Cooper Hewitt says...
nendo is a multidisciplinary design and architecture group co-founded in 2002 in Tokyo by Akihiro Ito, who is the managing director, and Oki Sato (b. 1977), the chief designer. nendo, whose name is a reference to modeling clay used by children, considers its mission to be “giving people a small "!" moment.” Sato and his team take their inspiration from observing daily life and being attentive to both the subtle and the strange. nendo’s aesthetic is simple and minimal, but not cold—they strive to evoke lightness and humor in each of their designs. The studio has created a wide range of things, from exhibition and installation spaces, to products including furniture, lighting, tableware and eyeglasses. nendo was included in the 2010 National Design Triennial, "Why Design Now?" at Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum. Works by the design firm can be found not only at Cooper Hewitt, but at The Museum of Modern Art, New York, the Victoria and Albert Museum, London, and the Musée des Arts décoratifs, Paris, among many others. nendo was named 2012 “Designer of the Year” by Wallpaper magazine.
