Oki Sato is the founder and driving force behind Nendo, the design studio with offices in Tokyo and Milan that has managed to reinvent traditional Japanese style.Born in Canada in 1977, Sato trained as an architect before making the decision to specialise in industrial design around 2002. His expertise spans from furnishing design to architecture. Aesthetically, Sato’s work with Fritz Hansen represents a mergence of his recognizable minimalist style with Scandinavian design. When he’s 70 we’ll need a whole plaza to display everything he’s done.”. Meaning “modelling clay” in Japanese, the name of the company expresses its flexible and reinventive design philosophy. He uses sushi in another analogy, revealing the thought process behind his designs. A plaza filled with a collection of stimulating, yet serene designs of one of Japan’s most prolific design firms today is something worth sticking around for. The company has also been thinking on a much larger scale, designing a house sliced in two by a giant staircase, and even a ship. The Designer | Oki Sato Oki Sato can’t help but design. It was also a play on the Japanese pronunciation of “thinking”. Rewinding to the beginning, Oki Sato was born in Toronto in 1977, but has lived in Tokyo for most of his life. Small differences hidden within the normal routine. He is a firm believer in the importance of the everyday details that affect day-to-day tasks and life in general. How did you get the idea of this collection? The focus is on thin, clean lines that converge to make a playful and friendly whole. The round solid wood rods appears to be split in half to form the armrests and legs. Rather than artificially creating a new design, we modified the scale of an existing natural form, providing a new way of looking at the world. Our paths crossed in 2012. Nendo is a Japanese design firm founded in 2002 by Sato Oki, that works on design projects globally.The first office was situated in Tokyo. This desire is found in the uncluttered and characteristic shapes of his designs, to which he always adds a touch of humour and conviviality. 46870 Ontinyent. Thankfully, Tokyo- and Milan-based design studio Nendo – headed up by Canadian-born Oki Sato – has made life easy for us, with a perfectly timed and pleasingly designed new stationery collection. In his own words: “An object has to be functional, but has to be fun, because the word fun is inside of function” . The mind behind it all is youthful and devoted; he speaks in simple yet witty terms, but ultimately lets his designs speak for him. He said that the difference between art and design is that with art you can make people sad but in the end design has to make people happy.” Oki Sato explains that though his designs are undoubtedly minimalist, they are not austere. And even when we do recognize them, we tend to unconsciously reset our minds and forget what we’ve seen. Despite being surrounded by the spirit of iconic Japanese designers, Sato tries to break away from boundaries and associations by rethinking convention. It’s a workload that seems like a … The architect and designer Oki Sato named his studio after the Japanese word for modelling clay. But we believe these small moments are what make our days so interesting, so rich. 2002年に佐藤オオキを中心に設立されたデザインオフィス。東京とミラノに拠点を持ち、建築、インテリア、プロダクト、グラフィックと幅広くデザインを手掛ける。06年Newsweek誌「世界が尊敬する日本人100人」に選出され、12年にはWall In 2002, he obtained his Master’s degree from Waseda University, a prestigious Tokyo educational institution. This year alone Nendo has been hard at work on branding for multiple companies and a flat-packed handbag made from a single sheet of leather. That’s Nendo’s job. Oki Sato's design philosophy revolves around evoking human feelings by using nostalgia, humor, surprise and even irony in his creations. It is all about giving people a “small moment”. While European designers tend to pack a punch, “Japanese designers, they do more like judo. C/ Músico Vert, 4 Oki Sato is the Chief designer and founder of Nendo designer studio. Fashion designer Issey Miyake asked Nendo to create a chair out of the pleated paper discarded from the last collection. The intention was to design a rug with the pattern of magnified butterfly and dragonfly wings. – Oki Sato In 2002 Canadian-born Oki Sato traveled to the Salone del Mobile in Milan with five fellow architecture graduates from Wasaeda University, Tokyo. Dan Howarth | 28 April 2015 | … The opponent pushes them and they use that energy to throw them away. We use proprietary and third party cookies to enhance your visit experience. Could you illustrate your design philosophy? Design has to be friendly; it’s another thing Issey Miyake taught me. The philosophy of Oki Sato is reflected in his designs, thanks to which he transforms the interactions of people with the objects surrounding them by creating a parenthesis in their life. So, how does he do it? For example, the Ribbon Stool was fashioned after a ballerina shoe, rethinking the conventional straight line approach to designing stools, while the Island Table was made to look like a collection of archipelagos. Their first project was a chair, which turned out to be the first to be entirely constructed of wood since Arne Jacobsen’s Grand Prix Chair. Oki Sato, the soul of Nendo, tells the story of Dragonfly. His work finds inspiration in the simplicity and quirks of everyday life, which is what drives his minimalism. The founder of Nendo, a Tokyo-based design company, is juggling 300 projects, but the number usually hovers around 400. That’s why we want to reconstitute the everyday by collecting and reshaping them into something that’s easy to understand. A clue that his designs are created in a very playful way. This leaves little time in the day for anything else – the powerhouse designer self-professedly eats, sleeps and breathes design. Since opening his Tokyo office in 2002 and a base in Milan in 2005, Sato’s career has been on a constant upwards trajectory, with an international clientele extending beyond the two pivotal cities he chose for his practice. Gandía Blasco SA He challenges the typical Western outlook on rigid Japanese minimalism by injecting a dose of humor and surprise into his designs. DOWNLOAD SPEC SHEET The design concept of SPLINTER series is "split wood". I am like a spinning top in constant motion, like a fish that would die if it didn’t keep swimming. Where does your inspiration come from? His cheerful take on minimalism puts the fun into function, changing the way we view design in the twenty-first century. Assembled from 23 pieces of hand-crafted solid wood and veneer, the design is seamless and iconic. Spain Emphatically against dwelling too much on one design, Sato feels most comfortable when working on a multitude of projects for several clients at once. “I guess I’m interested more in light and shadows than color,” he says. Japanese designer Oki Sato went from architecture graduate at a top Tokyo university, to founding his design studio Nendo and being included in “the Top 100 Small Japanese Companies” in just five years. The “music-link” conceptual design. There are so many small moments hidden in our everyday. Oki Sato, founder of Japanese design powerhouse Nendo, has garnered a reputation for playful, inventive design, and says minimalism can often be "cold." See more ideas about boconcept, design, everyday objects. Oki Sato explains that though his designs are undoubtedly minimalist, they are not austere. At one point, Miyake declared it finished. They all become small starting points for all my projects. Founder Oki Sato told Dezeen that he has "no idea" how they managed such a high output and revealed his plans to move into architecture (+ interview). Oct 21, 2014 - Meet the talented designers behind BoConcept's modern furniture and read the stories of iconic design chairs, stylish sofas and flexible wall systems. Through 70 objects on display across six thematic rooms, it investigates the unexplored areas of different typologies the studio investigated as part of their inquisitive design process. Born in 1977 in Toronto, Canada, he trained first as an architect and went on to found Nendo, a design studio with headquarters in Tokyo and Milan.Sato is best known for his reinvention of … Nendo’s solution was purely experimental, unraveling naturally as they peeled away the layers of a roll of paper. 1977 Born in Toronto, Canada 2002 M.A. Oki Sato is one of the most innovative and prolific designers on the international scene. Oki Sato reinterprets familiar objects in his relaxed style and positions them in an unexpected context.The same is true for the AXOR LampShower, developed by the Nendo design studio with AXOR.It combines water and light in an unusual way. info@gan-rugs.com Featured image: Manga Chairs at Milan Design Week by designmilk is licensed under CC BY 2.0 / cropped from original. This is a upholstered shell version of the award winning SPLINTER Dining Chair (Good Design Award 2014). Oki Sato, founder of Japanese design firm nendo, is on a creative roll Japanese creative agency nendo is winning fans worldwide with its simple design philosophy Kylie Knott One of his earliest projects, “Sinking about Furniture” was featured in 2003 by design fairs and magazines. There should be humor and an element of surprise. “It’s strange to say ‘a retrospective’ for a guy who’s not even 40. in Architecture, Waseda University, Toky Established "nendo" Tokyo office 2005 Established "nendo" Milan office 2006 Lecturer for Showa Women's University, Tokyo "The 100 Most Respected Japanese" (Newsweek magazine) 2007 "The Top 100 Small Japanese Companies" (Newsweek magazine) 2008 Published "nendo" (daab) 2009 Lecturer for Kuwasawa Design … In 2019, Nendo designed another chair for the brand, this time focusing on sustainability by using recycled plastic with the intention of being recycled again. “Fresh, you just cut the raw fish and then you serve”, he explains. And are easy to understand. Oki Sato – Nendo is the head of Nendo, a design studio based in Tokyo. Oki Sato - founder of nendo design studio - expresses his design philosophy not only with the N01™ chair but through graphics, art installations and architecture. In short, Oki Ssa is the fresh and inspiring element of surprise in design taking the world by storm. The same year, a visit to Milan’s Salone del Mobile showed him how open and interdisciplinary design could be. If you agree click "Accept" and if you do not agree you can disable all cookies from your browser, although we do not ensure a perfect functioning of it. They know how to absorb that energy and change it into design.” The language with which Oki Sato speaks about design is simple, light-hearted, and imbued with references to everyday life. We bring you 10 of our favorite designs by Canadian-born Japanese designer and interior architect Oki Sato and his design studio, Nendo, which currently has … It becomes clear that Nendo is very much the embodiment of the thoughts and personality of its chief designer. However, for Nendo it has never been about the fame and fortune of mass production. The experience marked the origins of his design approach. Commenting on the partnership, nendo CEO and chief designer, Oki Sato, said：“I was impressed by OPPO’s philosophy, which goes beyond leveraging the latest technology and pursues a comfortable relationship between people and their products through a human-centric approach to design. Sato’s designs are also characterized by the absence of color, often employing only black and white with a hint of iridescence here and there. Studio nendo, founded by Oki Sato in Tokyo, is the first design studio to be given carte blanche to make an installation in the atrium of Le Bon Marché. Valencia. After six years of studying architecture, the eye-opening experience inspired Oki to establish his own studio for design – Nendo. On more than one occasion in the past few years, Oki Sato has joined forces with Fritz Hansen. As soon as Oki Sato started designing, it was clear that his work included the element of fun. I always add a pinch of humor and friendliness to my designs.". Sep 24, 2015 - "My philosophy is to transform people’s interaction with everyday objects by creating small moments in everyday life. Sato was born in Toronto, Canada in 1977 but raised in Tokyo, where he did an MA in architecture at Waseda University. O ki Sato is having a slow month. The designer blurs the boundaries between the bathroom and other living areas. But we don’t recognize them. In 2005, the second office was established in Milan. Awarded with the Designer of the Year by British magazine Wallpaper, Oki Sato’s creations can be seen in the most prestigious museums like: Museum of Modern Art in New York (MOMA), Victoria & Albert Museum in London, Centre Pompidou in Paris or the Israel Museum in Jerusalem. Throughout the years, Nendo has worked with seminal names in design, from Moroso and Flos, to fashion mogul Louis Vuitton. With no signs of stopping, Nendo continues to satisfy the design-savvy consumer with visually subtle, yet intriguing objects. After graduating as architects from Waseda University in Tokyo, the pair attended the Milano Salone and were surprised by the freedom that other designers enjoyed. He spends the majority of his time in his studio, located in a Kenzo Tange-designed building in Akasaka, with an Isamu Noguchi-designed garden, and a Nendo-designed ground floor café. We talked to Oki Sato, founder of nendo, and asked him to be our guide in this small world of big ideas, crammed with fleeting moments on their way to eternity. Oki Sato’s Contribution to The Funny Side of Japanese Design. Sato is best known for his reinvention of traditional Japanese minimalism. The philosophy of Oki Sato is reflected in his designs, thanks to which he transforms the interactions of people with the objects surrounding them by creating a parenthesis in their life. On show until 16 February 2020, it follows on from previous installations by the artists Ai Weiwei, Chiharu Shiota, Leandro Erlich and Joana Vasconcelos.Nendo’s proposal, The company works with numerous brands and have won multiple … Founder Oki Sato told Dezeen that he has "no idea" how they managed such a high output and revealed his plans to move into architecture (+ interview). ‘I was impressed by OPPO’s philosophy, ... technology and pursues a comfortable relationship between people and their products through a human-centric approach to design,’ comments oki sato… Another five years later, his infectious designs and personality had gained international traction and had him on multiple “Designer of the Year” lists. Oki Sato: I come up with my ideas from everyday life. In 2016, in partnership with Design Museum Holon in Israel, Nendo held their very first large-scale retrospective exhibition titled “The Space in Between”. We’d like the people who’ve encountered Nendo’s designs to feel these in Architecture at Waseda University. He was born in Toronto, Canada and later moved to Tokyo, where he took a M.A. Maria Cristina Didero, the exhibition curator, makes a point of this prolific achievement. This was the defining idea that Sato and his high school friend and now business partner Akihiro Ito molded into a business strategy and design philosophy. “Good design is when I can explain my ideas to my grandmother or to a young child.”. T. +34 96 291 13 20 Sato’s intention was to find a different use for items that may have lost their original function. He shows that understated doesn’t mean overlooked – a perfect example of how hard work and optimism can sometimes outshine the loud cacophony of the competition. Basing their creative process on observations from everyday life, numerous projects were brought to life. We chatted on how to be a perfect minimalist, how to keep authenticity when running a big firm and his next step: architecture. Oki Sato is one of the most innovative and prolific designers on the international scene. However, Sato does highlight some important differences between European and Japanese design. The focus is on thin, clean lines that converge to make a playful and friendly whole. In the field of design, his name is gaining momentum rapidly, and Oki Sato has received numerous international awards. He also welcomes collaborations with a wide range of companies, using the malleability of Nendo to produce culturally fluid designs. “Emotion is important in design; it can become cold if it’s too minimal. If I focus on only one or two projects, I can only think about one or two projects. Both Tokyo and Milan are cultural feeding grounds for budding young design studios. In his own words: “An object has to be functional, but has to be fun, because the word fun is inside of function”. More. Oki Sato founded the design studio nendo in Tokyo in 2002, opening a branch in Milan three years later. Born in 1977 in Toronto, Canada, he trained first as an architect and went on to found Nendo, a design studio with headquarters in Tokyo and Milan. This desire is found in the uncluttered and characteristic shapes of his designs, to which … When did your collaboration with GAN begin? When I start thinking about working on 400 projects, it relaxes me. www.gan-rugs.com. A particularly important project for him was the Cabbage Chair, designed in 2008. Oki Sato – founder of Japanese brand Nendo – landed at the Milan Design Week with an immersive installation for Daikin within the spaces of Tenoha, a corner of Japan in via Vigevano 18. Sato’s philosophy is to re-imagine quotidian objects and needs in a way that provides what he epigrammatically calls a small ‘!’ moment. He has always believed in creating artificial light that complements natural light and his products are a true reflection of his thought process. The design studio has worked with Cappellini since the beginning of their journey. His mastery at telling complex stories using simple and elegant forms can be seen in the Dragonfly rug collection, his first collaboration with GAN, which he explains in this interview. Oki Sato, the man behind the popular design brand, lived in Canada until he was 10 years old. One of his earliest projects, “Sinking about Furniture”, was quite literally furniture sinking into the floor. Fast-forward to today, the spectacular mind behind one of the top design firms in the world remains as prolific as ever, working on as many as 400 projects at a time. 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Flos, to fashion mogul Louis Vuitton +34 96 291 13 20 info @ gan-rugs.com www.gan-rugs.com s too minimal the. Numerous international awards with the pattern of magnified butterfly and dragonfly wings and magazines, was literally... Is one of his earliest projects, it was clear that Nendo is very much the embodiment the!