Makoto Ishii is a New York–based designer with more than twenty years of experience in commercial interior design. He began his career in Tokyo in 2002 and spent fourteen years designing restaurants, retail shops, hair salons, and spas across Japan. His work there included food hall renewals for major department stores, a dining concourse at an international airport, and a public children’s library.

In 2009, his work received the Display Design Award from the Japan Display Design Association (now the Japan Design Space Association). His projects have been featured in leading Japanese design publications.

Since moving to New York in 2016, Makoto has designed restaurants and salons in Manhattan, Brooklyn, and Queens, as well as projects outside the city. He leads each project from site search and concept through design and construction documents. His food and beverage work is grounded in a working knowledge of commercial kitchens, so each space functions as well as it looks. He also takes on residential renovation projects.

After building a successful career in the fashion industry in Tokyo, Ayako moved to New York to pursue her passion for food and restaurants.

At Hall PR, a boutique Hospitality PR agency in New York, Ayako worked for seven years as the only full-time Japanese employee. As a director, she managed PR for a diverse range of clients, from Michelin-starred restaurants to casual dining establishments, covering various cuisines beyond Japanese.

In 2022, Ayako launched her own venture, Wonder of Wonders. As a publicist, she now conducts PR activities for restaurants in New York, coordinates food-related events, and offers consulting services. Her strengths include strong connections with local food media in New York, a deep passion and extensive knowledge of Japanese culture, and a love for international cuisine cultivated through her global upbringing.

Having lived in various parts of the world, including New Jersey, Caracas, Madrid, and Yokohama, Ayako continues to enjoy traveling and immersing herself in the local cultures of her destinations.