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.
Desalto SOFTER THAN STEEL Chair in Matt White By Nendo
By Nendo, Desalto
Located in Brooklyn, NY
The Softer Than Steel chair, made of steel tubing, is a modern interpretation of the traditional concept of a chair. Characterized by clean lines and minimal geometric shape, this ch...
Steel, Aluminum
Desalto SOFTER THAN STEEL Chair in Matt Black By Nendo
By Nendo, Desalto
Located in Brooklyn, NY
The Softer Than Steel chair, made of steel tubing, is a modern interpretation of the traditional concept of a chair. Characterized by clean lines and minimal geometric shape, this ch...
Aluminum, Steel
Desalto SOFTER THAN STEEL Chair in Matt Black By Nendo - Available now
By Nendo, Desalto
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Duplex Gran Salotto selection. The Softer Than Steel chair, made of steel tubing, is a modern interpretation of the traditional concept of a chair. Characterized by clean lines and ...
Aluminum, Steel
$22,880 / item
MELT CHAIR by Nendo for Wonderglass
By Nendo, WonderGlass
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
$1,624 / item
Gervasoni Kasane 19 Pouf by Nendo
By Nendo, Gervasoni
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
$650
H 34.2 in W 19.4 in D 24.2 in
In stock HER Chair Matt Finish RAL9016 White - Casamania By Fabio Novembre
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
“Him & Her are born directly from the ideas behind the Panton Chair. An evolution of the hermaphroditic original, declined into the harmony of the two sexes. They assume sculpted for...
Polystyrene
Desalto Black Koki Chair in STOCK
By Desalto
Located in New York, NY
Koki Pocci + Dondoli · 2015 MATERIAL: integral polyurethane The contract world enters the domestic space with the Koki range of chairs with a contemporary, fresh design. A perfect b...
Plastic
GRACE Urban dining chair, Available Now
Located in Frazão, Porto
GRACE URBAN Dining Chair: STOCK UNIT - Available for immediate delivery The sophisticated character of the GRACE Urban chair is given by the combination of the most distinct raw mat...
Stainless Steel
Chachacha Contemporary Sculptural Velvet Pouf by Houtique
By Houtique
Located in Geneve, CH
Chachacha Contemporary Sculptural Velvet Pouf by Houtique Dimensions: H 45 x D 35 cm Materials: Upholstery velvet 100% polyester with backing. 345 gr/m^2. 45000 Martindale cycles. TE...
Velvet
Set of 2 Kartell Lizz Matt Black Chair by Piero Lissoni
By Kartell, Piero Lissoni
Located in Brooklyn, NY
A light, essential and rigorous chair. Its square line is designed by Piero Lissoni, with a wide seat and a wide, low backrest. Created for use around tables, it was born in a range ...
Plastic
"Shiny Chair" in Stainless Steel by Supaform
By Supaform
Located in Florence, IT
Supaform has created this chair, made especially for the "Collectible" design fair in Brussels. The shiny chair is metal made but it gets a very poetic an...
Steel
Pompa Pouf by Houtique
By Houtique
Located in Geneve, CH
Pompa pouf by houtique Materials: Wood, Velvet Dimensions: H 45 x D 44 cm Pouf with wood structure and velvet fabric 4 modules connected by wooden sleepers...
Velvet, Wood
Slipper Chair by Edward Wormley for Dunbar
By Edward Wormley, Dunbar Furniture
Located in New York, NY
Slipper chair by Edward Wormley for Dunbar. USA, circa 1950. Signed with brass tag. Features tufted back with piping. Original f...
Upholstery, Mahogany
Chair 1 by Enzo Mari for Artek
By Artek, Enzo Mari
Located in Busnago, IT
Chair mod. Chair 1 by Enzo Mari for Artek (Finland), 2002. Created by Mari in 1974, Chair 1 is a manifesto of his approach to furniture design, focusing on self-production and do-it-...
Wood
PILLAR CHAIR - Modern Chair in Soft White Boucle
By Susan Hornbeak-Ortiz
Located in Laguna Niguel, CA
The Pillar Chair is a stunning piece of furniture with a unique and captivating design. It is characterized by layered, asymmetrical design elements that create a sense of sophistication and simplicity. The deliberate imbalance in these design elements comes together harmoniously to make a minimal yet elegant design statement. The displayed fabric for the Pillar Chair is a warm and inviting soft white boucle, but the beauty of this piece lies in its versatility. It can be tailored to your preferences by selecting any fabric from the manufacturer's collection or utilizing a fabric of your choice (COM, or Customer's Own Material). This customization option allows you to match the bed perfectly to your existing decor or personal style. It's important to note that all Shine by S.H.O designs are meticulously bench-made in California, a testament to the brand's commitment to quality craftsmanship and locally sourced manufacturing. This aspect not only ensures the bed's durability but also supports local artisans. In summary, the Pillar Chair is a visually captivating and unique piece of furniture with layered asymmetrical design elements. Its minimal and elegant design statement is made all the more special by its customization options, including fabric choice. Crafted in California, this bed is a testament to quality and can be customized to your exact specifications, making it an ideal choice for those seeking a unique and personalized addition to their bedroom. The Pillar Bed...
Fabric
$250Sale Price|87% Off
H 32.29 in W 18.71 in D 22.05 in
Desalto Strong Black Side Chair by Eugeni Quitllet in Stock
By Desalto
Located in New York, NY
upholstered in kvadrat messenger - nero cat. C Frame: A27 titanium 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...
Fabric, Textile
$3,994 / item
H 35.44 in W 24.41 in D 23.63 in
Lunar Chair in Black Fabric and Coated Steel, by Lara Bohinc
By Lara Bohinc
Located in Holland, AMSTERDAM
This is the first time that Bohinc explores a design favourite; the chair. In the collection, Lara Bohinc develops her stellar themes, finding inspiration in planetary and lunar orbits, whose gravitationally curved trajectories drive the lines and shapes of the chairs. Constructed from thin square rod, the chairs are elegant, minimal and delicate. The Lunar Chair...
Metal
Nendo Sekitei Outdoor Chair Set of Two
By Nendo, Cappellini
Located in Miami Beach, FL
Sekitei outdoor chair, set of two. Designed by Nendo for Cappellini Measures: 24" W x 23.5" D x 27.25" H. This chair is available in white. Designed by Nendo for Cappellini. T...
Stainless Steel