THE
TEAM

We are a small, culturally-sensitive team specialized in creative direction.

Our core members speak English, Japanese, French, Spanish, Italian and Tagalog.

We manage projects for global brands in Europe, the USA and Japan working closely with our network of consultants on an as-needed basis.

FORD LELAND

Founder, Director
A fashion photographer turned designer who has led 120+ projects across 4 continents and now consults for the United Nations.
Read More

MELINA FERSZT

Graphic Designer
A seasoned designer with over 20 years of experience making the impossible, possible.
Read More

HITOMI TAMURA

Business Developer
A serial entrepreneur specialized in business administration and product development.
Read More

OUR NETWORK

We work in collaboration with some 20 creative individuals and agencies around the world to bring our visions to life in any format or fora.

NATHAN LYONS

Creative Strategist

NATHAN LYONS

A British Creative Strategist living in Tel-Aviv, Israel
E-Mail

FEDERICO ROMERO

Industrial Designer

FEDERICO ROMERO

An Argentinian Industrial Designer living in Yokohama, Japan
Website

REFLECT

Web Development

REFLECT

Tokyo, Japan
Website

SYMONNE TORPY

Creative Strategist

SYMONNE TORPY

An Indo-Australian Creative Strategist living in Paris, France
Website

ADVENCY

Web Development

ADVENCY

Paris, France
Website

MICHAL KUKLA

Web Developer

MICHAL KUKLA

A Polish web developer living in Zawoja, Poland
E-Mail

NEMORIN CREATIVE

Video Production

NEMORIN CREATIVE

London, England
Website

9EME CONCEPT

Artistic Collective

9EME CONCEPT

Paris, France
Website

THE TEAM

MELINA FERSZT

Graphic Designer
A seasoned designer with over 20 years of experience making the impossible, possible.
Read More

FORD LELAND

Founder, Director
A fashion photographer turned designer who has led 120+ projects across 4 continents and now consults for the United Nations.
Read More

HITOMI TAMURA

Business Developer
A multi-cultural entrepreneur specialized in business administration and development.
Read More

We are a small, culturally-sensitive team specialized in creative direction. Our core members speak English, Japanese, French, Spanish, Italian and Tagalog. We manage projects for global brands in Europe, the USA and Japan working closely with our network of consultants on an as-needed basis.

THE TEAM

We are a small, high performing team specialized in culturally sensitive creative direction. We manage projects for global brands between several European countries, the USA and Japan, working closely with our extended network of consultants on an as needed basis. Between us, we speak English, Japanese, French, Spanish, Italian and Tagalog.

FORD LELAND

Founder, Director
A fashion photographer turned designer who has led 120+ projects across 4 continents and now consults for the United Nations.
Read More

MELINA FERSZT

Graphic Designer
A seasoned designer with over 20 years of experience making the impossible, possible.
Read More

HITOMI TAMURA

Business Developer
A serial entrepreneur specialized in business administration and product development.
Read More

OUR NETWORK

We work in collaboration with over 20 creative individuals and agencies&nbsp around the world to bring our visions to life in any format or fora.

We work in collaboration with some 20 creative individuals and agencies 
around the world to bring our visions to life in any format or fora.

NATHAN LYONS

Creative Strategist

NATHAN LYONS

A British Creative Strategist living in Tel-Aviv, Israel
E-Mail

SYMONNE TORPY

Creative Strategist

SYMONNE TORPY

An Indo-Australian Creative Strategist living in Paris, France
Website

MICHAL KUKLA

Web Developer

MICHAL KUKLA

A Polish Web Developer living in Zawoja, Poland
E-Mail

FEDERICO ROMERO

Industrial Designer

FEDERICO ROMERO

An Argentinian Industrial Designer living in Yokohama, Japan
Website

NEMORIN CREATIVE

Video Production

NEMORIN CREATIVE

London, England
Website

REFLECT

Web Development

REFLECT

Tokyo, Japan
Website

ADVENCY

Web Development

ADVENCY

Paris, France
Website

9EME CONCEPT

Artistic Collective

9EME CONCEPT

Paris, France
Website

BAILLON HENRION

Architecture

BAILLON HENRION

Paris, France
Website

INTERESTED IN JOINING OUR NETWORK?

We'd love to hear from you!

We'd love to
hear from you!

PRODUCTION NETWORK

Some local printers and manufacturers we work with.

H2 COPY

Digital Printing

Paris, France

FAB CAFE

3D Printing

Tokyo, Japan

EXPOGRAPH

Signage Manufacturing

Paris, France

GIFTTHINK U

Custom Gift Manufacturer

Hong-Kong, China

HIGHROAD PRESS

Printing Services

New Jersey, USA

BLUE BEE PRINTING

Printing & Acrylic Production

California, USA

PRINT PAC

Printing Services

Kyoto, Japan

ENVELOPES.COM

Envelope Supply & Printing

New York, USA

GHP Media

Printing Services

Connecticut, USA

ALPHAPRIM

Printing Services

Paris, France

TOLLENS

Paint Supplier

Paris, France

HOWE

Furniture Brand

Paris, France

H2 COPY

Digital Printing

Paris, France

ENVELOPES.COM

Envelope Supply & Printing

New York, USA

FAB CAFE

3D Printing

Tokyo, Japan

EXPOGRAPH

Signage Manufacturing

Paris, France

GIFTTHINK U

Custom Gift Manufacturer

Hong-Kong, China

HIGHROAD PRESS

Printing Services

New Jersey, USA

PRINT PAC

Printing Services

Kyoto, Japan

BLUE BEE PRINTING

Printing & Acrylic Production

California, USA

GHP MEDUA

Printing Services

Connecticut, USA

About

CONTACT

WORK

About

TEAM

APPROACH

Contact

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Ford Leland

Founder, Director

From

Washington DC, USA

Lives in

Paris, France

Education

B.A. Brand Management Psychology

M.S. Industrial Design, Innovation & Engineering

Speaks

English, French, Italian & Japanese

ABOUT ME

INTRODUCTION

Good design lets you know that somebody out there gets you, cares about you, and thinks your needs matter. That is the effect I strive to achieve in everything I create.

CAREER

I began my career as a fashion photographer and journalist in Paris and founded Leland when I was offered the opportunity to lead local photography for luxury department store Nordstrom. Soon after, I took on media projects for Saks Fifth Avenue as well. My experience in the world of haute couture, both as an artist and as a critic, instilled in me a razor-sharp appreciation for quality design, a standard I continue to maintain as Leland’s Creative Director.

Over the past decade I have managed 70+ projects across four continents, ranging from brand strategy to graphic, interior and event design. Leland has grown to include a small core team that operates in the USA, France and Japan. We are proud to count several NGOs, including the United Nations, on our roster of clients.

I named Leland in honor of my ancestor, Henry Leland, founder of the Cadillac and Lincoln car companies. He was a renowned precision engineer who transformed the automobile industry. Henry was a humble man who saw good in the world and held himself to the highest ‘new world standard’. He represents our ethos at Leland and is someone whose integrity and values we strive to uphold.

EDUCATION

Following exceptional performance on entrance exams, I was permitted to start university studies at age 13. For the subsequent nine years, I studied a variety of subjects ranging from engineering and fine arts, to fashion design and psychology. I hold a bachelor’s degree in Brand Management Psychology from the American University of Paris, where I graduated as valedictorian. I have also completed formal studies in French and Japanese.

MELINA FERSZT

GRAPHIC DESIGNER

From

Buenos Aires, Argentina

Lives in

Yokohama, Japan

Education

B.A. Graphic Design

Speaks

English, Spanish & Japanese

ABOUT ME

Creating is an essential part of my life. It is what I do before going to bed every night, and as soon as I wake up every morning. It is simply the way my brain is wired.

I was born and raised in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Art and Design have been in my life since I was a little girl and used to sit on the floor with paper and crayons keeping my mom company while she drew blueprints for her architecture projects.

Influenced by my architect mother, software designer father, fashion designer grandmother, and all of their friends involved in art and design, I found myself at a crossroads. At age 15, I was already fighting with myself to choose between 3 paths: advertising, art school or design college. Why did I have to choose? Then one day, my mom said “Close your eyes, imagine a room. See it, feel it, smell it. Now imagine you are in that room, what are you doing?” It was clear as water. I was a designer.

Art, illustration, photography, I am drawn to all of them. And why should I have to choose just one? I enjoy new, challenging projects that push me to learn more and have new experiences. But at my core, in the center of my being, I am a Designer.

I have worked as a freelancer and in-house designer for more than 20 years. My curiosity, flexibility and hunger to learn have pushed me to seek multidisciplinary experience in projects including graphic design, web design, product design, photography, illustration, and much more.

A few years ago, I moved to Japan, Yokohama, with my husband and my cat. Yes, Sasha also came with us.

I love hot baths, the red leaves in Autumn, Japan, cats, TV shows, mate (Argentinian tea), food, art and of course, design in all of its forms.

HITOMI TAMURA

BUSINESS DEVELOPER

From

Metro Manila, Philippines

Lives in

Tokyo, Japan

Education

B.S. Entrepreneurship

Speaks

English, Tagalog & Japanese

ABOUT ME

I grew up in the Philippines where I studied entrepreneurship at De la Salle University, the top business school in the country. During my studies, I specialized in accounting, human resource management, finance management, and law. For my final year project, I co-founded a startup that transformed Japanese sushi into quirky square-shaped rice meals, fit for the Filipino taste. Our products were a major hit on our local market and my team and I received the school’s prestigious “Most Innovative Business” award.


After graduating, I worked for a Japanese mobile game company where I managed immigration processing and supported the company’s foreign employees in their accommodation and logistics as well as other aspects of office support. In 2016, the tables turned when I moved to Tokyo to reconnect with my Japanese roots and became a foreign employee myself. Now, I work for Leland as their business developer, and operations manager – working to keep our highly mobile team safe and sound on their global projects.

Outside of work, I enjoy analyzing investment strategies, and developing my portfolio of real estate and stock investments. In my free time I enjoy traveling, snowboarding, and discovering the food and culture of different countries.

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Kind regards,

The Leland Team