oki sato – DesignApplause

household waste drives nendo design of n02 recycle chair for fritz hansen.

Nov 8, 2019

above > courtesy nendo and fritz hansen / photography akihiro yoshida

household waste redesigned – introducing the n02™ recycle chair from fritz hansen. n02™ recycle is a new, all-purpose chair from fritz hansen made of upcycled plastic, household waste – it is our first chair produced in colored, recycled polypropylene.

the chair is fritz hansen’s first move towards creating a chair for the circular economy, as it is made from recycled plastic and can be recycled again at the end of its life.

the strong, stackable chair is designed in collaboration with japanese studio nendo and inspired by a simple crease of paper on the designer’s work table. the folded paper translated into a crease in the chair’s shell that makes the design support the sitter’s upper and lower back.

the chair’s elegant shell is made of circular plastic, meaning it is made of recycled plastic that can be recycled again if necessary. the plastic used for n02™ recycle comes from household, plastic waste collected, processed and upcycled in central europe, reducing transportation.

7 shell color options are inspired by earthy, warm tones in scandinavian nature. these colors and multiple leg options make n02™ recycle a strong solution for dining rooms, home offices, meeting rooms or as extra, multi-purpose seating. the wipeable, plastic shell is child-friendly and very easy to clean.

“we wanted to do a versatile, plastic, stacking chair in recycled materials. collaborating with studio nendo meant the design would be simple and elegant, a really nice blend of scandinavian and japanese aesthetics,” says christian andresen, head of design at fritz hansen.

“n02™ recycle can also be considered a statement of intent from fritz hansen. we have developed extensive knowledge and experience creating beautiful, well designed stacking chairs such as the iconic series 7™ and ant™. the n02™ recycle is the latest chair design in that tradition. it was not easy to create a recycled and recyclable chair that meets fritz hansen’s quality standards, but the result was worth all the experiments and hours spent brainstorming,” he added.

“the fact that the material is constructed from everyday recycled plastic creates an extra connection between the user and the chair. it’s an accessible design made for everyday use and made from everyday recycled, household plastics,” says oki sato of nendo. (below)

[ vitals ]
the shell is made of 100% recycled/recyclable polypropylene
colors: dark orange, dark red, dark blue, light blue, grey, black, off white
sledge base is chromed steel (50% recycled)
swivel bases is polished aluminum (95% recycled)
all other bases come in powder coated steel (monochrome) or chromed steel upon request
arms always match the base finish
available in stores november 2019

[ information ]
nendo / fritz hansen

wonderglass presents shape of gravity by nendo. milan design week.

Apr 9, 2019

wonderglass is presenting an exhibition titled shape of gravity of the work of japanese design firm, nendo. founded by oki sato, nendo’s work spans a wide range of disciplines from graphic design to furniture design, to installations and interiors. the exhibition also includes melt, a collection of cast glass furniture, tabletop objects, and a gravity formed glass chandelier created in collaboration with wonderglass.

melt was derived through the complex process of laying hot glass sheets over steel shapes or hanging between steel bars, which then melt downward with the pull of gravity creating a natural form. these forms were then turned into the pieces which make up the collection.

the biggest challenge in this process was timing. the craftspeople had to come to a precise understanding of the exact moment where the gravitational pull would result in the desired shape, and also the exact temperature that would allow the shape to set.

nendo will present a new be@rbrick in zona tortona during milan design week 2019.

Apr 9, 2019

be@rbrick shadow by medicom toy is a block figure in the form of a bear, approximately 7 cm in size, and was introduced in 2001 on the 100th anniversary of the birth of teddy bear, under the concept to create a “digital teddy bear”.

it is characterized by the rule that no three-dimensional addition is to be made to the nine existing basic parts that compose the figure (head, arms, wrists, body, waist and legs) and that the only alteration is to be made solely by the expression through print.

be@rbrick has collaborated with various brands and artists as well as anime and movies.

medicom toy

be@rbrick shadow will be sold at tenoha milano for a limited time during milan design week 2019.

via vigevano, 18, 20144 milano mi, italy

the complete nendo happenings during milan design week 2019.

Apr 9, 2019

asked where he’s presenting during salone del mobile 2019 we get ‘the complete list’ of venues. grazie mille oki.

50 manga chairs by nendo. milan design week 2016.

Apr 7, 2016

basilica minore di san simpliciano | piazza s. simpliciano 7

friedman benda and nendo present 50 manga chairs. the installation of polished aluminum chairs will make its european premier at basilica minore di san simpliciano, in conjunction with salone del mobile milano, 12 > 17 april 2016 and its american premier in a solo exhibition at the friedman benda gallery in new york, 8 september 8 > 15 october 2016.

above> manga chair, 2015 | polished aluminum | photography> adam reich /// all others below> polished aluminum | photography> nichi sonehara /// photos courtesy of friedman benda and oki sato, nendo,

with this exhibition, nendo abstracts archetypes of manga comics. the chairs are happy, distressed, embarrassed, surprised; they leap and bound, zoom past, or slowly slink away. each chair has its own personality, allowing it to stand on its own or, when placed next to the others, to become part of a collective narrative. a different configuration creates a different story; the chairs come alive in a symphonious display of nendo’s playful japanese design.

50 manga chairs is friedman benda’s third solo show with nendo and th japanese design group’s most ambitious body of work to date. the group’s 2009 new york debut ghost stories featured the acclaimed cabbage chair, which was initially shown in the groundbreaking exhibition xxist century man at 21_21 design site in tokyo. nendo’s 2011 exhibition scatter shelf toyed with optical illusions and repetitive forms, the idea of structure in space.

[ nendo ] founded in tokyo in 2002, with a second office established in milan in 2005, has received many distinctions, including the iconic design award ‘interior designer of the year’ in 2015, wallpaper* magazine’s ‘designer of the year’ in 2012, and the ‘red dot design award’ in germany in 2008. in 2011, nendo presented visible structures, a solo commission for the high museum of art, atlanta, visible structures was also included in modern by design, a collaborative exhibition between the high museum of art and the museum of modern art, new york.

geometric sensibilities. luminaire.

Jun 4, 2015

While Neocon 2015 is in Chicago Luminaire again puts together the latest experimental and innovative creations via an exhibition at the Chicago showroom.

With Geometric Sensibilities, Luminaire announces its Soft Furnishings collection offering a wide variety of window treatments and floor coverings from Kinnasand, and Raf Simons collection of textiles for Kvadrat. An opening reception will take place Tuesday, 16 June at 6p at Luminaire Chicago to celebrate this exciting new phase.

above> With its subtle yet clear Nordic designs, Kinnasand draws on over 200 years of experience producing high-quality textiles characterized by its impeccable attention to detail and splendid materials. Designed by award winning Creative Director Isa Glink, the designs stimulate the senses adding a new dimension to the experience of a space. A fusion of modern and nomadic aesthetics, the Kinnasand collection transports you to a sensorial and magical ambiance with its rich exploration of structure, texture and colors.

above> In addition, Luminaire’s expanded Soft Furnishings collection also includes the exclusive representation of the renowned designer Raf Simons’ upholstery line for Kvadrat. Recognized for being the Creative Director of Parisian fashion house Dior, Belgium-born Simons is inspired by his deep admiration for art. With an educational background in Industrial and Furniture Design, Simons brings an interdisciplinary approach to all his creative endeavors.

above> Simultaneously on display will be a selection of new designs by Nendo that embody Oki Sato’s quintessential philosophy that each product must capture the inexplicable “!” moments in life such as his new Offset-Frame collection from Osaka based Kokuyo. Moreover, a curated selection of lifestyle objects evoking meaning will be on display. Sourced from all corners of the globe, Luminaire’s accessories offer design driven and functional solutions to everyday life.

[ kinnasand ] Originally from Kinna in southern Sweden, Kinnasand produces subtle yet clear Nordic designs for contemporary homes. In doing so, the company draws on over 200 years of experience in producing unique, high-quality textiles and carpets. These visionary products are characterized by individuality and attention to detail. Made from the very best materials, they are crafted by the world’s finest weavers using state-of.the-art technologies. Designed by Creative Director Isa Glink, the collections have received a number of prestigious national and international design awards. These include the German Design Award, the Interior Innovation Award, the ICFF Editors Award, the Designpreis der Bundesrepublik Deutschland and the Red Dot Design Award.

[ kvadrat ] is Europe’s leading manufacturer of design textiles creating high quality textiles and textile-related products for private and public spaces. Their designs push the aesthetic, technological and artistic boundaries of their field and are characterized by: simplicity, color and innovation. In their ambition to innovate, they collaborate with leading designers, architects and artists. These include Alfredo Häberli, Peter Saville, Akira Minagawa, Tord Boontje, David Adjaye, Patricia Urquiola, Finn Sködt, Olafur Eliasson, Roman Signer, Thomas Demand, and Ronan and Erwan Bouroullec.

[ luminaire ] For over 40 years, Luminaire has been a pioneering force in the design world, a result of the uniquely personal and long-lasting relationships the company has cultivated with an international roster of the most innovative designers and manufacturers of contemporary furniture, lighting and accessories. These associations offer an incomparable selection of furnishings, while an in-house team manages the entire spectrum of client experience, from selection to installation.

Two Miami locations include the flagship Coral Gables showroom and the Design District’s Luminaire Lab that serves as a focal point for experimentation. Also in Miami are Luminaire’s Corporate Offices and 30,000 sq-ft. warehouse, the nerve center that manages a sophisticated system of tracking, distribution and delivery.

event> geometric sensibilities – good design in honest forms.
venue> luminaire | 301 west superior | 312 664 9582
date> tuesday 16 june 2015 | 6p

a chocolate lounge by nendo for maison & objet 2015.

Jan 23, 2015

this year’s designer of the year title for maison & objet 2015 went to japanese designer oki sato and founder of studio nendo. nendo was asked to design ‘the chocolate lounge’ for the paris trade fair. the studio also created a range of nine chocolate shapes within a 26-millimetre cube. designapplause talks to oki.
[designapplause] oki, the solution is both flat out unadulterated and inspiring as usual. how did the chocolate factory turn out for you?
[ oki sato ] maison awarded us best designer of the year and gave us a space and asked us to create something. that was in november and you know how, we’re very happy for the recognition and what are we now going to do. we thought of the idea of not only touching and feeling the design but actually eating it. hence the concept of using all five senses. the flavor of the chocolate is all the same but interestingly the tastes are different due to the different shapes and textures. we also added the concept of the lounge and we called guilio cappellini, desalto and morosso, companies who have commissioned us and they created limited chocolate colored editions of our design, a soft form like a meltable form. maybe we put a little pressure on them too. then we hand-painted aluminum pipes and cut them to different heights so it feels like you’re sitting in this melting pot of chocolate.

[da] so these 11th hour deadlines work. oki what’s next?
[os] yes, in some cases they do (laughing). and ron, maybe we’ll talk to you in chicago in june at neocon for some new things to talk about.

the chocolates have been named after various japanese expressions
1> ‘tubu-tubu’ – comprised of small chocolate drops.
2> ‘sube-sube’ – with smooth edges and rounded corners.
3> ‘zara-zara’ – rough and granular like a file.
4> ‘toge-toge’ – projecting sharp pointed tips.
5> ‘goro-goro’ – a composition of fourteen connected small cubes.
6> ‘fuwa-fuwa’ – soft and airy with the presence of many tiny holes.
7> ‘poki-poki’ – a cube frame made of chocolate sticks.
8> ‘suka-suka’ – a hollow cube with thin walls.
9> ‘zaku-zaku’ – featuring alternately placed thin chocolate rods forming a cube.

the space is furnished with nendo’s previous seat designs for brands including cappellini, desalto, emeco, glas italia, moroso and offecct. these chairs are custom-colored to match the chocolates and surrounded by 2,000 aluminum 8mm thick pipes painted in brown gradations to form ‘a rippling large molten chocolate wave’. a limited edition of 400 boxes were on sale at the lounge.

previous recipient’s of maison & object’s designer of the year award have included barber and osgerby, the campana brothers and tom dixon. installation images courtesy of nendo with photography by joakim blockstrom – packaging photos by akihiro yoshida.

[ nendo ] [ maison & objet ]

Cos x nendo + pop-up good fit for retailers. Milan 2014.

Apr 19, 2014

We get asked a lot about what’s trending though lately the big topic is who’s putting more emphasis on their online capabilities and what’s driving traffic to the website. For example in March [shades of blue] in conversation with Matteo Alessi, international sales and development director for Alessi, the pop-up concept was mentioned as a way to build face-to-face relationships that transfer to online purchases.

Again, a few weeks later, an enticing pop-up presented itself in Milan where clothing label COS and Japanese design studio Nendo created an installation in the Brera district in a very cool space. It was really more Nendo installation than COS. The ground floor space was empty except for the Nendo’s installation (above) and the basement a huge display of Nendo’s work. COS made it’s presence known with just a smattering of simply minimal accessory collections near the ground floor entrance. It was enough.

cos assessories near ground floor entrance

nendo display in basement

su | emeco | 2014

We really went to see Nendo but discovered COS. COS (Collection of Style), owned by H&M, a best-kept secret that everyone in fashion seems to know launched with a catwalk show at the Royal Academy in 2007. An up-market brand positioned at a slightly higher price point to that typically associated with H&M’s fast fashion offerings.

H&M started their guest-designer collaborations in 2004 with Karl Lagerfeld. Then Stella McCartney and avant-garde Dutch designers Viktor & Rolf in 2005. COS partnering with Nendo works well if you’re familiar with Nendo’s simple and almost timeless solutions. Current without being trendy, very Nendo-like.

Until recently, if you lived in the US you had to go to London or Paris to purchase COS because they were in Europe only and sold nothing online. That’s all changed. COS is currently operating across Europe and Asia with a total of 82 stores worldwide and will open its first store in the USA, New York, in spring 2014. Miami might be the next store.

The COS press kit consisted of a well-designed and expensive limited-edition looking spring & summer 2014 magazine (above) and a small creative little brochure with the story behind the pop-up collaboration. The magazine was in English, the brochure in English and Italian, with Italian store locations in back: Bologna, Firenze, Milano, Verona and coming soon, Torino. The details draw you in.[ nendo ] [ cos ]

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