Our team consists of designers, crafts people, liaisons and interpreters.

Sinclair Smith

Instructor

Sinclair is an industrial designer, a founding faculty member of SVA's MFA in Products of Design and the director of the SVA GroundFloor Incubator for SVA alumni start-ups. His studio, Sinclair Smith & Co., has provided product and interior design services for clients including Disney, This American Life, DKNY, Staple Design, Amex, BMW and Samsung. He holds a BFA in film production from NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts and a masters of industrial design from Pratt Institute.

Kenichi Konomi

Instructor

Kenichi runs Yabeya Konomi Honke, the oldest tea wholesaler in Kyushu, founded by Jinshiro Konomi in 1704. For centuries, the Konomi family has played a central role in Yame City and Kenichi carries the tradition of preserving the land along with the tea production. He continues to improve the quality of Yame tea blend and promote its cultural aspect for generations to come. The Japanese government certified Konomi Honke as an authentic brand in Japan and it is sold on Shinkansen (aka “the bullet train”).

Yoshitaka Jogo

Instructor

Yoshitaka went through lacquer apprenticeship training after graduating from college in Kiso. In Yame, he works as a lacquer craftsman and serves as the vice chairman of Yame Fukushima Butsudan Union and the leader of a Union which consists of altar craftsmen in the Yame area. The altar style is called “Yame Fukushima Butsudan” and is designated by the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry as a national traditional craft. Yoshitaka has developed and manufactured original speakers with contemporary and innovative designs, incorporating traditional lacquer and gold foil press techniques.