[ MILE design project ]
Design project mile was formed by Bandai Matsuo (acoustic engineer), Kentaro Kai (software engineer) and Kozo Shimoyama (interior designer) while they were still students at the University of Tsukuba. After they graduated from 2000 to 2003, they continued the project while becoming fully active in their own respective fields. They changed the name to MILE in 2008 and started working in full scale as a team. As “three heads are better than one” (the Chinese character for MILE can be read as san which also means three), they are expanding their design activities making use of each member’s specialty. Incorporating humor-filled storytelling, they create designs that pleasantly link people, things and space.
Among the awards they’ve received is the Good Design Award (2006) for Something to Touch, which is a set of Wajima lacquer speakers.
contact: 
Bandai Matsuo : Acoustic engineer.
Born in 1977. Graduated from University of Tsukuba, Collage of Engineering Systems in 2000. Ever since, he has worked for many audio equipment manufacturers, developing enclosures and acoustics. While he has working for Audio-Technica in 2004. Matsuo received a Good Design Award for the inner-ear headphones ‘ATH-EC7.’
Kentaro Kai : Software engineer.
Born in 1978. Graduated from University of Tsukuba, Collage of Informatics in 2001. In the same year, he joined Microsoft, where he participated in the development of the office application Microsoft Office. In 2006, Kai began participating in an internet-related venture company, where he develops various software.
Kozo Shimoyama : Interior designer.
Born in 1977. Graduated from University of Tsukuba, Collage of Engineering Sciences in 2000. In 2003, he graduated from the School of Art and Design of the same university, majoring in architectural design. In the same year, Shimoyama joined INAX corp., where he worked in product development. From 2006 to 2008, he worked for the design office Amp D inc., where he participated in the design of commercial spaces. In 2008, he founded Kozo Shimoyama Design Office.