Today we are going to dive into a world made of lines and little more. A simple, essential, minimal and perfectly modern world. A working group recognizable for its extreme simplicity and elegance: Nendo.
Nendo is a studio founded in 2002 and headed by Japanese architect Oki Sato. His is the face we always see next to the name Nendo, because he is the reference person in this group.
But let’s get to know this reality better: “Nendo” in Japanese means “clay”, precisely because their work, both in the field of architecture and in that of design and graphics, is absolutely flexible and malleable, just like the material in question.
Every challenge that is entrusted to them is carried out with extreme skill, elegance and attention to the client they have in front of them: they are perfectly suited to any type of request.
This ability of theirs to mold themselves from time to time allows them to adapt perfectly to every challenge of the modern world and also makes sure that, on the other hand, every brand can consider them suitable for the task they have in mind.
In just a few years of operation, the group has already gained a lot of international recognition.
It has designed objects for many famous brands, including: Alias, Minotti, Cappellini, De Padova, Louis Poulsen, Moroso, Oluce, Flos, Kartell and Driade, and that’s just to name a few.
Mogura Lamp – De Padova 
Soft Low Tables – Glas Italia
In any case, the elegant and essential style is always the master, and is declined according to the desired result.
Among the most important products made by the group we can mention: the Drop bookcase for Cappellini, the NJP lamp for Louis Poulsen, the H-Horse rocking chair for Kartell, the Mogura lamps for De Padova, the Gaku lamp for Flos and the Softer Than Steel chair for Desalto.
Oki Sato, talking about the many projects he is involved in, said: “I try to do as little as possible and get the most out of it. I do it all the time and with everything: with electronics, in interiors, in the product. I think it’s also a very Japanese attitude. The point is not to create things, but to find ideas.”
He believes that the world is moving much faster than it used to, and because of that, people need a lot more ideas. So the faster you can provide ideas and design, the more success you can achieve.
And this is also the reason why Nendo collaborates with so many brands, even in the fashion world, where everything is very fast and chaotic.
CURIOSITY:
Oki Sato states that: “The idea has to be something very simple, like something you can communicate over the phone. If the sketch is too complicated or uninteresting, I don’t think the idea is good either.” And this farce makes it perfectly clear how he thinks and acts.