Nendo

International and multidisciplinary design studio Nendo was founded in 2002 by Oki Sato. Born in Toronto in 1977, he studied architecture at Tokyo’s Waseda University. His first visit to the Salone del Mobile inspired him to broaden his creative field. His Tokyo-headquartered studio now employs over 40 people in interior design, product design, branding and graphic design. Since 2005 it has had a branch in Milan which focuses on installation and exhibition design. All of these projects, with Oki Sato always involved in a personal capacity, are shaped by a clear and minimalistic Japanese aesthetic. The overarching goal of Oki Sato's team is to re-think everyday objects and bestow a certain element of surprise upon them.

Pieces from the multi-award-winning design studio can be found in museums worldwide, including the Museum of Modern Art in New York and the Centre Pompidou in Paris. Oki Sato, who is committed to developing bespoke ideas for each brand in a bid to stay true to his personal design ethos, was named one of the 100 Most Respected Japanese People in the World by Newsweek magazine. Wallpaper, Elle Deco, Architektur & Wohnen as well as Maison & Objet have all named him as their Designer of the Year. The studio's client list is every inch as diverse as the scope of Nendo's operations, with Kartell, Flos, Cappellini, Baccarat, Armani, Range Rover and Kanebo Cosmetics, as well as Villeroy & Boch, Swarovski and Moleskine among the best-known names. Nendo is currently working on the design of the new TGV trains for the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris.