要素 Yōso Studio is a two-person production studio building brand ecosystems with intention.
Strategy, Video & Production
📍Based in the PH, relocating to Australia
📍Based in Japan (2021 - 2024)
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Former teacher (10+ years in the Philippines & Japan). I handle brand strategy, video production, instructional design, and website development. I'm the strategist and production lead, working with clients to define their vision and orchestrating everything to come together.
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I always thought I’d retire as a teacher. I’ve loved the classroom, the kids, the difference you make in people’s lives. My career spanned over a decade, and I thought that was it. But after living in Japan for 3 years, I’ve been pushed in the next direction. It took me a while, but now I can finally see the culmination of all those quiet experimentations and passions.
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Last year, I finally took the leap and made a career shift. I built three brands from the ground up. The Art of Soulful Writing ignited the fire to write, learn, discover, start. Then, together with my partner, Soulful IELTS was born, until we pivoted it to Cozy English JP. We did everything in-house. Writing, filming, editing, designing, social media, building websites, and selling products on Gumroad. All of it, just the two of us.
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There was revenue because we owned every piece of the brand. But it wasn’t enough. So I took a job at a startup doing instructional design, video production, and web dev. They paid me $1k/month and questioned my intentions & work hours. I knew I had to leave. Another risk taken, I quit.
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Because I’ve always wanted this. Having my own thing. Building brands, making complex ideas simple, and offering my all to those who value the simplicity of creating solely from essential elements. You don’t need more in this modern world. You need to downgrade your consumption, inaction, and focus on intention.
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So finally, here we are. I’m proud to launch 要素 Yōso Studio today, from my tiny apartment, in my house clothes, with nothing but computer screens and an internet connection.
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Stay in touch,
Jo
Design, Visual Identity & Operations
📍Based in Australia
📍Based in Japan (2021 - 2024)
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Former Public Servant (6+ years in Australia) and Language Teacher (3 years in Japan). I handle graphic design, visual identity, and business operations. I'm the in-house artist, designing our clients' vision and bringing it to life.
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I spent 6+ years working across government departments in Australia, but I was always studying Japanese on the side, dreaming of living there.
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I studied abroad in Kyoto, then later in Osaka. By 2021, I'd made it happen: I was living and working in Japan, teaching English. It was everything I'd dreamed of, and it pushed me completely out of my comfort zone. New language, new culture, new challenges every day. That's where I found the confidence to chase the next dream: owning a business.
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I've always been creative. At 要素 Yōso Studio, I bring my passion for Japanese design philosophy (simplicity, intention, beauty in restraint) along with my professional experience, keeping systems running smoothly.
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Jo orchestrates the strategy. I bring it to life visually. Together, we build brands that feel cohesive and intentional.
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Stay in touch,
Lana
The Philosophy: Yōso means "essential elements" in Japanese
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Strip away the noise. Build only what matters. Every brand begins with purpose, takes shape with clarity, and stands firm in intention. This is the rhythm behind Yōso Studio: Foundation. Production. Launch. One continuous flow of creation, from idea to impact.
In an age obsessed with doing more, Yōso stands for doing what’s essential, and doing it well. When we work together, we ask, “What truly moves your brand forward?”
Then we build that. Nothing more, nothing less.
Every project we take starts from that principle: design with purpose, communicate with clarity, and build with intention.
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