Most of the fabrication processes—metalwork, woodwork, and upholstery—take place in the studio in Pontiac, MI, a suburb of Detroit historically recognized as a hub of the American maker movement.
Ayako Aratani is an artist and designer who creates artful furniture pieces that push the boundaries of what furniture can be. She believes that functional objects not only serve a purpose but also evoke metaphor and storytelling. She aims to create pieces that bring a sense of art into everyday life.
Ayako's interest is how she can leave irregularities found in handmade beauty and warmth. Instead of relying on mass-production processes, she prefers hands-on methods as a potential answer to more sustainable production practices.
Born and raised in Japan, Ayako has a deep appreciation for the natural world and the importance of balance, harmony, and imperfection. Living and working in Detroit, historically known as the heart of the American maker movement, has also greatly influenced her work. It has nurtured her knowledge and craftsmanship and exposed her to a variety of perspectives and ideas within a diverse and resilient community.
Biography
Ayako Aratani is a furniture designer and sculptor based in Detroit, born and raised in Japan. She studied product and furniture design at Chiba University before pursuing a master's in 3D Design at Cranbrook Academy of Art. Following her graduation in 2016, she established her studio practice in Pontiac, Michigan.
Her expertise and contributions to the field of design have been widely recognized, and she has received numerous awards, including the iF Design Award, UNESCO Design City Worldwide Things Collection, MUJI International Design Award Bronze prize, Good Design Award, and Saku Library Chair Design Competition Gold prize. Her work has been featured in many prominent exhibitions, including a solo show as part of the Aratani Fay duo at Salon Gallery, a retail/museum presentation at "Idea House 3" in Walker Art Museum in Minneapolis, the group exhibition "Never Normal" at Wasserman Project Gallery, as well as ICFF+WantedDesignManhattan, Architectural Design Digest Show in NYC, Salone Satellite in Milan, Collective Design in NYC, and the Interior Design Show in Toronto. Her accomplishments have been featured in renowned publications such as Dezeen, Dwell, Architectural Digest Magazine, Alive Magazine, and Azure magazine.
