The Art Of Placemaking
August Man SG|Issue 179
Clint Nagata speaks to us about creating definitive hotels - and it has all to do with storytelling
Suffian Hakim
The Art Of Placemaking

THERE ARE A FEW THINGS that jump out at you when you first meet Clint Nagata, the 52-year-old Creative Partner and Founder of the Blink Design Group. The most immediate one is his Hawaiian upbringing. He's laid-back, an easy smile upon his East Asian features, his American accent present but not too pronounced.

I met him in the Blink Design Group office, a luxe-industrial space with concrete fixtures adorned with wooden accents. When he entered the room, he gave me an informal Hey, man! and we bumped fists - more a pandemic bump than a street greeting.

In his easy demeanour, you sometimes forget that he is the artisan behind some of the most iconic hotels in the world. Nagata doesn't come off as a business leader - he is a creative, a traveller, and an explorer. But business leaders the world over will come to know of his work, as he is the interior design architect behind some of the world's most exquisite hospitality experiences, from the Roku Tokyo to the Regent Pho Quoc and the W Dubai.

Before we start proper, I'm curious. What are you like as a traveller?

Esta historia es de la edición Issue 179 de August Man SG.

Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.

Esta historia es de la edición Issue 179 de August Man SG.

Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.

MÁS HISTORIAS DE AUGUST MAN SGVer todo
Paradise Foud
August Man SG

Paradise Foud

It's time to give tuning out its due. We all need a break from the group chat(s).

time-read
2 minutos  |
Issue 207 (November 2024)
Santos De Cartier: A New Era
August Man SG

Santos De Cartier: A New Era

Originally A Way Of Intertwining The Cartier Brand With The Daring Spirit Of Aviation, It Now Stands As An Icon Of Luxury And Elegance.

time-read
5 minutos  |
Issue 207 (November 2024)
The Future Will Be Pixelated, Probably
August Man SG

The Future Will Be Pixelated, Probably

What are the implications on one's lived experience as online life is rife with meaning and possibilities?

time-read
4 minutos  |
Issue 207 (November 2024)
GROWING PAINS
August Man SG

GROWING PAINS

AT MILAN FASHION WEEK, ONITSUKA TIGER UNVEILED ITS SPRING/SUMMER 2025 COLLECTION, WHICH TOUCHES ON A SUBJECT EACH OF US IS MORE THAN FAMILIAR WITH.

time-read
1 min  |
Issue 207 (November 2024)
A Watch For The Global Citizen
August Man SG

A Watch For The Global Citizen

Before you make your travel plans for 2025, get the perfect watch for the modern nomad.

time-read
2 minutos  |
Issue 207 (November 2024)
MAKING INVESTING MORE DELICIOUS
August Man SG

MAKING INVESTING MORE DELICIOUS

FINANCE INDUSTRY VETERAN WALTER DE OUDE IS COMBINING HIS ERUDITION AND EXPERIENCE WITH THE STAR POWER OF HENRY GOLDING TO BRING US AN INVESTMENT PLATFORM THAT'S MUCH SWEETER THAN MOST.

time-read
1 min  |
Issue 207 (November 2024)
WHO LET THE DOGS OUT?
August Man SG

WHO LET THE DOGS OUT?

ONE-THIRD OF HOUSEHOLDS around the world have a pet dog.

time-read
1 min  |
Issue 207 (November 2024)
How Does A Hotel Brand Become The Best In The World?
August Man SG

How Does A Hotel Brand Become The Best In The World?

Cristiano Rinaldi, president of Capella Hotel Group, shares its recipe for success.

time-read
3 minutos  |
Issue 207 (November 2024)
Sunday Island Mornings
August Man SG

Sunday Island Mornings

An island cluster so beautiful that Harry Winston made a watch in its honour.

time-read
1 min  |
Issue 207 (November 2024)
A Clear Vision Of The Future
August Man SG

A Clear Vision Of The Future

With the proliferation of its Myopia Centres, local eyecare brand W Optics is keeping Singaporeans clear-sighted for the future.

time-read
2 minutos  |
Issue 207 (November 2024)