Niki Tokunaga
Profession
MA Narrative Environments student
College
Central Saint Martins
Person Type
Student
Biography
Niki Tokunaga is currently studying MA Narrative Environments at Central Saint Martins (2024–2026). Originally from Tokyo and the Gold Coast, she has a background in Cultural Anthropology and International Politics and previously worked in a marketing and creative agency, shaping her interest in storytelling across cultural and spatial contexts.
Interview
Why did you choose to study your MA Narrative Environments and why CSM?
In a rapidly changing and increasingly complex global landscape, I believe it is vital to understand and shape our environments by intersecting diverse, multifaceted fields. To address these contemporary challenges, I felt the need to re-evaluate and restructure my own practice beyond existing frameworks.
I chose this course as it perfectly embodies this interdisciplinary approach. It offers the ideal setting to build upon my previous experience, while evolving my practice as a designer through narrative-based design.
What’s the most interesting project you’ve worked on so far? What made it so interesting to work on?
The most interesting project I have been involved in is the study of ‘Gastro-Geopolitics’, an interdisciplinary field bridging science, politics, and art through food. Collaborating with a team of scientists, I integrate spatial design perspectives from my MA studies into their ongoing research and project development.
What makes this work fascinating is exploring how narrative-led placemaking can foster community resilience. My field research provided insights into how public food-growing creates social engagement. Contributing a design lens to this scientific context has allowed me to explore the tangible impact of spatial storytelling in addressing complex global challenges.
Have you completed any work placements / internships whilst being on the course? If so, can you tell me a little bit about your role?
'During my placement at Wayward, I focused on community research and engagement. I conducted a cross-sectional analysis of their nationwide community garden network and developed strategic frameworks to strengthen collaborations across the UK.
I also interned at the Experience Foundation, contributing to urban design strategy. My role involved narrative-driven experience design, exploring how strategic interventions can shape the way people interact with urban environments.
Both experiences allowed me to apply narrative design to real-world social and urban contexts.
What important piece of advice would you give to students thinking of studying this course?
I believe that your unique background, whether it is your previous academic pursuit or a personal passion, is your greatest asset. Before beginning your journey on the MA Narrative Environments, I highly recommend taking the time to deeply reflect on your own experiences, from the subtle to the significant. This is a process you will continue to engage with throughout your time on the course.
Beyond that, I encourage you to fully embrace collaboration with your tutors and coursemates, who come from incredibly diverse backgrounds. Engaging with such a variety of perspectives is what makes this experience truly exceptional.
What has been the highlight of your CSM experience so far?
The most significant highlight is the fundamental shift in how I perceive and analyse the world. Rather than seeing environments as mere physical spaces, I have learned to interpret them as complex intersections of multi-layered narratives, including history, society and individual memory.
This approach allows me to unravel hidden indications and possibilities beneath surface phenomena, enabling me to identify where design can best intervene. This process of translating rigorous research into meaningful design insights has become the core of my creative practice.
What are your career aspirations? Where would you like to be in five years time?
I want to pursue experience design that intervenes in urban spaces through an anthropological lens. My goal is to engage in placemaking that restructures everyday life, ranging from large-scale urban planning to temporary interventions in public spaces, without being confined by traditional methodologies.
In five years, I aim to be a professional who seamlessly bridges academic insight with industry practice. By then, I hope to have established my own unique placemaking methodology and secured a distinct position within the field of urban design, contributing to the evolution of how we experience and inhabit our cities.
What is the most important thing you've learnt on the course so far?
The most significant takeaway has been the gradual clarification of my own practice as a designer. By integrating the theoretical frameworks taught on the course with insights from tutors, collaborations with peers and hands-on professional experience during my work placement, I started to figure out the specific fields I am passionate about and how I approach it.
Rather than simply acquiring knowledge, I have focused on synthesising these diverse inputs to establish my professional identity. This process of internalising various perspectives and defining my unique direction as a designer has been the most invaluable achievement of my journey so far.