you tell them that 4,257 elephants are flying in the sky, they might believe you."

Takuya Yoshida

Planning Designer

Born in Shizuoka Prefecture. Graduated from the Design Science Program at the Graduate School of Kyoto Institute of Technology.
Studied animation and video production during his studies and joined an advertising production company in Osaka after graduation. He has been involved in a wide range of projects, including advertisements, editorial work, and logo design.
Joined Econosys Design in 2021. Skilled at navigating between logical and abstract thinking to create designs and concepts with compelling narratives.
Fueled by sugar, he often snacks and is currently on a diet.

Sayaka Kambayashi

Senior Designer

Born in Aichi Prefecture. Majored in Product Design at university, where she taught herself graphic design during her studies.
Started her career as an in-house designer for a company operating in the education, food, and sports industries.
Since August 2021, she has been working at Econosys Design, focusing on branding design and handling a wide range of tasks from planning to production. She values "pursuing the essence" and strives for flexible and thoughtful design.
Enjoys taking on new challenges and actively explores unfamiliar fields. Currently experimenting with spice-based cooking.

Makiko Horiuchi

Senior Designer

Born in Mie Prefecture. Graduated from the Department of Design at Aichi University of the Arts.
After graduation, she worked in web design and UI/UX, handling a variety of projects ranging from promotional design to app UI, managing numerous art direction and design tasks.
Later, seeking to engage in branding at its core, she joined Econosys Design.
Always excited by the creative synergy that emerges from combining clients' goals and the team’s ideas.

S.S

Frontend Engineer

Born in Osaka. Graduated from Kansai University.
After working in a coffee-related trading company and the manufacturing industry, he became interested in web development through frequent interactions with websites and web systems.
Specializes in front-end development, focusing on balancing design fidelity with maintainability while striving to keep up with evolving technologies.
Joined Econosys Design in 2022.

Yuta Chikaraishi

Sommelier

Born in Osaka Prefecture. Graduated from the Italian Language Department at Kyoto University of Foreign Studies. He later gained knowledge of Italian food culture and wine while working at several restaurants and obtained wine sommelier certification in 2019.
Since 2023, he has been working at MON wine bar, promoting the theme "A Life with Bread and Wine" by sharing the joy of enriched living with customers. His favorite dish is one and only tonkatsu!

Chisato Matsushita

Designer

Born in Osaka. Majored in Design at Kyoto Institute of Technology. While in school, she studied mainly graphic design, and while pursuing research related to printing, she occasionally has done client work. She likes functional and playful designs, and collects exciting printed materials she finds around town, which is currently putting pressure on her bookshelf at home. She has been a member of Econosys since 2024.

saul kaplin

Designer / Photographer

Born in Osaka and raised in Wakayama. Graduated with First Class Honours in BA Graphic Design from the Arts University Bournemouth. During his studies, he worked as an assistant lecturer and technical staff member for the university’s summer courses. Inspired by a variety of expressions, from flat design and contemporary art to video works and internet memes, he emphasizes "humanity" in his creations.
Awarded the D&AD New Blood Award, Wood Pencil.

Yukie Katayama

Designer

Born and raised in Kyoto. Majored in Communication Design Course, Department of Information Design, Kyoto University of Arts. While working in various fields of graphic design, she became interested in food, clothing, and shelter, and gained experience in sales and purchasing at retail stores, where she came into contact with wide range of things. She joined Econosys in 2024. She loves to feel the touch and texture of things. She enjoys swimming and bird watching.

Daisuke Hiramoto

Design Engineer

Born in Osaka. Graduated from the Graduate School of The Department of Media Creation, Institute of Advanced Media Arts and Sciences (IAMAS).
While in school, he immersed himself in research to reconstruct physical phenomena and characteristics of natural phenomena and materials as artistic expressions. Particularly interested in "motion design," he created "metarium", a work using liquid metal, utilizing his knowledge and skills in multiple fields including art, design, physical chemistry, and programming. He has been working as an engineer at Econosys since 2024.

Kurumi Kita

Designer

Born in Tokyo, Japan. She graduated from the Department of English Literature at Tsuda University and later completed the Visual Design program at Kuwasawa Design School. While at university, she participated in an exchange program in the United States, an experience that ultimately deepened her interest in her own cultural heritage. After graduation, she worked at an IT company, then returned to school to study design. She later worked in the design department of a long-established Japanese confectionery company, handling package design and related projects. Joined MON in 2025. In her free time, she enjoys drawing and reading, and considers herself very much an indoor person.

Narumi Higashi

Senior Designer

Originally from Saga Prefecture. Gained experience as a web and graphic designer based in Saga and Fukuoka. Inspired by a fascination with the Chinese language, spent one year in Taiwan starting in August 2024. While studying the language, participated as an intern at the Taipei Art Book Fair (草率季). After returning to Japan, relocated to Kyoto and joined MON in 2026. Hobbies include collecting art books and zines, and visiting cozy cafés.

Miyuki Kajino

Designer

Born in Osaka. Graduated from Kobe University, Faculty of Human Development, Department of Human Expression, and from Sōzōsha Design College, Graphic Design Program.While at university, engaged in three-dimensional art using welding and clay. After graduation, worked in software development, then returned to vocational school to continue learning.Joined MON in 2025. Likes things that look strong and squishy animals.

Rio Sakai

Designer

Born in Hyogo Prefecture, this individual graduated from the Visual Communication Design program in the Faculty of Design at Kyoto Seika University. They work as a designer and illustrator. Their hobbies include studying specialized knowledge in fields like Ayurveda and psychology, as well as listening to Uchinaguchi (Okinawan dialect).

In 2024, they relocated to Okinawa and began working at the Okinawa office.