Images courtesy Nendo and Cappellini. Above image: Nendo founder Oki Sato with Giulio Cappellini.

This year marks the 10^th Anniversary of the design partnership between luxury Italian furniture label Cappellini and Tokyo-based studio Nendo.

Their partnership will be celebrated in a special exhibition in the Cappellini showroom in Paris.  The exhibition coincides with Nendo founder Oki Sato’s recent receipt of the Designer of the Year 2015 award at the Parisian design salon Maison&Objet.

The exhibition in Paris

The exhibition tells the story of the relationship between Cappellini and Nendo from past to present.  It follows a striking black and white colour scheme, contrasting with the champagne backdrop of the showroom.  Dedicated displays will showcase the design process behind the iconic furniture pieces, which are characterised by lightness and irony.

Nendo’s Peg sofa and table for Cappellini

Nendo, which means “modelling clay”, first collaborated with Cappellini after Giulio Cappellini noticed Sato’s products on display at the Salone Satellite Milan.  Their first product together was the celebrated Yuki screen.  Since then, their design partnership has generated such pieces as the Thin Black table, the Island tables, the Drop bookshelf and the Peg collection.

Nendo cartoon-like concept drawings hint at the playful nature of the design house

Nendo’s creations have been included in many prestigious museum collections worldwide, including exhibitions in Milan, Saatchi gallery in London, and the Stockholm International Furniture Fair in Sweden.