What Michael Young does

Michael Young Studio is an award-winning industrial design consultancy headquartered in Hong Kong with a studio in Tokyo, founded in 1993 by British designer Michael Young. Over 30+ years it has designed products, furniture, lighting, and brand experiences for a global roster of clients including KEF, Swedese, Giant, Coalesse, Magis, Scavolini, Georg Jensen, VOID Watches, ODM, Città, and Dom Pérignon, with work held in the permanent collections of SFMOMA, V&A, M+ Museum, and Design Museum Gent. The studio's output is anchored in CMF (colour, material, finish) innovation, material expertise spanning carbon fibre, aluminium extrusion (Bramah/Joseph/Dub lighting, Chair 4A), 3D printing (LBPF titanium eyewear, modular iron tables, castable wax jewellery), and the integration of traditional craft with manufacturing-scale processes — most visibly in collaborations such as Craft x Tech Tohoku and the Future Factory Furniture Collective.

The business operates across three revenue streams: project-based design consultancy services billed to enterprise clients (KEF, Schneider Electric, Giant, Coalesse), product licensing royalties on designs moved into client production networks, and limited edition art pieces sold through galleries such as GalleryAll at venues including Design Miami/Basel. The pricing model is quote-based project work with multi-year contracting rather than published rate cards. Distribution flows primarily through direct enterprise relationships and gallery channels, while brand presence is maintained via design events (Milan Design Week, Design Shanghai, Designart Tokyo, Maison et Objet), social channels, and the studio's own publications (Sheung Wan Herald and Omotesandō Herald). Recent strategic moves include launching an owned consumer furniture line, Michael Young Home, debuting the MYE titanium eyewear brand, and transitioning creative operations to Tokyo while retaining Hong Kong, Australia, and Italy outposts. The firm is privately held under Michael Young Limited (HKG) with no disclosed institutional investment or external funding.

Name

Michael Young

Legal name

Michael Young Limited

Website

https://michael-young.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1993

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Michael Young Studio is an award-winning industrial design consultancy founded in 1993, headquartered in Hong Kong with a Tokyo studio, designing products, furniture, lighting, and brand experiences for global consumer brands including KEF, Swedese, Giant, Coalesse, and Dom Pérignon.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Hong Kong

HQ country

Hong Kong SAR China

HQ region

Asia

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Design Consultancy Services: Full-service industrial design consultancy providing market research, brand strategy, CMF, product design, and product launch services to global brands.
2. Product Licensing: Design products licensed to manufacturers and brands. Products enter production and are sold through client distribution networks. The studio earns royalties on licensed products.
3. Limited Edition Art Pieces: Limited edition collections (e.g., ALLTOTEMs - 18 units including artist proofs) sold through galleries and design fairs.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Michael Young Studio is an industrial design consultancy that provides market research, brand strategy, CMF (Colour, Material, Finish) innovation, product design, and product launch services to global brands. The studio also licenses its original product designs to manufacturers and produces limited edition art pieces sold through design galleries and exhibitions.

Product overview

Michael Young Studio is an award-winning industrial design consultancy based in Hong Kong and Tokyo that has operated for over 30 years designing products, furniture, and spatial experiences for global brands. Their portfolio encompasses diverse product categories including audio equipment (KEF LS60 Wireless, LSX speakers), furniture and lighting (EOQ collection with Chair 4A, Bramah, Joseph, Dub lighting; Sheffield Collection; Swedese Tree coat stand; Resident Drift Pendant), watches (Void PXR5, ODM Hacker, CIGA Templates), luggage (MonCarbone Black Diamond), wearables (MYE Titanium Eyewear, Coalesse LessThanFive carbon fiber chairs), lifestyle accessories (KEF Delight your senses, Made2Origin M2O bottle, BeCandle Void), and limited editions (CraftxTech Blossom Links, GalleryAll ALLTOTEMs, Sakura Ring). The studio also publishes studio journals documenting their work (Sheung Wan Herald and Omotesandō Herald). Their design philosophy bridges East and West, combining Asia's manufacturing excellence with European design sensibility.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• EOQ: Furniture collection featuring aluminium extrusion designs including Chair 4A, Joseph lighting, Bramah collection, and Dub collection
• MYE
• Michael Young Home
• LaManufacture

Products and services

• Industrial Design Consultancy Full-service industrial design consultancy providing market research, brand strategy, CMF (Colour, Material, Finish) specification, product design, and product launch services to global brands across categories including audio, furniture, watches, bicycles, lighting, and luxury goods.
• Product Design Licensing Design products licensed to manufacturers and brands. Products enter production and are sold through client distribution networks, with the studio earning royalties on licensed products.
• Limited Edition Art Pieces Limited edition collections (e.g., ALLTOTEMs - 18 units including artist proofs) exploring relationships between craft and technology, sold through galleries and design fairs.

Quantifiable outcome

• Products enter permanent collections of leading museums worldwide
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers15 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Craft x Tech Tohoku ProjectcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Annual initiative bridging traditional Japanese craft and contemporary technology. Michael Young participated in 2024 edition creating Blossom Links - iron modules with 3D printed cherry blossom patterns. Collaboration with six Tohoku region craft producers including Tsugaru-Nuri lacquerware, Kawatsura-Shiki lacquerware, Nambu-Tekki ironware, Sendai-Tansu cabinet making, Oitama-Tsumugi textile, and Aizu-Hongo-Yaki pottery.
• KEFcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-standing collaboration spanning multiple speaker projects including LSX, LS60 Wireless, and lifestyle accessories. KEF Music Gallery Tokyo hosts studio exhibitions. Partnership marked by KEF's 60th anniversary with LS60 Wireless collection.
• GalleryAllcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLos Angeles-based gallery representing limited edition pieces. Works placed in significant private and permanent collections at Museum of Art and Design NY, High Museum Atlanta, M+ Hong Kong, National Gallery Victoria, Centre Pompidou, and Long Museum Shanghai.
• Future Factory Furniture CollectiveminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDutch collective including Arco, CSrugs, Enschede Textielstad, Gelderland, LabelvandenBerg, Lande family, Leolux, Montis, CBM, and Dutch Design Week. MYrug created using circular yarn from upholstery residue from all partners.
• M+ MuseumminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHong Kong's museum of visual culture. Multiple studio pieces in permanent collection including Bramah Pendant Light, Moshi Moshi Handset, and City Speed bicycle. Museum represents institutional recognition of studio's work.
• V&A MuseumminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerVictoria and Albert Museum London holds studio work in permanent collection, representing institutional recognition of design excellence.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Jasper Morrison Ltd: London-based industrial design studio producing furniture, lighting, and consumer products for brands such as Vitra, Alessi, and Flos. Closely comparable in boutique scale, museum collections, and licensing model.
• Pentagram: Multidisciplinary design firm with strong industrial design and branding practice. Comparable to MY Studio in offering integrated design services to global brands, though Pentagram's partner-led model differs in scale.
• Tom Dixon Studio: London-based design studio producing furniture, lighting, and accessories. Directly comparable product categories (lighting, furniture) and similar blend of self-manufactured collections plus brand collaborations.
• frog (frog design): Product design and innovation consultancy with global offices. Competes with Michael Young Studio for enterprise industrial design mandates across consumer electronics, furniture, and mobility.
• Neri&Hu Design and Research Office: Shanghai-based architectural and product design studio. Comparable as an Asia-headquartered design practice serving global brands with industrial design and interiors work.
• Yves Béhar / fuseproject: San Francisco-based industrial design studio known for consumer electronics, furniture, and brand collaborations (e.g., Herman Miller, Jawbone, SodaStream). Comparable boutique scale and global brand client profile.
• Barber Osgerby: British industrial design studio with strong furniture, product, and brand collaboration portfolio. Comparable in scale, craft-tech positioning, and project types (e.g., Coalesse/Swedese-equivalent client work).
• IDEO: Global design consultancy offering industrial design, branding, and digital product services to enterprise clients. Closest direct competitor in the same product design category with similar client roster and project-based delivery model.

Emerging players

• Studioilse: London/Amsterdam design studio by Ilse Crawford working across product, interior, and brand design. Comparable in boutique scale, multidisciplinary practice, and design-led brand collaborations.
• Established & Sons: London design brand publishing and manufacturing work from a network of international designers. Overlaps with MY Studio's limited-edition model and museum-grade positioning, though operates more as a publisher than consultancy.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/michael-young-studio
• Instagraminstagram.com/michaelyoung.official

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Michael Young