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.
Slide Table (Short) by Nendo
By Nendo
Located in Doral, FL
Slide Table (Tall) by Nendo for Glas Italia 2015 / 2016 Bonded black glass with white interior, extra-clear glass top with hollow body
Glass
$1,078 / item
Pinch Small Side Table 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
Pinch Small Side 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
Pinch 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
$2,255 / item
Pinch Medium Side Table 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
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
Thin Black Table in iron Structure by Nendo for Cappellini
By Nendo, Cappellini
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Delicate and striking: for the Thin Black Table, Nendo designed a low geometric structure – created from the L-shaped intersection of two off-axis cubes – that supports an ultralight...
Iron
Slide Table (Tall) by Nendo
By Nendo
Located in Doral, FL
Slide Table (Tall) by Nendo for Glas Italia 2015 / 2016 Bonded black glass with white interior, extra-clear glass top with hollow body
Glass
$640Sale Price / item|20% Off
Desalto SOFTER THAN STEEL 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...
Steel, Metal
$733Sale Price / item|20% Off
Desalto SOFTER THAN STEEL Medium 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
$1,085Sale Price / item|20% Off
Desalto SOFTER THAN STEEL Large Side Table By Nendo
By Desalto, Nendo
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
Pins Medium Side Table
By Marioni
Located in Milan, IT
Colorful and sophisticated, this side table will make an elegant statement in a contemporary living room, where it can be displayed alone or combined with others in the same Pins col...
Brass
Bertu Wood Side Tables, SOL Wood Side Table, Red Cedar
By Bertu Furniture
Located in Oak Harbor, OH
Why buy BERTU HOME stumps? Kiln Dried Our stumps all go through a drying process in our kiln, sometimes for up to a month. We are meticulous with bringing each and every log to a specific moisture level. This process helps with major cracking, long-term moisture issues, and bugs. Eco Friendly In an effort to replenish the trees we use, we plant 50+ trees a year. In addition, we practice salvage logging. Where do we source these? Some of the trees fall naturally. Some have damage from severe wind, lightning, flood, disease, or other natural disturbance so they need to be cut and removed before they fall. Others are fresh cut because people want them off their land. Salvage logging may reduce erosion, reduce intensity of future wildfires, and slow buildup of pest insects. Family owned These are made from our family to yours. Quality is of utmost importance, and we hand cut, de-bark, sand, and finish every piece with care.See how we do it here. Commercial grade These stumps are meant to be loved and USED. Each is finished with a durable commercial-grade finish. This finish is tough enough for spills, kids, and holds up in hotel and hospitality settings. This Sculpted Stump Table...
Cedar
Stool/Side Table in Carbon Dyed Cedar by Hinterland Design
By Hinterland Design
Located in Vancouver, BC
Cast-off cedar logs are given second life as a crystalline form. Named Little Gem, the natural beauty of reclaimed wood is harnessed in this side table and sculpture piece where nature informs design. Each Little Gem is hand-shaped and faceted based on the different characteristics of the log used, and variations in wood grain. Top surface and finish further ensure that no two are alike. Left to weather outdoors, this piece will acquire a natural silver finish. Stool is sold as an individual piece. Shown in main image is carbon dyed Western red cedar...
Cedar
Bertu Side Table, Modern Side Table, the Willow, Red Cedar
By Bertu Furniture
Located in Oak Harbor, OH
Bertu Side Table, Modern Side Table, the Willow, Red Cedar Please scroll down to read important instructions about our stumps before purchase! Why buy bertu home stumps? Kiln Dried Our stumps all go through a drying process in our kiln, sometimes for up to a month. We are meticulous with bringing each and every log to a specific moisture level. This process helps with major cracking, long-term moisture issues, and bugs. Eco friendly In an effort to replenish the trees we use, we plant 50+ trees a year. In addition, we practice salvage logging. Where do we source these? Some of the trees fall naturally. Some have damage from severe wind, lightning, flood, disease, or other natural disturbance so they need to be cut and removed before they fall. Others are fresh cut because people want them off their land. Salvage logging may reduce erosion, reduce intensity of future wildfires, and slow buildup of pest insects. Family owned These are made from our family to yours. Quality is of utmost importance, and we hand cut, de-bark, sand, and finish every piece with care.See how we do it here. Commercial grade These stumps are meant to be loved and USED. Each is finished with a durable commercial-grade finish. This finish is tough enough for spills, kids, and holds up in hotel and hospitality settings. This Organic Modern Side Table - The Willow is hand sculpted in the heart of Ohio out of a solid truck of local red cedar. The side table can be used for a nightstand, a stool, or grouped together for an architectural larger table. They are great next to a chair, sofa, or bathtub. Each stump is made from a solid trunk of red cedar and is hand sawed...
Cedar
Ceramic Side Table Small
By Project 213A
Located in Macieira de Sarnes, PT
Designed by Project 213A in 2023 Hand-sculpted ceramic side table with an organic shape made in Project 213A's in-house ceramic workshop. Finished in a contemporary glaze. Each piec...
Ceramic, Clay
Stool/Side Table in Whitewashed Cedar by Hinterland Design
By Hinterland Design
Located in Vancouver, BC
Cast-off cedar logs are given second life as a crystalline form. Named Little Gem, the natural beauty of reclaimed wood is harnessed in this side table and sculpture piece where nature informs design. Each Little Gem is hand-shaped and faceted based on the different characteristics of the log used, and variations in wood grain. Top surface and finish further ensure that no two are alike. Left to weather outdoors, this piece will acquire a natural silver finish. Stool is sold as an individual piece. There are many options for customization with the Little Gems. Shown in main image is whitewashed Western yellow cedar...
Cedar
Bertu Side Table, Small Side Table, the Sprout, Red Cedar
By Bertu Furniture
Located in Oak Harbor, OH
Bertu Side Table, Small Side Table, the Sprout, Red Cedar Please scroll down to read important instructions about our stumps before purchase! Why buy BERTU HOME stumps? KILN DRIED...
Cedar
Small Side Table by Borsani, Italy
By Osvaldo Borsani
Located in Brussels, BE
Small Side Table by Borsani, Italy
Wood
Small Ceramic Side Table
By Project 213A
Located in Macieira de Sarnes, PT
SMALL CERAMIC SIDE TABLE, designed in 2023. Hand-sculpted ceramic side table with an organic shape made in Project 213A's in-house ceramic workshop. Finished in a contemporary custo...
Ceramic, Clay
Bertu Side Table, Modern Side Table, the Willow, Red Cedar
By Bertu Furniture
Located in Oak Harbor, OH
Bertu side table, modern side table, The Willow, Red Cedar. Please scroll down to read important instructions about our stumps before purchase! Why buy BERTU HOME stumps? Kiln Dried...
Cedar
Round Side Tables in Minimalist Design for Outdoor Use
By SIMONINI
Located in Vila Cordeiro, São Paulo
These nesting side tables, made ins olid wood and metal are designed for outdoor use. The round side table, minimalist design for outdoors is a side table that combines thin solid wo...
Metal
Pair of Tall ORG tables by Fabio Novembre for Cappellini
By Fabio Novembre, Cappellini
Located in Atlanta, GA
A pair of tall red ORG table designed by Fabio Novembre (Italian, born 1967) in 2001 for Cappellini. Made of glass top supported by polypropylene rope-covere...
Steel