KOTO began their journey through local pop-ups and collaborations, utilizing a customized mobile stand equipped with the owner’s camping setups. Its flexibility and mobility have provided us with excellent public exposure. Inspired by Seattle’s vibrant local pop-up culture and the stunning outdoor lifestyle of the Pacific Northwest, we are introducing a coffee shop that blends a flexible outdoor experience with a distinctly Japanese crafting aesthetic.

As they move into their first permanent store, we want to continue embracing this lifestyle by incorporating camping setups into the store’s design. These elements are not just for aesthetic purposes, they also serve as practical, cost-effective solutions. The camping table system creates a movable, adaptable store counter that can also be used for outdoor pop-up events during the summer. The camping tarp helps conceal the existing ceiling and back wall imperfections while creating a cozy, outdoor-inspired atmosphere at the heart of the store. 

Moving forward, we want to develop this prototype for the future KOTO stores. We also aim to showcase this prototype to other small business owners, offering them a flexible, cost-effective solution that can make starting their businesses easier and more adaptable to different settings.