Born in 1958, Kenya Hara is a graphic designer, professor at the Musashino Art University and, since 2002, the art director of MUJI. He is interested in designing “circumstances” or “conditions” rather than “things.” Mr. Hara has traveled the world widely in an attempt to investigate the meaning of “design.” These efforts were crystallized in the international touring exhibitions “RE-DESIGN,” “HAPTIC” and “SENSEWARE”, each title representing a keyword that embraces the ever-changing value of existence. He incorporated traditional Japanese cultural features in designing the opening and closing ceremonies of the Nagano Winter Olympics, as well as in the promotion of the Aichi EXPO. He has designed commercial products for many companies, including AGF, JT, KENZO, was involved in the renewal project of the Ginza branch of Matsuya Department Store, and worked on the signage for Mori Building VI and Umeda Hospital. He has received numerous design awards, including the Japanese Cultural Design Award. His book, Design of Design (Iwanami Shoten, 2003) received the Suntory Arts and Science Award, and its new revised and expanded English edition, DESIGNING DESIGN (Lars Müller Publishers, Switzerland, 2007) has reached readers all over the world.