We have a quick chat with Oki Sato of nendo on work, dream projects, inspiration and more.
June 4th, 2012
Oki Sato and his team at nendo had been hard at work in the months leading up to the Milan Furniture Fair in April, and it showed in their rich body of work.
Of particular note was their first collection art directing for Singapore-based brand K% using only the colour black, which helped to draw focus to one primary aim – perfecting the balance between structure and function in each object. Now fresh from the whirlwind that was the Milan fair – and in typical nendo fashion – Sato and his team continue at full speed with several different projects that will keep them busy till the end of the year.
black & black for K%
Here, Sato manages a few chill moments in-between work to be part of our ’5 Minutes’ segment…
Projects that have kept you busy over the last few months.
The exhibitions for Salone in Milan – trial & error, still & sparkling, black & black (K%) and transparent & mosaic maison for Bisazza.
trial & error brought together pieces from the new collection of 1% products and 5 furniture collections developed over a series of solo exhibitions
Projects you are working on at the moment.
The shop design for Theory in the States, Europe, Asia and Japan, and the La Rinascente department store in Milan.
We will also be showing an installation at the Victoria & Albert Museum for London Design Festival 2012.
object dependencies, shown at trial & error
Top influences.
Everyday things, everyday life, because the everyday can become something more if it’s given the attention it deserves.
transparent & mosaic maison for Bisazza
Dream project – real or imaginary.
The most recent projects have been always the most meaningful projects for us.
Zabuton by nendo for Moroso
Favourite chair.
Zabuton.
Number 1 concern for the design industry.
Not sure. I am not conscious of it much.
still & sparkling, 5 concepts produced in collaboration with Lasvit
The most interesting thing about the way you work.
Basic research and experimentation has always been important to me since this process can produce items for the museum or gallery, which might then lead to mass production.
One item in the workplace you can’t live without.
My pet dog Kinako.
nendo
A searchable and comprehensive guide for specifying leading products and their suppliers
Keep up to date with the latest and greatest from our industry BFF's!
Savage Design’s approach to understanding the relationship between design concepts and user experience, particularly with metalwork, transcends traditional boundaries, blending timeless craftsmanship with digital innovation to create enduring elegance in objects, furnishings, and door furniture.
Suitable for applications ranging from schools and retail outlets to computer rooms and X-ray suites, Palettone comes in two varieties and a choice of more than fifty colours.
Marylou Cafaro’s first trendjournal sparked a powerful, decades-long movement in joinery designs and finishes which eventually saw Australian design develop its independence and characteristic style. Now, polytec offers all-new insights into the future of Australian design.
The Naomi Milgrom Foundation has announced the commission for the third annual MPavilion has been awarded to acclaimed Indian architect Bijoy Jain of Studio Mumbai.
Nikita Notowidigdo reviews the recent exhibition After Images: Sketches by Australian architects in solidarity with Japan.
The internet never sleeps! Here's the stuff you might have missed
Welcome to the year of the Design Effect. This year’s theme aims to showcase the profound ripple effects that exceptional design can have on people, place and planet. Join in shaping this narrative by contributing your perspective before May 3, 2024, and become a part of the Design Effect movement.
Continuing our new series on the design enthusiasts who work in all sorts of different roles across the industry, we speak to Rogerseller’s Claire Drummond.