STILL & SPARKLING BY NENDO FOR LASVIT JP/CZ AT THE BELGRADO DESIGN WEEK 2014

Japanese design studio Nendo’s “Still and Sparkling” exhibition was composed of five concepts: press lamps, inhale lamp, innerblow and overflow tables, x-ray vase and growing vases, recognized for the duality evident in the research and experimental design approach, whereby principal designer Oki Sato mixed lightness and minimalism to form each work. the resulting collection of delicate pieces rejects traditional glassblowing techniques, embracing instead the irregularities typically considered defects within the craft, an expression of Nendo’s personal investigation into the material and its production representing new and unusual methods in hand-blown glass. The concepts are the fruit of our collaboration with Lasvit’s glassblowers, and represent the best possible outcome of our trial and error approach: designs not overly controlled by the hands of the designers.

 

Oki Sato was born in 1977 in Toronto, Canada. He finished M.A. in Architecture, Waseda University, Tokyo in 2002 and established “nendo” Tokyo office in same year. In 2005 he established “nendo” Milan office and in 2006 he became a lecturer for Showa Women’s University, Tokyo, and also was pronounced one of “The 100 Most Respected Japanese” (Newsweek magazine). In 2008 he published “nendo” (daab) and in 2009 he became a lecturer for Kuwasawa Design School, Tokyo. In 2010 he published “nendo ghost stories” (Art Design Publishing) and became a jury member of iF award. In 2011 Sato published “kaminendo” (Art Design Publishing) and was announced as “Famous for 15 Years: The Wallpaper* 150″ (Wallpaper* magazine). In 2012 he established “nendo” Singapore office, became a lecturer for Waseda University, Tokyo and was announced a “Designer of the Year” (Wallpaper* magazine) and a “Designer of the Year” (Elle Deco International Design Award). In 2013 Oki Sato was announced a “Guest of honor” (Stockholm Furniture & Light Fair). He received numerous awards: Good Design Award (Japan), Japan Commercial Environmental Design Association (JCD) Award Gold Prize, Japan Interior Architects / Designer’s Association (JID) Award Grand Prize, I.D. Annual Design Review Best Product (USA), red dot design award (Germany), iF products design award (Germany), Furniture Design Award Grand Prize (Singapore), Wallpaper Best Domestic Design (UK), Compasso d’Oro Honorable Mention (Italy), Elle Deco International Design Award “Bath and Materials”.