Tokyo-based Nendo was one of seventeen design houses invited by Dior to reinterpret the Medallion chair as part of a special exhibition at the 2021 Salone del Mobile during Milan Design Week.

Chinese furniture brand KUKA recently curated an exhibition of which Japanese design house Nendo was asked to be a part. KUKA is known for their upholstered sofas and lounge chairs and the designers at Nendo decided to approach the theme “Intelligence” in an unexpected way for their line of furniture called Bouncy Layers. By rejecting the use of typical padded upholstery for softness and comfort, they instead used sheets of 1.5 mm thick polycarbonate which were laminated and bent to create the requisite cushioning. The polycarbonate sheets were layered to increase or decrease the softness in various ways and positioned over frames to ensure maximum comfort where human contact is made. The result is a sculptural line of furniture that, rather than hiding the structure, exposes it for all to see.

Nendo continues to rule design with this whimsical Winnie the Pooh inspired furniture set. Created by Nendo for Disney World Japan, the stools and tables - while minimalist and understated - are intended to reference the characters in the beloved children's story: the Pooh stool wears a crimson-knit cozy which resembles his signature crop top, the Tigger stool sports a tiny orange cover for his tail while Kanga and Roo come as a conjoined unit. 

Have a look after the jump and see which of the other characters you recognise.

This chunky yet stylish cutlery set was developed by Nendo in collaboration with metalworkers from Kobayashi Kogyo.  Inspired by prehistoric tools and roughly hewn weapons of the past, each piece is smooth and shiny where held, but rough and textured elsewhere to mimic a crudely carved object.

Definitely to be filed under weird and wonderful is this transparent chair by Nendo.  Made from polyurethane, a film which is used most commonly as a packing material, the structure is extremely elastic and returns to its original state when pressure is removed.  Given that it wraps and enfolds the sitter's body, it looks like it would be quite comfortable too.

There are a couple of things we are particular about and rain gear is one of  them.  We love a good-looking, smart umbrella and this one from Nendo ticks several of our design and fashion boxes.

It's an umbrella with a difference – its handle is bent at the end to form a little kickstand or foot.  The small feature is quite useful as it enables the umbrella to hang from the edge of the table or to be propped up against a wall without getting the wall damp. It even provides a stable stand for the umbrella when opened.  The Stay-brella is available in eight colours can be purchased from department stores in Japan.

The Basket Lamp from Nendo is a new lamp from Kanaami-Tsuji who are traditional wire craftsmen from Kyoto.  Based on the wire netting kana-ami cooking utensils, the light fixture preserves the craft’s traditions and develops it for contemporary and future generations.  The design allows the handcrafted shade’s woven pattern to reflect on the ceiling and the surface of the shade is finished with a powder paint to bring out the silhouette even more beautifully.

The Basket Lamp is sold at Seibu department stores in Japan exclusively.