George Yabu and Glenn Pushelberg both studied interior design at Toronto Metropolitan University, graduating in 1976. After reconnecting while searching for studio space, they established Yabu Pushelberg in Toronto in 1980. Their early practice focused on retail and hospitality interiors, gradually developing into a multidisciplinary studio with offices in Toronto and New York. From the outset, their partnership was shaped by curiosity, close creative exchange, and a shared interest in designing spaces that feel intuitive, layered, and emotionally engaging.
Over more than four decades, Yabu Pushelberg has created hotels, residences, restaurants, retail environments, furniture, lighting, and accessories for leading international brands. Its collaborators include Aman, Four Seasons, EDITION Hotels, Tiffany & Co., Louis Vuitton, Molteni&C, B&B Italia, Salvatori, Lasvit, cc-tapis, and Tribù. The studio is known for balancing modern refinement with warmth, narrative, and a strong sense of place. In 2014, both founders were appointed Officers of the Order of Canada in recognition of their contribution to the global design industry.
