YU HIRAOKA

Product & Interior Designer based in Turin, Italy

I am a Japanese designer specialising in product and interior design, currently based in Turin, Italy. Born in 1988, I studied design in Japan, the UK, and Italy, building a diverse and international design perspective. I began my professional career in 2013 and spent five years working with several renowned design studios in Milan.

Since 2018, I have worked as a full-time freelance designer, collaborating with international clients through online platforms and direct commissions.

My work has been recognized with multiple international design awards, including one of my most significant achievements — winning the Porada International Design Award in 2017 for a coffee table design.

I strive to create elegant, functional, and emotionally engaging designs that connect users and spaces.

SCHOOLS

• Kobe Design University | Japan | BA Product Design | April 2007 – March 2011
• University of Westminster | UK | Exchange Programme | September 2008 – June 2009
• Politecnico di Milano | Italy | MSc Product Service System Design | October 2011 – July 2014

CAREER

•  Triumph Design and Consulting | Milan | Product Design, Interior Design, Graphic Design | November 2013 – December 2014
•  Corrado Dotti Design & Architecture | Milan | Product Design, Interior Design, Graphic Design | Jan 2015 – Apr 2018
•  Yu Hiraoka Design | Turin | Product Design, Interior Design, Graphic Design | May 2018 – Present