I’m been researching Asian American and Asian furniture designers and artisans. Grasshopper and Sensei is enjoying the finds I am discovering and now she’s even talking about being an architect or furniture designer someday when she grows up. It’s not just the beautiful forms I’m searching for; it’s also the stories behind the designs.
Take George Nakashima who is a recent discovery for me. A Japanese American, he was forced into concentration camps when his youngest was just 6 weeks old. He and his family ended up settling in Pennsylvania where he started building his compound, one stone at a time. Today, he is considered the father of the American Craft movement.
His pieces tell a story of time, the uniqueness of each tree, and the artisan who brings that story to life. They have a timeless quality that really appeals to me. You can really fall in love with his work.
George Nakashima
George Katsutoshi Nakashima (Japanese: 中島勝寿 Nakashima Katsutoshi, May 24, 1905 – June 15, 1990) was a Japanese-American woodworker,architect, and furniture maker who was one of the leading innovators of 20th century furniture design and a father of the American Craft movement.
I love this dining room table and the chairs as well. George talks about bringing the soul of a tree to life. What a wonderful way to think about furniture making!
Danny Fang
My next discovery was designer Danny Fang. He lives in Hong Kong. Is this light fixture not spectacular? He says, “I found a photo of a flamenco girl throwing her dress all around with great power and expression. This photo inspired me to make a light with similar drama and expression to spice up our modernistic world. To achieve this theatre and energy we had to develop new materials. Through an intricate process of working on the materials, we created petals made of fabric that we could mould in any shape, diffused the light and defied gravity. This light wants to dance in freedom, so give her space to work her gipsy magic.”
I can picture this above the George Nakashima dining room table. What do you think?
Masanori Umeda
Masanori Umeda was born in 1941 at Kanagawa in Japan. The Japanese designer Masanori Umeda took his diploma in design at the Kuwasawa Design School in Tokyo in 1962. Afterwards he went to Italy, where he worked in the Milan design practice of Achille and Pier Giacomo Castiglioni from 1967 until 1969. From 1970 until 1979, ist Masanori Umeda worked as a design consultant for Olivetti, where he met Ettore Sottsass, who invited Umeda to show work at the first “Memphis” exhibition in 1981.
That year, 1981, Masanori Umeda designed “Tawaraya” for Memphis, seat furniture in the form of a boxing ring. The founding members of Memphis are shown in it in a celebrated Memphis group photo.
Another Masanori Umeda design for Memphis is “Ginza” (1982), a shelving system in the form of a robot. Masanori Umeda has also designed a great many ceramic objects, including the “Orinoco” vase and the “Parana” bowl (both 1983).
In 1986, Masanori Umeda returned to Japan and opened U-Meta Design, his Tokyo practice. For Edra entwirft Masanori Umeda designed “Getsuen”, “Rose”, and “Orchid”, poetically playful, flower-shaped armchairs, in 1990-91.
Manufacturer:
Edra
Grasshopper and Sensei and I swoon over this chair. It invites coziness and reading, don’t you think?
Kappei (Katsuhei) Toyoguchi
Recognized as one of Japan’s pioneers of modern design, Kappei Toyoguchi was born in 1905. Much of the foundational data derived from research conducted by Toyoguchi and his staff involving furniture design was later adopted and incorporated into the JIS (Japan Industrial Standards).
Spoke Chair
Isamu Noguchi
Shiro Kuramata
Shiro Kuramata is one of Japan’s most important designers of the 20th century. Kuramata was mainly known for his use of industrial materials such as wire steel mesh and lucite to create architectural interiors and furniture.
Leonard Theosabrata
Leonard Theosabrata graduated from the Product Design Faculty at the Art Center College of Design, Pasadena, CA in 2002. His love for furniture has led him to build the Accupunto brand. Hard worker and curious, Leonard’s passion for design led him to direct the studio LTD in which he is in charge of product design for major Asian brands. Known as one of the most promising Asian designers, Leonard’s work is published in the book “Young Asian Designer” published by DAAB Germany. Recently, he was also chosen as one of five young Asians to be the face of Deutsche Welle’s new channel, DW-TV Asia+.
Leo Theosabrata comes from a long line of furniture makers and inherits his love of the craft from his father, Yos, who spent 30 years in the business. After graduating from art school in Pasadena, Leo created his own line of furniture under the Accupunto brand and started the LTD studio focused on interior and product design. His latest venture is The Goods Dept, a project he launched with several friends to discover talented local designers and provide them a sophisticated space in which to sell their goods at affordable prices. In this talk, Leo makes the case that there’s no time like the present for Indonesians to make their mark on the global design scene.
Lorida Lounge Chair
Slim 3-Seater Bench
Jeongsup Lee
I’m still searching for more Korean or Korean American furniture designers. Soomi from George Nakashima recommended Jeongsup Lee. He apprenticed at their company previously and she said he was a wonderful craftsman.
I’m searching for more up and coming as well as established Asian or Asian American furniture designers (or architects that also design furniture). I’d love your suggestions! Thank you!
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Artchoo
Oh, great finds! I’m a sucker for beautiful furniture. I love the vastly different styles you found here, and that Danny Fang light is incredible.
Artchoo recently posted…DIY Halloween Pop-up Cards
Hi Artchoo!,
Thanks so much! I love that light by Danny Fang too! Are there any Asian designers that I’m missing? I have a feeling you know more about this topic that I do!
Pragmatic Mom recently posted…Domestic Violence Books for Kids
I’m sorry, I can’t help you with this, as I am at a loss when it comes to architecture or furniture design. I’m sort of out of my element.
However, I do know when I see something that I love, and Jeongsup Lee is very appealing to my eye. I love the simplicity and the clean lines. It’s not modern, not eclectic, not glass. I just love the wood – designed simply.
I do love understated elegance.
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Hi Lisa,
I’m so glad you like Jeongsup Lee too! I love clean lines and wood too!
Pragmatic Mom recently posted…Domestic Violence Books for Kids
I love that chair – it looks like a rose!
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Hi MaryAnne,
My daughter and I LOVE that Rose Chair too! It would be fun to snuggle up in it to read a book!
Pragmatic Mom recently posted…Domestic Violence Books for Kids
nakashima is a real big name meanwhile and you can already call him a “classic”.
asia (in general) has many good people with great ideas. personally i always love to see “creators” (rather use this then designers) who approach the recent time with a – also – modern look to old traditions.
means taking old and traditional techniques as well as materials and transform them into the present time…
KENNETH COBONPUE
is a good example as well. comng from the philippines.
ANGUS HUTCHESON a british born architect who lives in thailand and creates real great lighting objects and lamps.
VITO SELMA is also a philippine with wonderfull ideas…
u might want to check that out… 🙂
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Hi Udo,
Good point that Nakashima and Noguchi are big names. Thanks for your other suggestions. I will check them out! They sound wonderful.
Pragmatic Mom recently posted…Domestic Violence Books for Kids
I really enjoyed the Nakashima video. I love wood and really enjoyed my woodworking classes at RISD although the really beautiful hardwoods are SO expensive.
I am a fan of Noguchi. Also ten years ago I saw a great exhibit of his work at the Whitney.
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Hi Ann,
I would love to see an exhibit of Nakashima and Noguchi. I wonder if RISD will ever have one! How fun you did woodworking at RISD! Yes, the hardwoods are exorbitant!
Pragmatic Mom recently posted…Domestic Violence Books for Kids
Peter Ulrich
I truly love the stylish furniture for stylish rooms. And In your blog is great information about the variety of furnitures. It’s a nice collection of awesome room. Thanks for sharing this beautiful article…………………..
Thanks so much Peter! I really appreciate your kind words!
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Lauren Hannah
I’m pretty much amazed at how simple the design are but perfectly elegant. I love all there designs!
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Hi Lauren,
I’m so glad you like these pieces too. I have to say that I did end up purchasing that Dennis Feng Flamenco light fixture and I get so many compliments on it! I love it!
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Well furnished room and every chairs are looking so stylish. Thanks Mia Wenjen to sharing with us for this nice chair and furnished rooms.
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Thanks so much for your kind words! So glad you like the designs! I ended up buying the Flamingo inspired light fixture and it is stunning!
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Asian furniture style is to me by far the most clean and peacefull art of design I ever met. Many people, here on our small furniture market, in Slovenia, asks us about producing japanese sliding doors and other details in asian style. But to be honest – there is simply not a lot of manufacturers capable of doing it. Design is absolutely amazing – I would definitely present it more on our market – but what if I don’t have a producer for such things, here in Slovenia. Maybe you can point me to some reliable manufacturer who would be interested in delivery to Slovenia (of course, since we are altogether only 2 mio inhabitans – in small amounts). Regards, Matija, Slovenia
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Hi Matija,
I’m sorry but I don’t really know much about manufacturers of Asian furniture who ship to Slovenia. I found the light fixture in Hong Kong and they might ship to you.
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Barber H
Wow, great designs I have ever seen. I may try to remodel my kitchen following this style. I really love those chairs and decorations of your idea. Thanks you for sharing wonderful designs.
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Thanks so much Barber H,
I’m glad you like Asian design too!
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