Small Observations, Precise Ideas
Oki Sato is the CEO and chief designer of nendo. Born in Toronto in 1977, he completed a master’s degree in architecture at Waseda University and established nendo’s Tokyo office in 2002.
The studio moves between interiors, architecture, furniture, products and graphics. Its projects often begin with a small observation: a familiar action, an unnoticed edge or a change in perception that can be translated into form.
A Multidisciplinary Practice
Rather than relying on spectacle, Sato frequently uses restraint, humour and precise detailing. The result can appear simple, yet the clarity is supported by careful control of material, proportion and interaction.
This method allows nendo to work consistently across very different scales. A shop, chair or small object can share the same conceptual economy while responding to its own use, production process and context.
