Cultural Luxury and Global Vision: Clint Nagata on Building BLINK Design Group

Few designers have shaped contemporary hospitality quite like Clint Nagata, Founder and Creative Partner of BLINK Design Group. Born in Hawaii and based in Bangkok, Nagata has spent more than two decades building a globally respected studio known for creating hotels and resorts that feel deeply connected to their location, culture, and guests, with projects for brands including One&Only, Six Senses, and Banyan Tree. In conversation with OLISE Founder Annie White, he reflects on the philosophy behind BLINK’s success, the idea of “cultural luxury,” and how humility, collaboration, and a global outlook have helped shape the studio into a 120-person practice spanning Asia, the Middle East, and Europe.