Philosophy

We are a design studio seeking to use thoughtful, considered design to enhance everyday life. Whether through collaborations, commissions, or exploration of our own ideas, our vision is to harness the potential of good design, research, and craft to enhance the human experience.

Almost every element of our day is shaped by an encounter with something that has been designed: the objects that we use, the clothes that we wear, the devices and systems that enable us, the mode of transport that we take, and the living and work spaces that encompass us. Our vision is to make our journey through life a more thoughtful and impactful one by investing meaningful design thinking into the objects and spaces that we have the privilege to shape.

Our focus is on the individual experience; how design intersects with people on the human scale. We believe that even through the processes of mass production and modern construction, a well-designed product, system, or space is able to imbue an intimate, individualised experience, making the user or occupant feel like it was created just for them. Too often design is just seen as a means to achieve an outcome; negating the proper time, focus, and craft that the design process is due. We believe that when design is truly valued, it delivers a more holistic, impactful, and higher-valued experience.

We invest in projects and visions that align with our values, and in doing so, are able to bring full integrity and heart to our work. We care deeply and invest heavily into the journey of bringing an idea to life by engaging in all aspects of the design process with curiosity and rigour. We are passionate about using design for good. Each of our designs are built on the principles of utilitarianism and human behaviour; seeking to remain useful and relevant for the long haul, increasing lifespan, and treading as lightly on our earth as possible. We design things to last; we believe this is the simplest form of sustainable living. At the heart of our process, we believe that meaningful outcomes take time; it's in the commitment to give due diligence to the process of design that allows it to go from a means, to a craft.

PerCapita is our love letter to the world; an evolving manifesto of products and spaces grounded in simplicity, quality, and timelessness; thoughtfully crafted for each person that encounters them.

Founder

PerCapita was founded by Jon Liow, award-winning architect and industrial designer. Inspired by a desire to find an intersection between creativity and humanity, we see PerCapita as a way to use design thinking to encourage, educate, and inspire more thoughtful ways of living.