Intro

We are shaping tomorrow’s diverse cultures.

Happening Studio is an international design practice led by Karen Nakada and Masato Nakada. Since 2014, we have guided fruitful discussions, developed playful strategies, and produced surprising outcomes for an array of visionary organizations. We utilize inventive identity design as the foundation for a wide range of engaging content—from screen-based experiences to tactile printed ephemera.

Our compelling insights as a woman-owned, BIPOC company, and our transformative experiences living in Hong Kong, Tokyo, Zurich, Dallas, and Los Angeles, provide us with a responsive, multicultural prospective that informs each dimension of our creative process. From 2019 to 2022, we worked remotely from three different continents, in order to continue broadening the scope of our professional practice and research. Now based in Los Angeles, we have solidified our nimble, personalized process for showcasing vibrant ideas in dynamic global environments and site-specific local landscapes. Our efficient implementation strategies allow us to serve as effective facilitators between in-house design teams, marketing departments, and high-level stakeholders.

We are dedicated to fostering a fearless, collaborative atmosphere, which enables us to explore, test, and refine unconventional ideas with our clients and graphic design students. Our newest initiative, Cultural Inquiry, provides museums with effective procedures for deep listening sessions with diverse constituents in order to promote collective well-being, inclusivity, and sustainability. We then translate that vital feedback into organizational tools and enlightened community resources.

Studio Partners

Karen Nakada
Masato Nakada

What We Do

Technical Skills
Image-making
Typesetting
Custom Typeface
Lettering
Motion Graphics
Book & Poster Design
Web Design & Development

Conceptual Skills
Brand Narrative + Structure
Identity: Research + Development
Collaborative Thinking with Curators, Writers & Editors

Current Office Location

Los Angeles
3705 W Pico Blvd #693
California 90292
USA

Previous Cities We Worked In

Tokyo
3-10-12 Kichijoji Higashi-Machi, Musashino-city
180-0002
Japan

Zurich
Tischenloostrasse 19
8800 Thalwil
Switzerland

Clients by Sector

Education & Cultural Institutions
CalArts/Redcat
Orange County Museum of Art
Art Center College of Design
Laurence School
Carlthorp School
Windward School
Sage Hill School
Machine Projects
LACMA
Whitney Museum
MCA Chicago
SoCal Museums
J Paul Getty
Los Angeles Mayor's Office
Museum of Contemporary Art SD
Woodbury School of Architecture
Armenian Image Archive

Startups
Ritual
Earnin
SportsLex

Studios & Agencies
72&Sunny
TBWA\Chiat\Day
WK Tokyo
SET Creative
enso
Hecho Studio
Roger
ETC
Polymode
State

Corporations
Nike
Youtube
Apple
Google
Mattel
Just Energy Japan