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Hospitality
Designing Happiness Through Cultural Inspiration
Exclusive interview with Clint Nagata, Founder and Creative Partner, BLINK Design Group
How was your journey from starting at WATG to founding BLINK Design Group, and what inspired you to take this path?
Upon graduation from the University of Hawaii, I joined WATG in their Honolulu office. I was fortunate to have had the opportunity to mentor under Don Goo and ended up becoming the youngest partner of 22 other partners in the firm. Realizing that this wasn’t for me, I decided to leave the firm at the age of 35 and relocate to Bangkok, where I was attracted to the culture, its people, and most of all, the talented designers that reside here. You could say that WATG was instrumental in shaping my design career.
How does your passion for travel and appreciation of diverse cultures influence BLINK’s design philosophy and approach to each project?
My passion for travel has resulted in a strong appreciation and respect for diverse cultures, which has influenced me greatly. ‘Place making’ is my mantra that has been widely imbued in our group philosophy. We take both our clients and guests on a journey that tells the story of a place through a modern design lens. We seek to create wonderful interior-based designs that capture the spirit of the place through simplicity, balance, and proportion. The W Dubai Mina Seyahi is a clear case study for this – incorporating the ‘Port of Travellers’ theme laden with lavish touches and hints of intrigue, adventure, and romance from dhow boat shapes to Arabian calligraphy.
With studios in Thailand, Shanghai, Singapore, and Dubai, how do you maintain a cohesive company culture while adapting to the unique design demands of each region?
Our office hierarchy is quite flat; I do not dictate design downwards. It’s more a collaborative relationship between the design directors and me. I am a believer in developing the next generation of leaders, so we try to nurture staff, empowering them to lead the designs and giving them opportunities to grow.
What innovative materials or design elements does BLINK frequently use in interior design to enhance the luxury experience?
Keeping to our ‘place making’ philosophy, we at BLINK aim to translate our clients’ visions into awesome, unforgettable pieces of architecture inspired by travel experiences and cultural encounters. To do this, we need to listen to our clients’ narrative for the choice of location, its site history, the community relationship, and connection with guests.
For example: For Regent Phu Quoc, we use materials like lacquerware with the delicate duck eggshell inlays for which the region is famous. In addition, there is a strong emphasis on natural materials in line with the island’s pristine natural setting, such as hand-woven abaca wall coverings used in the villas as a soft contrast to the local dark natural stones for the floor. For the new Six Senses Kyoto, we showcased local arts and artisans from Japan in an elegant, courtly manner to not only support the local arts but also encourage a continuation of these traditions. This is reflected in elements like Washi partitions, Sakan, the plasterwork that flourished during Japan’s Edo period, and traditional Sudare Japanese screens, made of horizontal slats of high-quality bamboo to lend intrigue and privacy.
How does BLINK Design Group tailor its interior design solutions to meet the specific needs and preferences of each client?
At the start of every project, we make it a point to look at the project through the lens of a local – as if we were born and raised there and not through the lens of a foreigner. To be successful, the design needs to resonate with locals and visitors alike. Although it seems quite simple, it can be challenging and requires us to deep dive into the place in order to understand the true elements that define the uniqueness of a place through its history. Of course, this is combined with a detailed brief from the client to understand their objectives.
August is the month of happiness so how does BLINK Design Group create spaces that promote happiness and well-being for guests?
With work being done more remotely, on the go, or via a hybrid mix, hotels are transforming themselves into pleasant social spaces. We recognize that not everyone wants to work in a co-workspace but may choose to work away in a café, park, etc. One example is the WOW Spa (Bar-B Spa) at W Dubai Mina Seyahi – the heart of the spa is the lounge bar with swing seats that were meant to become a social gathering space. ‘Bleisure,’ or combining business with leisure or pleasure, is now the norm. It’s not unusual to see guests pounding away on laptops at the poolside, bar, or café these days.
Hospitality
JD MALAT GALLERY X AFRICAN QUEEN KOJO MARFO INSTALLATION LAUNCHES DURING RAMADAN AT J1 BEACH
African Queen Dubai unveils a special collaboration with JD Malat Gallery which operates in Downtown, Dubai and Mayfair, London, presenting an installation of works by Ghanaian-British artist Kojo Marfo at its J1 Beach location. Launching during the holy month of Ramadan through to summer, Marfo’s vibrant paintings enter into dialogue with the spirit of African Queen – the iconic Mediterranean restaurant founded on the French Riviera in 1969.
Installed throughout the venue, the works transform African Queen into an immersive cultural setting where gastronomy, art and atmosphere converge. From sunlit interiors to open terraces overlooking the shoreline, guests encounter contemporary African art within a space defined by Riviera elegance and cosmopolitan energy.
Born in 1980, Kojo Marfo is recognised for his distinctive AfroGenesis style – an Afrocentric “new beginning” that fuses Cubist visual language with Akan artistic traditions. His layered figurative works explore identity and spirituality, reframing African heritage through a contemporary lens. Rooted in Ghanaian artistic traditions while engaging with European modernism, Marfo’s work is expressive, symbolic and internationally resonant.
This dialogue between heritage and reinterpretation mirrors African Queen’s own story. Founded in 1969 in Beaulieu-sur-Mer, African Queen embodies Mediterranean art de vivre, where cuisine, culture and celebration unfold in an atmosphere of warmth and timeless glamour. Inspired by the 1951 film The African Queen, the venue’s layered textures and design create an environment that feels transportive yet refined.
At J1 Beach, the concept transitions seamlessly from relaxed daytime dining to vibrant evening gatherings.
Throughout Ramadan, African Queen welcomes guests for sea-view Iftar gatherings, offering a curated set menu designed for sharing. The experience begins with dates and lentil soup, followed by Arabic mezze with warm bread, lamb samosa and stuffed vine leaves. A choice of lamb, beef kebab, chicken tagine or vegetarian tagine follows, concluding with seasonal fruit. Soft drinks, coffee and tea are included per person.
The JD Malat Gallery and African Queen Kojo Marfo installation runs from February 2026 through summer 2026.
À la carte dining is available daily. Iftar is served from sunset throughout Ramadan, Iftar is served from sunset until 9:00 PM, with set menus starting from 296 AED per person, including welcome dates and apricot, sharing starters, a choice of main course, and dessert. The Suhoor menu is available throughout Ramadan from 10:30 PM until 1:30 AM, with last orders taken at 12:45 AM.
In moments when the wider landscape feels uncertain, SEVA Table continues to hold its doors open as a daily act of care. Guests are invited to break their fast, reconnect and regulate with Ramadan Sufra designed to gently restore after fasting. The menu features dishes that support digestion and help transition the body gradually from fasting to nourishment. Highlights include:
- Adas bi Hamod, slow-simmered green lentils with Swiss chard and lemon
- Salt & Date: The Elemental Platter for two, featuring soup, warm dates, beetroot falafel, green shakshouka, hummus, cashew labneh, olives, bread, and tea
- Light desserts including gluten-free cinnamon rolls and saffron lime key pie for sweetness that lingers without excess.
- Karak Chai infused with cardamom and saffron
Everything is prepared in-house from scratch and designed to replenish without heaviness.
SEVA continues to operate as usual. The garden remains open for those who simply wish to sit quietly, share tea, or spend time in a steady environment. The café and space remain active, welcoming, and attentive.
“The table is not a backdrop. It is the practice,” says Shadi Enbashi, co-founder of SEVA. “We lay the Sufra each day because the act of gathering, of nourishing one another with care and without noise, is itself a form of presence.”
As always, SEVA offers what it can within its means. Simply a table, set with care, open to all who wish to sit.
With stunning views, comforting cuisine and a warm ambience, Joe’s Café welcomes every woman to unwind, reconnect and celebrate Women’s Day in true Dubai style.
This Women’s Day, celebrate the spirit of ‘Her’ with an indulgent shopping-and-sipping experience at Joe’s Café. Perfectly perched inside The Dubai Mall, the café offers front-row views of the iconic Burj Khalifa and the mesmerising Dubai Fountain, making it one of the city’s most picturesque celebration spots.
Whether it’s a sun-kissed breakfast, a leisurely afternoon lunch between shopping sprees, or an elegant dinner with your closest friends, Joe’s Café creates the perfect setting for heartfelt conversations and memorable moments. To make the occasion even sweeter, guests can enjoy a complimentary Tiramisu with any main dish, available for lunch and Iftar. A delightful touch to toast the women who inspire, lead and uplift every day. Gather your squad, raise a cup, and celebrate ‘Her’ where the city sparkles brightest.
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