Intentional design.
Local craft.
📍 Santa Cruz County, California.
Who We Are
JOHI is led by husband-wife product and interior design partners Raja Badr-El-Din and Holly Apau Badr-El-Din.
Combining a mix of career experience in the tech industry, nonprofit world, and independent creative studios, the two decided to launch JOHI as a creative practice in 2019 - a place to celebrate the people and the places we call home.
Our team is skilled in product design, interior design, and product manufacturing, with an emphasis on woodwork.
Founder • Business & Interior Design
Holly Apau
Badr-El-Din
Interested in the design of healthier homes and welcoming spaces, Holly's professional background combines interdisciplinary design, brand communications, and creative project development.
Holding a BAH in Music: Music Technology (Stanford University) and a foundational certificate in Interior Design (UCLA Extension, with distinction), she approaches her work with empathy, research, and a goal of creating purposeful experiences. As a Hawaiian-American woman, Holly values connection to place and an interplay of tradition and innovation.
Founder • Manufacturing & Product Design
Raja Badr-El-Din
With a background in product design and love for fine woodworking, Raja is head of all things manufacturing and industrial design here at JOHI.
He has explored the curiosities of woodworking since he was a child, growing up in a Lebanese-Jordanian family. His style of woodwork has changed over the years, shaped by rustic farm explorations, a fascination with bent wood and organic forms, and the ways tooling affects processes & possibilities. He is passionate about bringing CAD/CAM-driven processes into our shop, to enhance our craft, working in combination with handcrafted techniques.
Design & Manufacturing Development Manager
Nicole Gardner
Trained in industrial design, Nicole is a lifelong lover of getting her hands dirty in the name of marrying form to function. Valuing process, she creates objects with meaning and with the preservation of planetary health in mind.
If you've ever felt a piece of JOHI work and been wowed by product details and the finish - Nicole is a huge part of bringing that to life.
Who We Work With
Homeowners Shaping their Everyday Moments
You have a vision for life. Every investment you make in your home is part of that vision. Through our collection offerings and design services, we work with you to create and transform living spaces into intentionally designed environments.
Business Owners Curating Physical Environments
Balancing aesthetics with practical business needs is one of the challenges we all face as business owners. Our interest is in supporting boutique commercial spaces, including retail stores, design offices, and unique corporate offices. Through design consultations, design of interior elements, and custom manufacturing, we support you and your interior architecture team in creating impressive, brand-aligning environments.
Trade Professionals working with Homeowners & Business Owners
We work with trade professionals to elevate projects through our furniture collection products, product design services, and product manufacturing services. Our expertise complements the skills of architects, interior designers, and contractors, ensuring a thoughtful delivery of specific furniture, accent fixtures, and singular components. Partner with us to support your service offerings with California-made (USA-made) products, 3D product modeling, custom CAD/CAM services, and more.
Product Designers & Product-Focused Business Owners
Bringing wooden prototypes and final products to life through wood is a process that calls for material knowledge, raw material product sourcing, manufacturing trials, and process standardization. Whether you are refining an existing design or developing a new product line, our California-based team supports you through 3D modeling, CAD/CAM services, and small-batch manufacturing capabilities. We partner with you to navigate the complexities of product development, helping you create distinctive, functional, and commercially viable designs that resonate with your brand's audience.
Client List
Interior Design • Interior Decoration • Architecture • Construction
Kenneth Chrisman Construction • CLB Architects • Damon Liss Design • The Collective • Cecy J Interiors • Boone Low Ratliff Architects • Patina Interior Design • HUE Home + Design • Sae Design • Gottling Gallery
Boutique Businesses
The Woodress • Rove Goods • Umber & Ochre • Farm-ng • Wave Lines Balance Board • Ethan Estess Art & Design • Babadi Design Studio • Puʻu o Hōkū Ranch • Kūlua • Maui Resort Rentals
Words from Our Customers
Each review means so much to us.
Thank you for taking the time to share your experiences through words and photos!
Thank you to everyone who has been a part of our team through the years, and to those who have helped us capture and share life here in the studio!
Shoutout to these special folks:
Nicole Gardner • April Ewers • Elijah Clancy • Juan Ruiz Gomez • Daniel Gorostieta • Hannah Eugster
There are many family members to whom we owe our deepest thanks to. Many of you have shared valuable advice, lent a hand on our crew, and simply listened. Mahalo.