Over the years, she has worked on a multitude of lighting projects around the world, such as the lighting for the National Museum of Western Art in Tokyo, the Kyoto Convention Center, the Tokyo Television Tower and the Rainbow Bridge in Tokyo. She has also collaborated with renowned architects such as Kenzo Tange and Toyo Ito.
Motoko Ishii has received numerous awards for her work, including the Design Excellence Award in 1986 and the Asian Culture Award in 2011. She was also elected an honorary member of the International Association of Lighting Designers in 1995 and was named Chevalier de l'Ordre des Arts et des Lettres by the French government in 2013.
Motoko Ishii is considered one of the pioneers of lighting design and an important figure in the world of lighting. Her work has helped shape the way people perceive and experience light in architecture and the urban environment.