04 June 2012

5 Minutes With… nendo

We have a quick chat with Oki Sato of nendo on work, dream projects, inspiration and more.

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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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transparent & mosaic maison for Bisazza

Dream project – real or imaginary.

The most recent projects have been always the most meaningful projects for us.

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Zabuton by nendo for Moroso

Favourite chair.

Zabuton.

Number 1 concern for the design industry.

Not sure. I am not conscious of it much.

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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.

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