Nendo

Born in Toronto, Oki Sato went on to study architecture in Tokyo, before starting nendo in 2002 and subsequently opening a studio in Milan in 2005.

The company’s ethos is founded on the thought of giving people a small “!” moment in each of their projects. They believe that it’s these moments are what make our days so interesting, so rich. When you start to look at their work you intuitively feel your own personal “!”.

This is translated not only into their interiors projects, but everything else that they do; from product, lighting and furniture design, through to graphics.

Their “!” moment is definitely captured in their concept for the women’s fashion department “key to style” in the Seibu Shibuya department store. Inspired by a circus tent, the monochrome fixtures and fittings have such a playful feel, that just makes you smile. The use of space to create seemingly solid objects is so simple, yet provides a stunningly effective backdrop to the collections.

In another area, customers can visit the ‘hat cloud’. The store’s millinery department, where hats are displayed like small umbrellas, giving each space to breathe, and for the initiated, a definite nod to the surrealist artist Magritte.

Fusing the idea of caring for the inner and outer body, the Beauty Library integrates a café with a boutique for organic cosmetics. The design has a gentle and natural aesthetic with the well-ordered feel of a library.  Though not visible in the concept, technology plays an important part via QR codes alongside each product, enabling customers to take home information about the products to purchase online later.

The crisp white interior of BbyB’s chocolate shop in Ginza provides a pristine showcase for the brand. With white BbyB branded tile walls and its long narrow configuration, the space makes subtle hints to a safety deposit room, adding to the premium value of the product on sale. The colourfully packaged chocolate appears to float in the centre of the space, so beautifully presented, one could almost be in a cosmetics store.

nendo will, no doubt, continue to find ways to delight and surprise its audiences with many more “!” moments.