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Concept Design I/O

We are a creative consultancy — covering branding, public relations, media management, and event production — directed by Ed Thompson, Marketing Consultant / Founder.

Our focus is high-level delivery of communications and strategic business programs for global multinationals across Japan & APAC.

Contact us if you need to integrate design, marketing, technology and media communications to elevate the reach of your initiatives.

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Planning Methodology

As the first step for an effective marketing strategy, it is highly important to focus on the appropriate target audience and develop a creative message that will grab their attention.

Our approach begins with integrating the elements of Media Channels, Experience Mapping, Audience Touchpoints and Brand Essence to develop a thorough Activation Framework.

Brand Messaging

Conveying your brand message so that it is fully appreciated by target audiences is the ultimate goal of our campaigns for Branded Communications.

Brand Essence along the central axis is reflected in Experience Mapping, affecting relevant Audience Touchpoints, and ultimately delivered as the core brand message via Media Channels.

This is key to constructing a unique brand message incorporating highly-refined creative elements that match the specific goals of your Strategic Marketing.

Agency Leadership

Ed Thompson

Marketing Consultant / Founder

As founder of Concept Design, Ed works with start-ups, ventures and multinationals to improve their strategic planning, brand marketing campaigns and team performance across Japan / APAC.

With more than 20 years in Japan, he uses his fluent ability in Japanese to manage the varied challenges leading multicultural, cross-functional teams at all levels of global organizations, consistently delivering positive outcomes for corporate initiatives.

He is active as an advisor and mentor to innovative firms through the Founder Institute and Venture HUB (FHH). Currently lead lecturer for graduate seminars at UIBS, and continuing education programs targeting working professionals at both Nikkei Business School & Temple University Japan.

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Shoko Nangu

Publicity / Media Relations

Shoko is a Japanese native fluent in English with 30+ years of branding, media and public relations experience. She has handled assignments for over 100+ trade, corporate and government organizations.

She has also developed a comprehensive list of media contacts at major online and offline publications, allowing her to customize communications strategies and media engagement to match the unique objectives of specific client assignments.

The full range of domestic and international publicity activities she has directed includes press conferences, branded media tours, advertising tie-ups, consumer engagement, event activation, seminars and tradeshows for multinationals in B2C / B2B.

Erina Inui Barker

Account Planning / Community Engagement

Erina is a bilingual specialist across social and television media, working in English & Japanese with challenger brands and some of the largest broadcasters in Japan. She plans story narratives and community engagement for publicity and brand activation campaigns which draw upon her insights and experience in Australia, Singapore, Hong Kong, Macau & Japan.

Ahmed Juhany

Strategist-At-Large

Currently pursuing a PhD in Philosophy at University of Calgary, Ahmed has developed a unique perspective across academia and business that includes residencies in Tokyo, Japan / Amsterdam, The Netherlands / Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

Identity

Our logo is inspired by the shape and purpose of a securing bolt.

The logo consists of 3 separate objects that represent Process Mapping, Strategic Marketing, and Branded Communications. These methodologies are the pillars that firmly support delivery of our services.

These represent our mission to strengthen our clients’ business initiatives through exceptional planning and delivery of Campaigns & Promotions.