#Japan #Tokyo #Spice Factory #Akira Motomura #CDO

Spice Factory's Strategic Appointment: Akira Motomura as CDO

Spice Factory, Incorporated, a beacon of digital transformation based in Minato, Tokyo, has announced the appointment of Akira Motomura as Chief Design Officer (CDO) starting January 1, 2026. This strategic move is aimed at enhancing the company’s dedication to service design and design enablement for both corporate and public sector clients, ensuring that user perspectives take center stage in developing service value continuously.

The Context for the New CDO Role

As the usage of generative AI rises and digital services become more sophisticated, there is a global shift in focus towards customer experience (CX). This trend highlights the need for companies to create value based on user experience. According to Adobe's report, "AI and Digital Trends 2025," 71% of customers expect companies to predict their needs and offer personalized suggestions. However, only 34% of companies meet this expectation, revealing a significant gap in experience value that organizations must address.

At Spice Factory, the focus extends beyond merely enhancing customer experiences. The company is committed to fostering the 'design practice capability' of organizations—be it corporations or government agencies—allowing them to continuously improve their services.

The establishment of the CDO role is a crucial step in implementing this vision at the highest management level. It is essential to emphasize how design can improve society, particularly when aligned with service design and design enablement approaches. Insights into Spice Factory's definition of design enablement are available on their owned media.

Meet Akira Motomura: The New CDO

Akira Motomura brings a wealth of experience and expertise to his new role at Spice Factory. With a background in communication design from the United States, he has worked on significant international projects at San Francisco’s Dubberly Design Office, focusing on IoT, medical software, and brand guidelines. Upon returning to Japan, Motomura joined Yume Mini, where he built the design organization from the ground up, growing it into a team of 50 and leading impactful projects across various sectors, including finance, pharmaceuticals, and transportation.

Recognized for his contributions in design management and human-centered design, Motomura has also participated in conferences and published academic works both domestically and internationally. As CDO, he aims to bridge the gap between technology advancements and the need for meaningful customer experiences.

Motomura's Vision on Enhanced Design and Collaboration

Motomura reflects on the impact of AI and digitalization: "While accessibility to expertise has improved, mere technological advancement isn't enough. True transformation requires the vision to define one’s preferred future and the motivation to take steps towards it, even incrementally. The role of design in this journey is paramount."

He emphasizes that the mission of Spice Factory centers on 'collaboration,' where government, private sectors, and citizens learn and pursue common goals in design innovations. Motomura aspires to democratize design and enable anyone to contribute to value creation by building frameworks for co-creation and learning. He envisions creating spaces for diverse people to interact and jointly develop valuable services for the future, fostering hope for the next generation.

Upcoming Event Announcement

To further solidify his commitment, Spice Factory will host an event in Tokyo on February 5, 2026, focusing on themes around public, finance, and design. More details will be shared as the event approaches.

Societal Context on Service Design

The company's approach resonates with critical trends observed in service design and customer experience improvement. Reports have indicated that 65% of executives acknowledge AI and predictive analytics' significant contribution to business growth, and 61% consider personalized customer experiences essential for success.

With initiatives across numerous sectors like education, healthcare, and local governance, design utilization is accelerating across Japan. Spice Factory is poised to be a catalyst in this evolution, upholding its mission of being "a catalyst for innovation" and focusing on creating a better world, one pixel at a time.

To stay updated on Spice Factory's strategies, you can visit their official websites and social media platforms.