Chris Palmieri joins us today to share his take on digital communication industry in Japan. Chris co-founded AQ, an independent design agency that brings design basics to digital communication in Japan and abroad, and demystifies Japanese web culture for overseas brands looking to enter the notoriously fickle market. He talks about what influences he received from Japan in the past nine years, and his insight on overall social media scene in Japan.

Chris Palmieri moved to Tokyo in 2001 with the foolhardy dream of starting his design career in Japan, a country he had previously encountered only via exquisite import design magazines, borrowed VHS tapes of TV variety shows and traditional flower arrangement classes.

Over the last 6 years, AQ has designed websites, mobile applications, print communication and content management systems for brands like ASICS, NHK, Mitsubishi Estate Co., Ltd., Firefox, and Tokyo Art Beat.

In his current role, Chris works with clients to transform their ambitions into compelling communication tools, and ensures every pixel is designed with equal measures of respect and style.