EmpathyDesign Academy campus and learning environment
Established 2017 • 500+ Graduates

Empowering Tomorrow's Design Leaders

We believe exceptional design begins with understanding humans. Our mission is to cultivate empathetic designers who create meaningful digital experiences that improve lives.

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Our Story

Founded in Tokyo in 2017 by former design leaders from major technology companies, EmpathyDesign Academy emerged from a simple observation: the best designers aren't just skilled with tools—they deeply understand the humans they design for.

2017

The Beginning

Founded with a vision to bridge the gap between technical design skills and human understanding. Started with 12 students in a small Tokyo studio.

12
Founding Students
150
Graduates Placed
2019

Industry Recognition

Achieved 95% job placement rate. Expanded curriculum to include advanced research methodologies and launched our first mobile design specialization.

2022

Digital Innovation

Launched hybrid learning model and established partnerships with 50+ leading technology companies for direct placement opportunities.

50+
Partner Companies
500+
Global Graduates
Today

Leading Excellence

Recognized as one of Asia's top design education institutions with graduates working at major technology companies worldwide.

Our Methodology

The Empathy Canvas Framework: our unique approach that transforms aspiring designers into empathetic problem-solvers

Understand

Deep user research and empathy mapping to uncover genuine human needs and motivations

Ideate

Creative problem-solving sessions that generate innovative solutions grounded in user insights

Prototype

Rapid iteration and testing of design concepts using industry-standard tools and methodologies

Validate

User testing and data analysis to ensure designs solve real problems effectively

The Empathy Canvas Difference

Unlike traditional design education that focuses primarily on tools and aesthetics, our Empathy Canvas Framework prioritizes human understanding. Students learn to adapt their approach based on user behavior patterns, creating interfaces that feel intuitive and personally crafted for each user's journey.

89%
Improved User Satisfaction
3x
Faster Design Iterations

What Makes Us Different

A comparison of our human-centered approach versus traditional design education

Approach EmpathyDesign Academy Traditional Schools
Learning Philosophy Human-centered design thinking Tool-focused training
Project Work Real client challenges Theoretical exercises
Research Methods Ethnographic & behavioral studies Basic user surveys
Career Support 95% placement rate Limited job assistance
Industry Connections 150+ partner companies Minimal industry links
Class Size Maximum 16 students 30+ students per class

Meet Our Expert Team

Industry leaders who bring real-world experience to every lesson

Haruto Yamada

Founder & Lead Instructor

Former Design Director at Sony Interactive Entertainment. 12 years experience in user-centered design for gaming platforms.

Yuki Tanaka

UX Research Director

Lead UX Researcher at Rakuten Group. Specialist in behavioral analytics and ethnographic research methodologies.

Rei Kobayashi

Mobile Design Specialist

Senior Product Designer at LINE Corporation. Expert in mobile-first design and cross-platform user experiences.

Akira Sato

Career Development Lead

Former Head of Design Talent at SoftBank. Specializes in portfolio development and industry placement strategies.

Recognized Excellence

Our commitment to quality education is recognized by leading industry organizations

ISO 9001:2015
Quality Management
Adobe Partner
Certified Training
IDEO Network
Design Thinking
UX Alliance
Industry Association
Top Rated
2023-2025
Innovation Award
Asia Design Forum
8
Years of Excellence
95%
Job Placement Rate
4.9/5
Student Satisfaction
150+
Industry Partners

Our Achievements

Milestones that showcase our commitment to excellence in design education

Excellence in Education
August 2025

Awarded "Best Design Education Institution" by the Asia Pacific Design Council for innovative teaching methodologies.

500th Graduate
July 2025

Celebrated our 500th successful graduate placement, with alumni now working at companies like Google, Microsoft, and Apple.

Industry Innovation
June 2025

Launched groundbreaking research on emotionally responsive interfaces, published in leading design journals.

Global Recognition
April 2025

Featured in International Design Education Summit as a model for human-centered design curriculum.

Technology Partnership
March 2025

Established exclusive partnerships with Figma and Adobe for advanced tool training and student licensing programs.

Scholarship Program
February 2025

Launched diversity scholarship program, providing full tuition support for underrepresented groups in design.

Ready to Join Our Story?

Become part of a community that's shaping the future of digital experiences. Your design journey starts with understanding humans.

Start Your Journey Today
🎓 Next cohort starts August 19, 2025