Sori Yanagi was born in Japan in 1915 and is still designing today at the age of 92. Yanagi was integral to establishment and development of Japaneses industrial design and has an extensive and diverse range of products from pedestrian bridges to furniture and tableware. The Butterfly stool is part of the MOMA permanent collection in New York and Paris.
Products by Sori Yanagi: Butterfly Stool, Sori Yanagi Chair, Sori Yanagi Shell Chair
One of the most significant figures in the emergence of Japanese industrial design after the Second World War, Isamu Kenmochi graduated in 1932 from the Tokyo College of Industrial Arts. Like many of the first generation of Japanese industrial designers he was also a member of the Industrial Arts Institute (IAI) where he worked in the Woodwork Technology Department. At the IAI he worked alongside design pioneers such as Jiro Kosugi and Mosuke Yoshitake and was influenced by European Modernist designers such as Bruno Taut. In 1952 he also became a founding member of the Japan Industrial Designers Association. In 1953, together with other leading designers of the post-Second World War years such as Masaru Katsumie, Yusaku Kamekura, Riki Watanabe, and Sori Yanagi, he was also involved in the formation of the International Design Committee.
Like many other progressive pieces by contemporaries such as Yanagi and Watanabe, Kenmochi combined traditional materials with new technologies and aesthetic ideas. Kenmochi pieces can also be found as part of the MOMA permanent collection. Other pieces included in the Youshiki range designed by Kenmochi include the Robin Lounges, the Kashiwado Chair, Kabuto Chair and the Shogun Stool.
Products by Isamu Kenmochi: Shogun Stool, Kabuto Chair, Robin Lounge, Kashiwado Chair
Alex Macdonald has been designing furniture since 1993 and designed a children's range of laminated and painted birch plywood chairs and tables for Tendo, as well as a beautiful 4 and 6 seater dining setting.
Currently located in the UK with his own range of furniture, Alex Macdonald is a leader in furniture design.
Products by Alex Macdonald: Swift Table, Swift Chair, Hollie Chair and Table, Avocet Chair
Products by Mitsumasa Sugasawa: Heron Chair & Ottoman
Products by Katsuhei Toyoguchi: Spoke Chair
Products by Yamanaka Group: Mushroom Stool
Products by Reiko Tanabe: Murai Stool
Products by Tokukuchi Kato: Ring Stool
The Teiza was designed by the renowned Japanese chair designer, Daisaku Choh, whilst working for Junzo Sakukura Architecture Institute.
After graduating from the Tokyo National University of Fine Arts & Music, and undertaking various architectural and design assignments, Choh's work was recognized at the 12th Milan Trienial (1960) where "Persimmon Chair" helped the Japan booth win the gold prize. In 1972 he established his own architecture office. His recent work has a great emphasis on "re-design", as the artist has gone back over his previous portfolio of work and improved on several pieces.
Products by Junzo Sakukura Architecture Institute: Teiza Chair
Products by Ken Okuyama: Orizuru Chair
Products by Keita Shimizu: Prua Chair