I’m a Stanford University experience designer who composed the design for Tea at Shiloh, a late night teahouse in Los Angeles, CA. Now based in the Washington DC metropolitan area, I advise designs for everyday environments, including homes, community spaces + commercial venues.

My connection to design began from a lifelong disconnect between my body and the world around me. On the spectrum, but undiagnosed until 30, I grew a heightened sensitivity for noticing how stimulation, lighting + textures deeply impact the body and brain. This gave me a deep love for understanding the hidden environmental forces that make people feel emotion without them even knowing why.

While I love striking aesthetics, I believe space should center the internal experience of the human, not any external object. So, I focus on not the individual notes, the fanciest chairs, pillows, or lights, but on the composition: how these parts, as a whole, effect the soul of a person. By focusing on this cohesive harmony, I create experiences that stir the soul, but without necessarily needing to break the bank.

I begin each project with a beginner’s mind. I don’t walk in projecting my desires onto you or a space. I simply respond to what is present. So, my work at it’s core is about listening, to both people and the physical realities we are given.

kai@composingspace.com