Airi Isoda and Ryan Upton

Airi Isoda and Ryan Upton, the creative duo behind wrk-shp, are a California-based multidisciplinary studio with a hands-on, deeply curious approach to design. While they are currently solely focused on architecture, their journey has included the design and production of a diverse range of items—from home goods and accessories to clothing, lighting, and furniture. Airi and Ryan met while studying architecture, and after working at different firms across LA, they joined forces to start wrk-shp and bring their unique creative visions to life.

A modern cafe features light wood accents, a large light-colored rock, and a woman working at a table near a window.

Tsuchiya Kaban’s ambassador Airi in glasses is seated at a table, using a fork to put frosting on a pastry, while her daughter Kenzo with a Tsuchiya Kaban’s Randoseru Lite in yellow on her back sits next to her, looking at the pastry.

We joined Airi, Ryan, and their daughter Kenzo at How’s It Going to End, a cafe in Montrose they transformed from a former drive-thru dry cleaners. Their design respects the mid-century structure of the original building featuring clean lines, while materials like breeze blocks and mirrors add texture and depth. Expansive glass windows and a sliding door entrance create a seamless indoor/outdoor connection, beautifully complemented by thoughtful landscaping that highlights native plants, designed in collaboration with Terremoto Landscape.

Tsuchiya Kaban’s ambassador Ryan Upton with a beard, wearing a cream t-shirt, dark pants, and a Tsuchiya Kaban’s Ruffle Drawstring Pouch in Black, stands in front of a patterned wall, holding glasses and smiling at the camera.

In the middle of the space sits a giant boulder—a bold element that feels both surprising and perfectly integrated into the welcoming, warm atmosphere of the cafe. “The cafe owners have a great sense of humor … as much as they wanted the cafe to be beautiful in design, they didn’t want the space to be too serious,” the duo explained. Minimalist yet warm, refined yet playful—this is the kind the spacial balance wrk-shp is known to achieve.

A tan-colored building with a curved facade features an outdoor staircase with white railings leading up to a second story, with a potted plant near the base.

After enjoying some treats, we visited their nearly-complete new home—a two-story building in the Mt. Washington neighborhood that they designed and built from scratch. The home’s clean lines and openness invite the eye to explore its thoughtful details—a variety of shapes and materials converging in unexpected ways, creating depth and adding a distinct Japanese flavor to the space.

A smiling family of three – Tsuchiya Kaban’s ambassador Airi Isoda, Ryan Upton and their daughter Kenzo– are in a modern kitchen with light wood cabinets. Ryan and Kenzo stand near a counter with a Tsuchiya Kaban’s Randoseru Lite in yellow hanging from a stool, while Airi sits at the counter with a Tsuchiya Kaban’s Black Nume Oval Shoulder in Black.

A Tsuchiya Kaban’s Randoseru Lite in yellow, sits on a white and yellow patterned quilt in a wooden bed.

Kenzo with brown hair sits in a bed, looking into a Tsuchiya Kaban’s Randoseru Lite in yellow with a charm hanging from it.

Kenzo is smiling with a Tsuchiya Kaban’s Randoseru Lite in yellow next to her.

The trio’s frequent visits Japan, where Airi’s family resides, allow them to stay deeply connected to her cultural roots, which they cherish and share with their daughter, Kenzo. For her, they selected the Randoseru Lite in Medallion Yellow, a cheerful, friendly color that blends in seamlessly with her room and style. The bag’s many functional pockets and sturdy build promise to accompany Kenzo on many adventures to come.

Close up a Tsuchiya Kaban’s Black Nume Oval Shoulder in Black.

Tsuchiya Kaban’s ambassador Airi with short dark hair and glasses smiles while holding open a Tsuchiya Kaban’s Black Nume Oval Shoulder in Black on a kitchen counter, with a laptop nearby.

Tsuchiya Kaban’s ambassador Ryan with a beard, wearing a cream t-shirt, dark pants, and a Tsuchiya Kaban’s Ruffle Drawstring Pouch in Black, looks down as he adjusts the bag in an indoor setting.

Ryan wears the Ruffle Drawstring Pouch, which he prefers for its sleek, minimalist silhouette, and functional design, perfect for keeping essentials close. Airi enjoys the Black Nume Oval Shoulder—a chic addition that adds a playful element to her look—“It’s like a big round dot!”