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, Sato 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, Sato 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 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 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 Oki Sato lighting, including lamps he designed for Louis Poulsen, on 1stDibs.
Oki Sato NJP White Large Wall Light for Louis Poulsen
By Nendo, Oki Sato, Louis Poulsen
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Oki Sato NJP White Large Wall Light for Louis Poulsen Designed by Oki Sato from Japan's Nendo design studio. Provides direct light perfect for modern living rooms, bedrooms, and hom...
Aluminum
2020s Oki Sat of Nendo + Emeco SU Bar Stool in Oak 7x Available
By Oki Sato, Nendo
Located in Philadelphia, PA
This is a SU Bar Stool, designed by Oki Sat of Nendo for Emeco in 2014. These examples date to the 2020s, and the listed price includes one stool. We have several SU stools in this c...
Aluminum
Nendo 'Tomoshi' Dark Brown Portable Lantern by Oki Sato for Louis Poulsen
By Nendo, Oki Sato, Louis Poulsen
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Nendo 'Tomoshi' Dark Brown Portable Lantern by Oki Sato for Louis Poulsen Designed by the acclaimed Nendo Studio in Japan, the 'Tomoshi' (Japanese for "light") is a new offering in ...
Leather, Plastic
Oki Sato NJP Black Large Wall Light for Louis Poulsen
By Nendo, Oki Sato, Louis Poulsen
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Oki Sato NJP Black Large Wall Light for Louis Poulsen Designed by Oki Sato from Japan's Nendo design studio. Provides direct light perfect for modern living rooms, bedrooms, and hom...
Aluminum
Oki Sato NJP Grey Large Wall Light for Louis Poulsen
By Nendo, Oki Sato, Louis Poulsen
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Oki Sato NJP Grey Large Wall Light for Louis Poulsen Designed by Oki Sato from Japan's Nendo design studio. Provides direct light perfect for modern living rooms, bedrooms, and home...
Aluminum
2020s Set of Four Nendo for Emeco Su Bar Stools with Reclaimed Oak Seats
By Oki Sato
Located in Philadelphia, PA
This is a set of four of SU Bar Stools, initially designed by Nendo for Emeco in 2014. These examples were produced in the United States in the 2020s, and the listed price includes t...
Aluminum
$1,143 / item
Louis Poulsen, NJP Floor Lamp by Oki Sato
By Louis Poulsen, Oki Sato
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Louis Poulsen, NJP floor lamp by Oki Sato Size: Width x height x length (mm) 260 x 1250 x 560, 7.2 kg Material: Foot and base: Steel. Arms and lamp head: Aluminum. LED: Anodised a...
Metal
Nendo 'Tomoshi' White Portable Lantern by Oki Sato for Louis Poulsen
By Nendo, Oki Sato, Louis Poulsen
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Nendo 'Tomoshi' White Portable Lantern by Oki Sato for Louis Poulsen Designed by the acclaimed Nendo Studio in Japan, the 'Tomoshi' (Japanese for "light") is a new offering in Louis...
Leather, Plastic
$914 / item
Louis Poulsen, NJP Table Lamp by Oki Sato
By Oki Sato, Louis Poulsen
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Louis Poulsen, NJP table lamp by Oki Sato Size: Width x height x length (mm) 220 x 480 x 480, 5.1 kg Material: Foot and base: Steel. Arms and lamp head: Aluminum. LED: Anodised alumi...
Metal
2018 Oki Sato and Nendo of Japan Watercolour 02 table Edition of 3
By Oki Sato
Located in Philadelphia, PA
This is an important Watercolour 02 multi-tiered table, initially designed by Oki Sato for Nendo in 2018. Only three of these very limited edition tables exist. The Watercolour 02 c...
Steel
2020s Oki Sat of Nendo for Emeco SU Bar Stools in Flint 5x Available
By Oki Sato, Nendo
Located in Philadelphia, PA
This is a SU Bar Stool, designed by Oki Sat of Nendo for Emeco in 2014. This example is in the Flint Gray colorway, and the price includes one bar stool. We have several SU stools in...
Aluminum
NJP Table Lamp or Desk Lamp White
By Oki Sato, Louis Poulsen
Located in Courbevoie, FR
The lamp was designed by Nendo design studio of Japan and designer Oki Sato. NJP Table is a new interpretation of the classic architect lamp. Its simple and honest look bares the lam...
Aluminum, Steel
Wood Soaped Oak Bar Stool with Natural Tanned Leather Seat
By Mater
Located in Chicago, IL
The Mater High stool is designed by the Danish architect duo Space Copenhagen and is regarded as a New Danish Classic. With its organic yet Minimalist...
Leather, Oak
Bertu Bar Stool, Cicely Modern White Oak Bar Stool
By Bertu Furniture
Located in Oak Harbor, OH
Bertu Bar Stool, Cicely Modern White Oak Bar Stool This Modern White Oak Bar Stool - The Cicely is beautifully constructed from solid wood in Ohio...
Wood, Oak
18th Century Brass Barn Portable Lantern Candlelight
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
Early Danish 18th Century Brass Barn Portable Lantern.
Brass
$4,544 / set
H 43.31 in W 13.78 in D 15.75 in
Set of Three Sculptural solid Oak Bar Stools with Merino Wool seats France 1960s
By Henning Kjærnulf, Guillerme et Chambron, Pierre Chapo, Rudolf Steiner
Located in Den Haag, NL
Set of Three Sculptural solid Oak bar stools with Merino Wool seats france 1960’s
Wool, Oak
Louis XV Bronze Hall Lanterns
Located in Pasadena, CA
This is a classic "near pair" of Louis XV-style hall lanterns. These bronze lanterns are both in very good condition. They differ slightly in that one of the lanterns is in gilt bron...
Bronze
$2,515
H 23.63 in W 27.56 in D 5.91 in
Wall lamps by O. Bank Larsen & Kjeld Iversen for Louis Poulsen, Denmark, 1950s
By O. Bank Larsen Møbelfabrik 1, Louis Poulsen
Located in Hägersten, SE
Wall lamps designed by O. Bank Larsen and Kjeld Iversen. Produced in Denmark by Louis Poulsen during the 1950s. Made from solid oak with opal glass shades with brass top. The chord o...
Brass
$3,750 / set
H 25.99 in Dm 13.39 in
Piet Hein for Fritz Hansen Set of Three Metal Bar Stools with Red Seats
By Piet Hein, Fritz Hansen
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Piet Hein for Fritz Hansen, set of three bar stools, metal, red fabric upholstery, Denmark, 1970s Set of three bar stools designed by Piet Hein for Fritz Hansen. These stools hold ...
Metal
Louis Poulsen, Wall Lights, Metal, Denmark, 1950s
By Louis Poulsen
Located in High Point, NC
A pair of white-lacquered metal wall lights produced by Louis Poulsen, Denmark, c. 1950s. Overall Dimensions (Inches): 7.5” H x 6” W x 16.5“ D Back Plate Dimensions (Inches): 3.125...
Metal
$1,530 / set
H 42 in W 19 in D 17 in
1970s Set of 3 Danish Modern Style Oak Bar Stools With Rush Seats Mid-Century
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Beautiful vintage set of three Danish Modern style bar stools, circa 1970s, crafted with solid wood frames and handwoven rush seats. The stools feature a clean Scandinavian-inspired...
Rush, Wood
Set Wall Lights by Poul Henningsen for Louis Poulsen, Denmark
By Louis Poulsen
Located in Antwerp, BE
A set of white and pink PH hat wall lamp designed by Poul Henningsen in the late 1970s and manufactured by Louis Poulsen in Denmark. Both labeled with paper-stickers from Louis Poulsen.
Metal
Zelda Bar Stool w/ fringe in oak & brass
Located in Westport, CT
The Zelda Bar Stool brings a touch of vintage glamour and sophisticated comfort to your home, featuring plush olive velvet upholstery and an elegant bullion fringe trim. It fits best...
Brass
Set of Four Vintage Spindle Back Bar Stools
Located in Atlanta, GA
Set of Four Clean Lined Bar Stools, in the manner of George Nakashima, American, circa 1950s. These look very similar to the spindle back chairs that Na...
Metal