Nendo, a Japanese design studio, crafts a collection of kanji-inspired home pieces for Zens, a Chinese lifestyle brand. The collection made its debut at Maison&Objet this week and features pieces such as the Picto set. The set consists of four pieces of furniture -- a table, a seat, shelf, and a storage unit. The foundation of all four pieces is the shape of a triangle, whereas the top half varies in shape to serve its intended function. There is a flat surface that allows it to function as a table top, a bent surface meant for sitting, layered rectangles as shelves, and round cylinders to perform as storage units for small items.
Nendo states, "Similar to a Kanji, where one word is a combination of multiple meanings; by arranging three-dimensional shapes in different ways, we can form a variety of furniture pieces." Its display system is entitled 'Chirp,' designed to represent birds resting on wire lines, and its function is to hold small items such as pens and pencils. The tea and coffee sets are designed to resemble stones with its shape and stackable features.
Why This Trend Is Growing
- Kanji-inspired Home Pieces
- Opportunity for designers to create home pieces inspired by kanji characters, combining multiple meanings into furniture designs.
- Three-dimensional Shapes
- Designers can explore the use of three-dimensional shapes to create versatile furniture pieces with multiple functions.
- Stackable Tea and Coffee Sets
- Tea and coffee sets designed to resemble stones offer a disruptive innovation opportunity for the tableware industry, allowing for stackable and space-saving features.
Industries Being Reshaped
- Design
- The design industry can incorporate kanji-inspired elements to create unique and meaningful home pieces that appeal to consumers.
- Furniture
- The furniture industry can harness the potential of three-dimensional shapes to create innovative and versatile pieces that optimize space and functionality.
- Tableware
- The tableware industry can adopt the concept of stackable tea and coffee sets resembling stones, offering an opportunity for space-saving and aesthetically pleasing designs.
