Some pieces of contemporary furniture try to command attention with statement-making forms, while others aim to seduce with pared-down, meticulously detailed perfection. Nendo is remarkable in its ability to blend these two seemingly disparate qualities in objects that are simultaneously provocative and beautiful in their simplicity. And this ability has made the Tokyo- and Milan-based studio one of the most sought-after design firms of the moment.
Nendo is best known for its expansive portfolio of furniture and accessories designed for such luxury makers as Baccarat, Bisazza, Boffi, Cappellini, De Padova, Emeco, FLOS, Foscarini, Fritz Hansen, Kartell, Lasvit, Louis Poulsen, Moroso and Swarovski, as well as for the one-off and limited-edition pieces presented by galleries like New York’s Friedman Benda. But its range is much broader.
Nendo’s full oeuvre runs the gamut from product packaging for such brands as Coca-Cola and Kenzo to large-scale urban-planning and architecture projects, including Tenri Station Plaza CoFuFun, which populated the space in front of a Japanese rail terminal with a series of conical pavilions, turning it into a sort of urban playground for people of all ages.
Whatever the undertaking, the studio’s approach remains the same: embodying lighthearted insights into the human experience in minimalist forms and details. Nendo’s Gaku collection, for the legendary lighting company FLOS, for instance, is based on a simple cup-shaped lamp in a square frame, which can be personalized and changed over time by adding magnetic accessories, including a bookend, mirror, vase and bowl, making it almost as playful as a grown-up dollhouse.
The now iconic Cabbage chair, Nendo’s most recognizable design, offers a whimsical way to deal with trash from the fashion industry. A fat roll of discarded paper used in the production of Issey Miyake’s pleated fabric is simply cut down the middle and its individual layers peeled open to create a seat.
It wasn’t always evident that chief designer and Nendo cofounder Oki Sato would spend his life finding subtle surprises in tables, floor lamps and chairs. He was born in Toronto, where his father worked for Pioneer Electronics, and moved with his family to Tokyo when he was 11. He studied architecture at Waseda University but found the program a little too narrow and rigid for his liking.
After graduating, in 2002, he traveled with friends to the Salone del Mobile in Milan and stumbled into the biggest aha moment of his life: He realized that architects could do more than design buildings — they could also design furniture, lighting and other objects. And the architects at the fair appeared to be enjoying plenty of creative freedom while doing so.
Upon returning to Tokyo, he founded Nendo, whose name means “flexible clay” in Japanese, with his classmate Akihiro Ito, the firm’s managing director. In 2005, they established a second office, in Milan. Within a few years, Nendo had become an omnipresent name at the fair that had inspired them.
Nendo’s wares have been acquired by such institutions as New York’s Museum of Modern Art and Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum; London’s Victoria and Albert; and Paris’s Musée des Arts Décoratifs and Centre Pompidou.
Find Nendo furniture on 1stDibs.
$1,357 / item
Desalto SOFTER THAN STEEL Large Side Table By Nendo
By Nendo, Desalto
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Ultralight carved tops of different shapes and complementary heights de ne the Softer Than Steel range. Almost a playful Nendo design, with an arrangement of interesting personal var...
Metal, Steel
Alias Okome 008 Set of Grey and Beige Upholstered Seats with Backrest by Nendo
By Nendo, Alias
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Alias Okome 008 Set of Grey and Beige Upholstered Seats with Backrest by Nendo Seat composition with seat and backrest with removable cover in eco-leather Serge Ferrari®, Alias®, Camira® or Kvadrat® fabric. Oki Sato, Chief Designer and Founder of nendo. Born in 1977 in Toronto, Canada. Received M. Arch. from Waseda University, Tokyo in 2002. Established design studio "nendo" in the same year. Chosen by Newsweek magazine as one of "The 100 Most Respected Japanese", he won many major awards include "Designer of the Year" by Wallpaper magazine and Elle Deco magazine and “Guest of Honor” from Stockholm Furniture Fair. Elected as “Designer of the Year” by Maison & Objet 2015. Additional Information: Material: Upholstery Upholstery finish...
Upholstery
$1,748 / item
Desalto STRONG Stool by Eugeni Quitllet
By Desalto, Nendo
Located in Brooklyn, NY
It’s the idea of using art to shape new ideas, taking the shortest road for the solution through a continuous form, nothing more, nothing less, strong is that thin wall which separat...
Aluminum, Steel
$2,860 / item
MELT Collection vases by Nendo for Wonderglass
By Nendo, WonderGlass
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Melt is inspired by the transfiguration inherent in glass – the evolution from its incipient supple form when superheated in the furnace. The gently curved sections are made from large slabs of cast glass which, while still pliant, are laid over curved moulds by expert glassmakers. This allows the glass to yield to gravity and ambient temperatures, slowly sinking and stretching into graceful parabolae. Melt Collection includes Melt Side Table Low, Melt Vase A, Melt Vase B, Melt Vase C, Melt Vase D and Melt Chandelier...
Glass
Alias 28A Large Okome Bed with Headboard Upholstered in White by Nendo
By Nendo, Alias
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Alias 28A Large Okome Bed with Headboard Upholstered in White by Nendo Bed with upholstered headbord and structure. Removable cover in eco leathe...
Upholstery
$52,910 / item
KOMORI Set 02 chandelier by Nendo for Wonderglass
By Nendo, WonderGlass
Located in Brooklyn, NY
A chandelier reminiscent of pendulous bat colonies decorating tree branches and cave ceilings, Komori’s hand-blown distributed glass shades enclose individual lights, casting their i...
Metal
$35,750 / item
KOMORI Set 01 chandelier by Nendo for Wonderglass
By Nendo, WonderGlass
Located in Brooklyn, NY
A chandelier reminiscent of pendulous bat colonies decorating tree branches and cave ceilings, Komori’s hand-blown distributed glass shades enclose individual lights, casting their i...
Metal
$5,378 / item
Desalto SOFTER THAN STEEL Medium Bench By Nendo
By Nendo, Desalto
Located in Brooklyn, NY
"A rigid metal sheet becomes light and flexible as if the metal were paper or fabric". Part of the surface lifts up and bends to create the chair's backrest. Each piece in this colle...
Metal, Steel
Alias Okome 006 Set of Beige Upholstered Seat with Backrest by Nendo
By Nendo, Alias
Located in Brooklyn, NY
"Alias Okome 006 Set of Beige Upholstered Seat with Backrest by Nendo Seat composition with seat and backrest with removable cover in eco-leather Serge Ferrari®, Alias®, Camira® or Kvadrat® fabric. Oki Sato, Chief Designer and Founder of nendo. Born in 1977 in Toronto, Canada. Received M. Arch. from Waseda University, Tokyo in 2002. Established design studio ""nendo"" in the same year. Chosen by Newsweek magazine as one of ""The 100 Most Respected Japanese"", he won many major awards include ""Designer of the Year"" by Wallpaper magazine and Elle Deco magazine and “Guest of Honor” from Stockholm Furniture Fair. Elected as “Designer of the Year” by Maison & Objet 2015. Additional Information: Material: Upholstery Upholstery finish...
Upholstery
Alias 28A Small Okome Bed with Headboard Upholstered in White by Nendo
By Nendo, Alias
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Alias 28A Small Okome Bed with Headboard Upholstered in White by Nendo Bed with upholstered headbord and structure. Removable cover in eco leathe...
Upholstery
Pinch Round Side service table in Cedar by Nendo for Cappellini
By Nendo, Cappellini
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Pinch is a collection of service tables which best expresses all the poetry and lightness of Japanese design studio Nendo, able to design extremely contemporary objects characterized by absolute simplicity. Available in different dimensions, the Pinch service tables feature a structure made of black matt painted metal tubes, while the trays are made of solid cedar wood, available in raw natural or black-stained finish, or can come with a textured finish in white, slate or wagon green colour. Small, light, and easy to move, the Pinch table...
Metal
Alias 10E Twig Comfort Chair in White Upholstery and Black Lacquered Steel Frame
By Alias, Nendo
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Alias 10E Twig Comfort Chair in White Upholstery and Black Lacquered Steel Frame by Nendo Chair with structure in lacquered steel; back in solid lacquered plastic material; seat i...
Steel
Alias 10E Twig Comfort Chair in Brown Upholstery and Black Lacquered Steel Frame
By Alias, Nendo
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Alias 10E Twig Comfort Chair in Brown Upholstery and Black Lacquered Steel Frame by Nendo Chair with structure in lacquered steel; back in solid lacquered plastic material; seat i...
Steel
Alias 28A Medium Okome Bed with Headboard Upholstered in White by Nendo
By Nendo, Alias
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Alias 28A Medium Okome Bed with Headboard Upholstered in White by Nendo Bed with upholstered headbord and structure. Removable cover in eco leath...
Upholstery
Alias 10C Twig 4 Chair in Ash Black Stained Seat with Black Lacquered Frame
By Alias, Nendo
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Alias 10C Twig 4 Chair in Ash Black Stained Seat with Black Lacquered Frame by Nendo Chair with backrest and seat in lacquered solid ash black (V140) coloured stains; legs in alu...
Aluminum
$1,624 / item
Gervasoni Kasane 19 Pouf by Nendo
By Gervasoni, Nendo
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Literally “overlapping”, Kasane is the latest collection designed by the Japanese studio, Nendo. Thanks to a play on the weaving and overlapping of different elements, each product becomes a sculpture. Inspired by the way in which the cups, stacked one on top of the other, become gradually taller, the collection of poufs and tables...
Foam
Alias Okome 004 Upholstered Seat with Backrest and Optional Table by Nendo
By Alias, Nendo
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Alias Okome 004 Upholstered Seat with Backrest and Optional Table by Nendo Seat composition with seat and backrest with removable cover in eco-leather S...
Upholstery
Alias 25E Okome Sofa Angular 1 Seater in Upholstery by Nendo
By Alias, Nendo
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Alias 25E Okome Sofa Angular 1 Seater in Upholstery by Nendo One-seater composition with removable cover, covered in eco leather Serge Ferrari®, Alias®, Camira® fabric or Kvadrat®...
Upholstery
$2,822 / item
Switch Table Lamp by Nendo for Oluce
By Oluce, Nendo
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Switch table lamp designed by Nendo for Oluce. The Japanese designer Nendo has become one of the most promising designers on the international scene. In this lamp, he revisits the ma...
Metal
Gervasoni Kasane 39 Table - design Nendo - Clay-finished structure - Pietra
By Gervasoni, Nendo
Located in Alcamo, IT
The Kasane 39 table by Gervasoni, designed by Nendo, is part of a collection that expresses a sculptural and minimalist language inspired by the concept of "Kasane," meaning layering...
Clay
Gervasoni Kasane 39 Table - design Nendo - Clay-finished structure - Giada
By Gervasoni, Nendo
Located in Alcamo, IT
The Kasane 39 table by Gervasoni, designed by Nendo, is part of a collection that expresses a sculptural and minimalist language inspired by the concept of "Kasane," meaning layering...
Clay
Gervasoni Kasane 39 Table - design Nendo - Clay-finished structure - Terracotta
By Gervasoni, Nendo
Located in Alcamo, IT
The Kasane 39 table by Gervasoni, designed by Nendo, is part of a collection that expresses a sculptural and minimalist language inspired by the concept of "Kasane," meaning layering...
Clay
Gervasoni Kasane 38 Table - design Nendo - Clay-finished structure - Stone
By Gervasoni, Nendo
Located in Alcamo, IT
The Kasane 38 table by Gervasoni, designed by Nendo, is part of a collection that expresses a sculptural and minimalist language inspired by the concept of "Kasane," meaning layering...
Clay
Gervasoni Kasane 38 Table - design Nendo - Clay-finished structure - Sabbia
By Gervasoni, Nendo
Located in Alcamo, IT
The Kasane 38 table by Gervasoni, designed by Nendo, is part of a collection that expresses a sculptural and minimalist language inspired by the concept of "Kasane," meaning layering...
Clay
Gervasoni Kasane 38 Table - design Nendo - Clay-finished structure - Giada
By Gervasoni, Nendo
Located in Alcamo, IT
The Kasane 38 table by Gervasoni, designed by Nendo, is part of a collection that expresses a sculptural and minimalist language inspired by the concept of "Kasane," meaning layering...
Clay
Gervasoni Kasane 38 Table - design Nendo - Clay-finished structure - Terracotta
By Gervasoni, Nendo
Located in Alcamo, IT
The Kasane 38 table by Gervasoni, designed by Nendo, is part of a collection that expresses a sculptural and minimalist language inspired by the concept of "Kasane," meaning layering...
Clay
Gervasoni Kasane 36 Table - design Nendo - Clay-finished structure - Stone
By Gervasoni, Nendo
Located in Alcamo, IT
The Kasane 36 table by Gervasoni, designed by Nendo, is part of a collection that expresses a sculptural and minimalist language inspired by the concept of "Kasane," meaning layering...
Clay
Gervasoni Kasane 36 Table - design Nendo - Clay-finished structure - Sabbia
By Gervasoni, Nendo
Located in Alcamo, IT
The Kasane 36 table by Gervasoni, designed by Nendo, is part of a collection that expresses a sculptural and minimalist language inspired by the concept of "Kasane," meaning layering...
Clay
Gervasoni Kasane 36 Table - design Nendo - Clay-finished structure - Terracotta
By Gervasoni, Nendo
Located in Alcamo, IT
The Kasane 36 table by Gervasoni, designed by Nendo, is part of a collection that expresses a sculptural and minimalist language inspired by the concept of "Kasane," meaning layering...
Clay
Gervasoni Kasane 35 Table - design Nendo - Clay-finished structure - Stone
By Gervasoni, Nendo
Located in Alcamo, IT
The Kasane 35 table by Gervasoni, designed by Nendo, is part of a collection that expresses a sculptural and minimalist language inspired by the concept of "Kasane," meaning layering...
Clay
Gervasoni Kasane 35 Table - design Nendo - Clay-finished structure - Sabbia
By Gervasoni, Nendo
Located in Alcamo, IT
The Kasane 35 table by Gervasoni, designed by Nendo, is part of a collection that expresses a sculptural and minimalist language inspired by the concept of "Kasane," meaning layering...
Clay
Gervasoni Kasane 35 Table - design Nendo - Clay-finished structure - Terracotta
By Gervasoni, Nendo
Located in Alcamo, IT
The Kasane 35 table by Gervasoni, designed by Nendo, is part of a collection that expresses a sculptural and minimalist language inspired by the concept of "Kasane," meaning layering...
Clay
Gervasoni Kasane 33 Table - design Nendo, clay-finished structure - Pietra
By Gervasoni, Nendo
Located in Alcamo, IT
The Kasane 33 table by Gervasoni, designed by Nendo, expresses a sculptural and minimalist aesthetic, defined by soft volumes and a strong material identity. Its elongated rectangula...
Clay, Plastic
Gervasoni Kasane 33 Table - design Nendo, clay-finished structure - Sabbia
By Gervasoni, Nendo
Located in Alcamo, IT
The Kasane 33 table by Gervasoni, designed by Nendo, expresses a sculptural and minimalist aesthetic, defined by soft volumes and a strong material identity. Its elongated rectangula...
Clay, Plastic
Gervasoni Kasane 33 Table - design Nendo, clay-finished structure - Giada
By Gervasoni, Nendo
Located in Alcamo, IT
The Kasane 33 table by Gervasoni, designed by Nendo, expresses a sculptural and minimalist aesthetic, defined by soft volumes and a strong material identity. Its elongated rectangula...
Clay, Plastic
Gervasoni Kasane 33 Table - design Nendo, clay-finished structure - Terracotta
By Gervasoni, Nendo
Located in Alcamo, IT
The Kasane 33 table by Gervasoni, designed by Nendo, expresses a sculptural and minimalist aesthetic, defined by soft volumes and a strong material identity. Its elongated rectangula...
Clay, Plastic
Gervasoni Kasane 31 Table - design Nendo, clay-finished structure - Pietra
By Gervasoni, Nendo
Located in Alcamo, IT
The Kasane 31 table by Gervasoni, designed by Nendo, expresses a sculptural and minimalist aesthetic, defined by soft volumes and a strong material identity. Its elongated oval shape...
Clay, Plastic
Gervasoni Kasane 31 Table - design Nendo, clay-finished structure - Sabbia
By Gervasoni, Nendo
Located in Alcamo, IT
The Kasane 31 table by Gervasoni, designed by Nendo, expresses a sculptural and minimalist aesthetic, defined by soft volumes and a strong material identity. Its elongated oval shape...
Clay, Plastic
Gervasoni Kasane 31 Table - design Nendo, clay-finished structure - Giada
By Gervasoni, Nendo
Located in Alcamo, IT
The Kasane 31 table by Gervasoni, designed by Nendo, expresses a sculptural and minimalist aesthetic, defined by soft volumes and a strong material identity. Its elongated oval shape...
Clay, Plastic
Gervasoni Kasane 31 Table - design Nendo, clay-finished structure - Terracotta
By Gervasoni, Nendo
Located in Alcamo, IT
The Kasane 31 table by Gervasoni, designed by Nendo, expresses a sculptural and minimalist aesthetic, defined by soft volumes and a strong material identity. Its elongated oval shape...
Clay, Plastic
Gervasoni Kasane 19 Pouf - design Nendo - Clay-finished surface - Stone
By Gervasoni, Nendo
Located in Alcamo, IT
The Kasane 19 pouf by Gervasoni, designed by Nendo, is defined by a minimalist and sculptural aesthetic, expressed through pure geometry and a refined material finish. Its cylindrica...
Clay, Plastic
Gervasoni Kasane 19 Pouf - design Nendo - Clay-finished surface - Giada
By Gervasoni, Nendo
Located in Alcamo, IT
The Kasane 19 pouf by Gervasoni, designed by Nendo, is defined by a minimalist and sculptural aesthetic, expressed through pure geometry and a refined material finish. Its cylindrica...
Clay, Plastic
Gervasoni Kasane 19 Pouf - design Nendo - Clay-finished surface - Terracotta
By Gervasoni, Nendo
Located in Alcamo, IT
The Kasane 19 pouf by Gervasoni, designed by Nendo, is defined by a minimalist and sculptural aesthetic, expressed through pure geometry and a refined material finish. Its cylindrica...
Clay, Plastic
$656Sale Price|50% Off
La Manufacture-Paris Trio Table Designed by Nendo in Stock
By Nendo
Located in New York, NY
At first sight, Trio is a side table that consists of three transparent bowls overlapping one another. The opening of each bowl is covered with either a glass, metal or wood top. The shape of the bowl is suggested by a single curved line — seemingly a spectacular feat of balance, yet the result is surprisingly stable, with each shape secured to the others in two different points. This single-leg structure supports several table tops, contrasting with more traditional table designs. TRIO by Nendo Coffee table...
Metal
Customizable La Manufacture-Paris Stack Sofa Designed by Nendo
By Nendo
Located in New York, NY
Stack is a cushion casually tossed on top of another cushion. Pouf with cushion — Structure black lacquered mdf Different models and sizes available Pouf with cushion Size: W2400...
Textile
Customizable La Manufacture-Paris Stack Sofa Designed by Nendo
By Nendo
Located in New York, NY
Stack is a cushion casually tossed on top of another cushion. Pouf with cushion — Structure black lacquered mdf Pouf with cushion Size: W1800XD2400XH740XSH420 W 70" 7/8 xD94" 1/2 ...
Textile
$3,021 / item
La Manufacture-Paris Trio Table Designed by Nendo
By Nendo
Located in New York, NY
At first sight, Trio is a side table that consists of three transparent bowls overlapping one another. The opening of each bowl is covered with either a glass, metal or wood top. Th...
Metal
$2,660 / item
La Manufacture-Paris Trio Table Designed by Nendo
By Nendo
Located in New York, NY
At first sight, Trio is a side table that consists of three transparent bowls overlapping one another. The opening of each bowl is covered with either a glass, metal or wood top. Th...
Metal
Glas Italia Deep Sea Open Bookcase - Blue glass - design Nendo
By Glas Italia, Nendo
Located in Alcamo, IT
Deep Sea by Glas Italia, designed by Nendo, is an open bookcase crafted from extralight laminated and thermally bonded glass. Part of the Deep Sea collection of low tables and bookca...
Glass
Glas Italia Layers Bookshelf 200 cm (78.7 in) design Nendo - Orange, red, brown
By Glas Italia, Nendo
Located in Alcamo, IT
Layers by Glas Italia, designed by Nendo, is a sophisticated bookshelf that combines transparency, color, and modular design in a dynamic display of contemporary craftsmanship. The ...
Glass
$1,273 / item
La Manufacture-Paris Trio Table Designed by Nendo
By Nendo
Located in New York, NY
At first sight, Trio is a side table that consists of three transparent bowls overlapping one another. The opening of each bowl is covered with either a glass, metal or wood top. Th...
Metal
Glas Italia Drift Low TV Cabinet in Extra-Clear Frosted Glass by Nendo
By Nendo, Glas Italia
Located in Alcamo, IT
The Drift low TV cabinet by Glas Italia, designed by Nendo, is a refined storage piece that blends minimalism with striking visual illusion. Part of the Drift collection, this cabin...
Glass, Wood
$4,286 / item
Desalto SOFTER THAN STEEL Small Bench By Nendo
By Desalto, Nendo
Located in Brooklyn, NY
"A rigid metal sheet becomes light and flexible as if the metal were paper or fabric". Part of the surface lifts up and bends to create the chair's backrest. Each piece in this colle...
Steel, Metal
$5,378 / item
Desalto SOFTER THAN STEEL Lounge Bench By Nendo
By Desalto, Nendo
Located in Brooklyn, NY
"A rigid metal sheet becomes light and flexible as if the metal were paper or fabric". Part of the surface lifts up and bends to create the chair's backrest. Each piece in this colle...
Metal, Steel
$22,880 / item
MELT CHAIR by Nendo for Wonderglass
By WonderGlass, Nendo
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Melt is a collaboration with Japanese design studio, nendo, inspired by the flexibility of molten glass and the force of gravity. The creation of Melt was a unique and complex production. After watching the craftsmen working in WonderGlass’s workshops, Oki Sato from nendo intended to let the material guide the design process. As a result, a method of laying hot glass sheets over steel shapes and suspending them between steel bars was developed, allowing the material’s natural drape to reveal its form. Melt Edition includes Melt Armchair, Melt Bench, Melt Stool, Melt Chair...
Glass
$10,725 / item
KOMORI R10 chandelier by Nendo for Wonderglass
By WonderGlass, Nendo
Located in Brooklyn, NY
A chandelier reminiscent of pendulous bat colonies decorating tree branches and cave ceilings, Komori’s hand-blown distributed glass shades enclose individual lights, casting their i...
Metal
$16,445 / item
KOMORI R14 chandelier by Nendo for Wonderglass
By WonderGlass, Nendo
Located in Brooklyn, NY
A chandelier reminiscent of pendulous bat colonies decorating tree branches and cave ceilings, Komori’s hand-blown distributed glass shades enclose individual lights, casting their i...
Metal
$5,005 / item
KOMORI R3 chandelier by Nendo for Wonderglass
By WonderGlass, Nendo
Located in Brooklyn, NY
A chandelier reminiscent of pendulous bat colonies decorating tree branches and cave ceilings, Komori’s hand-blown distributed glass shades enclose individual lights, casting their i...
Metal
$14,394 / item
Alias 25F Okome Sofa Ending 90 in Upholstery by Nendo
By Alias, Nendo
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Alias 25F Okome Sofa Ending 90 in Upholstery by Nendo Chaise longue composition with removable cover, covered in eco leather Serge Ferrari®, Alias®, Camira® fabric or Kvadrat® fa...
Upholstery
Alias 25G Okome Sofa Pouf in Grey Upholstery by Nendo
By Alias, Nendo
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Alias 25G Okome Sofa Pouf in Grey Upholstery by Nendo Pouf with removable cover, covered in eco leather Serge Ferrari®, Alias®, Camira® fabric or Kvadrat® fabric or Pelle Frau® le...
Upholstery