NAOMI MAKI
Principal, Kobayashi Maki Design Workshop
Born and raised in Tokyo, Naomi Maki graduated from Japan Women's University in 1989 with a Bachelor's degree in Home Economics and a Master's degree in Architecture from the University of California, Berkeley in 1992.
Returning to Tokyo after her master's education, she gained valuable experience as a designer at Maki & Associates and Studio Kenchiku Keikaku. She then moved to Cambridge, Massachusetts, where she worked at HNTB / Rafael Vinoly Architects before working on the MIT Media Lab project for Maki and Associates.
In 2003, she co-founded Kobayashi Maki Design Workshop (KMDW) in Tokyo, where she serves as co-principal alongside Hiroto Kobayashi, primarily leading the business side of the firm. From 2004 to 2022, KMDW simultaneously served as the Japan liaison office for Skidmore, Owings & Merrill LLP (SOM).
At the core of Maki’s approach to work is the emphasis on the importance of generosity, care, and flexibility. For her, success is defined as much by the approach as the project output. She takes pride in KMDW’s ability to stay highly agile and adaptable during complex scenarios to meet the needs of each client.
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EMPLOYMENT
2004–present — Skidmore Owings and Merrill LLP, Japan Representative
2003–present — Kobayashi Maki Design Workshop. Tokyo, Japan
2000–2003 — Maki and Associates. Boston, MA, USA
1999–2000 — HNTB/Rafael Vinoly Architects. Boston, MA, USA
1993–1998 — Kenchiku, Design Studio. Tokyo, Japan
1992–1993 — Maki and Associates. Tokyo, Japan
1989–1992 — University of California, Berkeley. Berkeley, CA, USA. College of Environmental Design, Department of Architecture, Master of Architecture
1985–1989 — Japan Women's University. Tokyo, Japan. School of Home Economics, Department of Housing, Bachelor of Home Economics
1994 — Registered Architect (first grade) in Japan
1991 — The Leading Edge Student Competition, Second Place (with other three team members)
1989 — Asahi Kasei Student Competition – "Dwelling" design, Third Prize
EDUCATION
AWARDS
PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS