Masatoki Toyama brings extensive experience in design and intellectual property gained through a distinguished career at the Japan Patent Office (JPO), where he held key positions in design examination, trial, and policy. His roles included serving in the Design Examination Standards Office, International Affairs Division (focused on trilateral cooperation with China and Korea), as well as overseas assignments such as research in the EU on intellectual property rights and participation in the Design Management Project. He was also seconded to the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) and the Digital Agency, contributing to national design policy and public service design.

Leveraging his deep understanding of design, manufacturing, and global IP systems, he provides strategic IP support from the early stages of product development to international expansion.

Design, trademark, design management, service design, design thinking, branding, innovation

Graduated from Kanazawa College of Art, Faculty of Fine Art and Industrial Design
Completed graduate studies at Kanazawa College of Art, Graduate School of Fine Art and Design
Studied abroad at Valand School of Fine Art (Sweden)

2001

Joined the Japan Patent Office – Worked in design examination and trial, Design Examination Standards Office, International Affairs Division (China-Korea-Japan cooperation), EU IP research, and Design Management Project

2012ー2014

Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry – Design Policy Office, Creative Industries Division

2023ー2024

Digital Agency – Public Relations and Service Design

2025

Resigned from the Japan Patent Office

2025

Joined Authense IP

2000

Earned curator certification

2025

Registered as a patent attorney

2025

Part-time lecturer at Nagaoka Institute of Design

“Current Status and Challenges of China’s IP System with a Focus on Design Rights” (DESIGN PROTECT 2010)

“The Present State of Design Administration” (DESIGN PROTECT 2013)

“The Power of Design” (METI Journal, Oct.–Nov. 2012)

“What is Design Management Needed Now?” (Japio YEAR BOOK 2020)

“Applying Design Thinking in Government” (Hitotsubashi Business Review, Winter 2022 Vol. 70, No. 3)

“The Potential of Design to Transform Society” (Japio YEAR BOOK 2024)

“Why Public Administration Needs Service Design – A Perspective from an Art School Graduate Civil Servant” (Digital Agency note, 2024)

2012

Osaka Design Center Symposium “The Power of Design”

2014

HCD-Net Forum Keynote “Design Thinking and HCD”

2014

WIPO Lecturer – Laos 　Ministry of Science and Technology “Japan’s Design System”

2014

WIPO Lecturer – Myanmar 　Ministry of Science and Technology “Japan’s Design System”

2015

WIPO Lecturer – Africa University “Japan’s Design System”

2019

Japan Marketing Academy “JPO Design Management Project”

2020

Kawasaki-NEDO Innovation Center “The Potential of Design Management”

2020

Japan Marketing Academy “Survey on Design Management Practices and Key Factors for Adoption”

2021

Japan Society for the Science of Design, 68th Spring Conference “Policy, Administration, and Design”

2022

adtech tokyo 2022 “The Current and Future State of the Creator Economy”

2023

The Organization of Advertising Creation “The Role of Design in Government and Future Design Directions”

2012

TV Tokyo WBS "Infographics"

2020

Schoo “Why Did the Japan Patent Office Declare Design Management?”

2020

METI Outstanding Employee Award (Design Management)