Tetsuya Matsumoto of KTX archiLAB Appointed Jury Chair for 10th Anniversary of Asia Design Prize

Tetsuya Matsumoto, founder and chief architectural designer of KTX archiLAB (Minato-ku, Tokyo; representative: Tetsuya Matsumoto), has been appointed Jury Chair of the Asia Design Prize (ADP), one of Asia's most prestigious international design awards, on the occasion of its 10th anniversary.

Mr. Matsumoto previously served as the inaugural Jury Chair of the award, making this reappointment a rare distinction for this milestone year. Under the theme "Legacy Beyond Asia," he will establish a new evaluation framework aimed at positioning ADP as a global platform for promoting Asian design over the next decade.

Background of the Appointment and Mr. Matsumoto's Vision

Beginning his career as a site supervisor at an interior construction firm in a regional city home to the World Heritage Site Himeji Castle, Mr. Matsumoto has since received over 180 international design awards. His unique career path has cultivated a philosophy of "integrating aesthetics with economic rationality" and a cross-disciplinary focus on how spaces influence human behavior—qualities that have earned him high recognition as a leader shaping the future direction of Asian design.

Comment from Tetsuya Matsumoto

"The landscape I saw during the first term is vastly different from what I see today. Back then, Asian design was just beginning to gain international recognition. Now, we are entering an era where it leads global trends. We will evaluate design not merely by its beauty, but by how it impacts society, people's lives, and business operations, building a platform where young Asian talent can engage in dialogue with the world."

Three New Evaluation Criteria

Drawing on his extensive experience across architecture, spatial design, urban development, and brand experience, Mr. Matsumoto will emphasize the following three cross-cutting criteria in this year's evaluation process:

1. Design that Acts

Beauty is assumed; the focus will be on how the design influences human behavior, emotions, and society—what changes (outcomes) it creates.

2. Integrity

Assessing whether the design honestly engages with real-world constraints such as cost, materials, and construction, and whether it reflects essential design principles grounded in on-site realities.

3. Respect for Context

Valuing designs that show respect for their location, culture, and history, and that generate value through dialogue with context rather than imposing self-expression.

Redefining "Asian Design" in the Age of AI: Vision and Outlook

1 From Style to "Designing Relationships"

While Western design emphasizes individual expression, Asian design is defined by its ability to organically connect "people to people," "people to nature," and "past to future." The award will translate Asia's unique urban development principles—where individual spaces (points) organically evolve into entire neighborhoods (surfaces)—and its practical approaches to social challenges into a universal language for global dissemination.

2 The Irreplaceable "Physicality" of Designers

In an era where AI can generate images and drawings, Mr. Matsumoto emphasizes the critical importance of "physical insight"—the ability to stand on site, perceive space through the five senses, and empathize with human emotions. The capacity to sense unarticulated needs will become the defining value of future designers.

3 Building a "Chronicle (Archive)" to Prove Design's Social Value

The Asia Design Prize will evolve beyond an annual awards platform into a living "chronicle of Asian design," systematically documenting the tangible outcomes of winning designs—such as sales performance and foot traffic changes. This archive will strengthen ADP's role as a transnational community for the next generation of designers.

"Spatial Design as a Business Tool": KTX archiLAB Led by Tetsuya Matsumoto

As a specialist in commercial architecture and spatial environments, I always keep in mind that the spaces I create must ultimately serve as business tools that increase clients' revenue. To achieve this, the space itself must have powerful impact. That impact becomes the "key" that instantly unlocks people's subconscious. But this key must not only open the door—it must be designed to deliver the right message. What message should be conveyed, and what kind of key should be used? We work closely with each client to answer these questions. This is the essence of our solution-driven design approach. (Tetsuya Matsumoto)

Company Name: KTX archiLAB Inc.

Head Office: 2F, Nisshin Building, 298-2 Funehaka-cho, Himeji City, Hyogo Prefecture Tokyo Office: 3-4-5 Minamiaza, Minato-ku, Tokyo, Esenario Minamiaza 002

Representative Director: Tetsuya Matsumoto

Representative Profile

Tetsuya Matsumoto

Part-time Lecturer, Osaka University of Arts

Certified Architect (First Class) / Real Estate Transaction Manager

Italy DAC Certified: 2024 Designer Rankings, World No.8 in Architecture Category, No.1 in Japan