The Office for Design Evolution (ODE) was founded by Dr. Kody Kato in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The company name refers to an evolutionary design approach called Creative Engineering, which combines architecture, material science, engineering, nature and various methods of construction to enhance the way we live, work and experience space.

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Dr. Kato received a Doctor of Architecture degree in Performance-oriented design with a focus in structural engineering and mathematical biology. He has over 15 years of international experience. While completing his dissertation, he studied and worked under the direction of Dr. Ken Yeang in Kuala Lumpur and Byoungsoo Cho in Seoul where he applied his integrated research in architecture, engineering and mathematical biology to international projects of various scales. Through these theoretical and practical experiences, he developed his own design approach to create relationships between people, materials (alternative materials), communities, crafts, nature and the environment.

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His design approach, Creative Engineering, has led to projects that have been recognized by international design committees. Recently, ODE's recycled bamboo omakase was selected as one of the top 20 international A' Design Awards by ArchDaily. In 2018, Kato received a London Design Award for Beyond Surface, a gravity-defying paper structure. In 2012, he was named Young CAADRIA for his project titled Toward a Performance-oriented Architecture: An integrated design approach to a real time environmentally responsive structure. Dr. Kato has also received the Best Prize for the 28th International Space Architecture Competition for Liberated Memories as well as the Award of Merit for the Shinkenchiku Residential Design Competition in Japan in the same year. In 2004, he received the AIAS Award of Excellence, Award of Merit, and Energy Pioneer Award. His work has also been exhibited as part of London Craft Week at G. F Smith’s White Space, in Seoul at the Space Gallery and at the 2009 Gwangju Design Biennale.