Kaori Shiina

Kaori Shiina is a Japanese industrial and interior designer based in Milan, Italy, known for bridging Japanese craftsmanship with Italian design.She earned a Bachelor’s degree in Art and Literature from Seijo University in Tokyo and graduated from the Tokyo Designer Gakuin Institute. In 1987, she moved to Milan and spent 18 years collaborating with the renowned studio De Pas-D'Urbino-Lomazzi.

She founded her own studio in 2005, working on industrial and interior design projects for major companies like Bonaldo, Fiam, Panasonic Italy, and Tonelli. In 2015, she co-founded the Milan-based studio Shiina + Nardi Design with Riccardo Nardi.Through her brand, Hands on Design, she creates products that combine ancient Japanese and Italian artisanal traditions with contemporary design. She is also a co-founder of Memories of Italy (2021) and the Manufacto store (2023).