Mika Kanayama

Specialized in Interior Design.

Mika Kanayama

About Mika Kanayama

Muzo is founded by Mika Kanayama in 2018 and is a London-based interior design studio specialising in hospitality, restaurants, bars, cinemas and hotels. Their approach is end-experience focused, the objective is the creation of interior spaces that enrich day-to-day life, encouraging people to feel inspired and invigorated.

  • Winner of 2 A' Design Awards.
  • Specialized in Interior Design.
  • Original Design.
  • Creative, Diligent and Innovative.
  • All Designs
  • Interior
Oita Soho Modern Japanese Restaurant

Oita Soho Modern Japanese Restaurant

Interior Design

Hot Stone RAI Restaurant

Hot Stone RAI Restaurant

Interior Design

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Interview with Mika Kanayama

Could you please tell us more about your art and design background? What made you become an artist/designer? Have you always wanted to be a designer?
I studied Interior Design degree in UK for my carrier change. I always wanted to do interior design since I was a child but I spent my youth mostly on music. I realised still had a passion for design that I couldn’t let go, so I pursued to take this as my carrier.
Can you tell us more about your company / design studio?
I set up my design studio, Muzo back in 2018. It’s based in London and specialising in Hospitality - restaurants, bars, cinemas and hotels.
What kinds of works do you like designing most?
I love designing public space where people gather, spend time and share their moments.
What was the first thing you designed for a company?
The first project since I set up Muzo was a cinema called The Garden Cinema in London. It's an independent art cinema and I am always fond of this my first project.
When do you feel the most creative?
Concept design stage is always glowing moments, as you have many imaginations in many different ways whether that's possible or not. You are free to come up with anything.
From your point of view, what are the responsibilities of a designer for society and environment?
To create interior spaces that enrich day-to-day life, encouraging people to feel inspired and invigorated.
How do you think the "design field" is evolving? What is the future of design?
Design is more and more appreciated by more people and many different areas at this time. I hope it carries on to have universal language that have no boundary to countries, age, gender etc.
Where does the design inspiration for your works come from? How do you feed your creativity? What are your sources of inspirations?
Colour in nature is always inspiring and more surprising than artificially put together. Inspiration is everywhere day to day life, in films, galleries, food, walking in nature...
How would you describe your design style? What made you explore more this style and what are the main characteristics of your style? What's your approach to design?
I think my design has organic sense in any form. I like injecting that sense so that you feel connection in the space.
Where do you live? Do you feel the cultural heritage of your country affects your designs? What are the pros and cons during designing as a result of living in your country?
I was born in Japan but now living in London, UK. I could say I have now two backgrounds that make is quite unique in design approach. Pros is definitely having broad minded approach, no cons really.
How do you work with companies?
Always try to understand their needs and try to create something we both feel achieved, not only client satisfaction.
What are your suggestions to companies for working with a designer? How can companies select a good designer?
Design does not happen in a second like miracle. Communication with a designer is always important and to select a design who can listen.
What are 5 of your favorite design items at home?
Re-upholstered 60's sofa in pink, kitchen got also refreshed spontaneously during pandemic. Rug from 80's. 60's round side table, the loft that is created to receive the design but not completed!
Can you describe a day in your life?
Depending on a day, but I currently work from home so mixture of work and home stuff, sometimes out for a meeting, site visits, or in front of computer
Could you please share some pearls of wisdom for young designers? What are your suggestions to young, up and coming designers?
No one can judge good or bad on your design, be bold and express however you want it. Be playful.
From your perspective, what would you say are some positives and negatives of being a designer?
For positive, to get to express what you have in your mind, healthy way of living Nothing negative about being a designer
Designing can sometimes be a really time consuming task, how do you manage your time?
Set a time limit can help sometimes and comes out better ideas rather than spending too long time thinking
What was your most important job experience?
Every job experience is important and learnt many things in different ways
What type of design work do you enjoy the most and why?
I love designing restaurants, bars, cafe and cinemas where people gather, spend time and share their moments. It's a pleasure to create a space where people remember as a moment.
What are your future plans? What is next for you?
As I am based in UK but have background as Japanese, I'd like to connect those two countries together and share great design elements.
Do you have any works-in-progress being designed that you would like to talk about?
Just started a concept design for a flagship restaurant in London. It's still early stage but most exciting phase as you get full of ideas.

Extended Interview with Mika Kanayama

Could you please tell us about your experience as a designer, artist, architect or creator?
I run an Interior design studio Muzo in London. I was born in Japan but have lived in London for more than half of my life. Following a bachelor's degree in Interior Design in the UK, I gained experience at a number of large and small design studios in London before starting Muzo in 2018.
How did you become a designer?
My interest in interior design started very early but I became a musician in my early adulthood - after I felt I’d done all I wanted to with that, I decided to take a different path and to follow my lifelong interest in interior design.
What are your priorities, technique and style when designing?
It was my choice to become a designer – at one point I realised that I should take the opportunity to focus on this thing I was interested in, so it was definitely a deliberate decision.
Which emotions do you feel when designing?
I mainly specialise in F&B commercial spaces such as restaurants, bars and cinemas. I’d like the opportunity to work on more hotels and experiential spaces in the future, as well as partnering with creatives and businesses in my local community in northeast London.
What particular aspects of your background shaped you as a designer?
I think it’s important to be interested in all things in the world, inspiration for design can truly come from anywhere.
What is your growth path? What are your future plans? What is your dream design project?
Good designers can create pleasing spaces but great designers create spaces that are truly innovative and full of surprises, spaces that can transform the experience of being there.
What are your advices to designers who are at the beginning of their career?
It’s not only about something being aesthetically pleasing but also about an understanding of how the space will be used and can be used – and how these needs are incorporated seamlessly into the design
You are truly successful as a designer, what do you suggest to fellow designers, artists and architects?
Interior spaces are invariably where we spend most of our time, I think it’s important that these spaces have been thought about, not only from the viewpoint of their utility but also in their effect on us and our experiences of being in them – this is a universal thing, so any space benefits from some level of design.
How do you keep up with latest design trends? To what extent do design trends matter?
It would be great to be a bridge between Japan and Europe through design work. I’ve done projects in both places using elements of both – but I can’t help feeling there’s a perfect expression of this that hasn’t yet materialised.
How do you know if a product or project is well designed? How do you define good design?
My design approach is always end-experience focused, I try to create spaces with the people who will be using them in mind – ideally with the hope that they will feel uplifted and inspired in some way by being there.
How do you decide if your design is ready?
There are many, but two that I always come back to are Italian Architect/Designer Carlo Scarpa and American architect Ray Kappe.
What is your biggest design work?
The Memphis Milano apartment by Puntofilipino comes to mind –mixture of materials and elements beautifully and meticulously executed.
Who is your favourite designer?
Castiglione, which is an artisan coffee shop in London and one of the latest projects I worked on. It’s a very small space but has a really clear vision, using a combination of neoclassical and retro-futuristic styles – materials and lighting work really well together mixing styles with different finishes. It’s a great place to have a coffee too.
Would you tell us a bit about your lifestyle and culture?
It’s important to keep thinking and creating, even when you feel stuck - to push yourself to be more open minded and to be honest with yourself about things that aren’t working.
Would you tell us more about your work culture and business philosophy?
I’d love to convert and restore old folk houses, Kominka in Japan. In modern times they’re typically considered to have little value or be an inconvenience and a nuisance to maintain – but I’ve long dreamed of bringing them back to life to be used again.
What are your philanthropic contributions to society as a designer, artist and architect?
Design is an art, a science and a language combined, it is a complex and integrated process, but an instinctual one too. For me it is the opportunity to express and feel the connections between these things.
What positive experiences you had when you attend the A’ Design Award?
My husband has been always supportive, although he isn’t a designer he is an artist in many ways, he is the person I can discuss freely about design – sometimes he’s brutally critical and occasionally he’s right too, but he always believes in me completely.

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