Raphael Hodé is a designer and studio founder serving as CEO and Design Director at nowthen, a Tokyo-based strategic design and branding studio for tech startups. Raphael is a Founding Partner of the studio, which was founded in 2022, is remote-first and works with clients globally through brand, web and product design sprints. Raphael's listed skills cover interaction design, service design, strategy, UX and UI, user research and visual design. Raphael brings a designer-founder perspective on brand positioning, product and web design, user experience, and design strategy for early-stage companies. Running a studio that works directly with founders gives direct exposure to how startups turn an idea into a clear identity, product and service. Raphael is particularly relevant to conversations around startup branding, product and UX design, working with a design partner, and running a design studio from Japan for global clients.
