Breeze of Light
by Nendo
Salone del Mobile 2019
I remember very clearly one of the exhibitions by Nendo I had the chance to attend during Milano Design Week 4 years ago when I was living there and exploring the design world. This is where I discovered Nendo alongside many other great designers who later on influenced me shaping my approach and vision in my career.
Oki Sato is the mind behind the creations of Nendo. He built a landscape filled with flowers out of a polarizing film that affected the shadow of the flowers to imitate the experience and sensation of “invisible air” as if there was a breeze in the room to move the flowers. He created this installation for the new Daikin air conditioner, a powerful reference to the brand's unique attention to air quality and the experience they provide.
Breeze of Light
Invisible air = Silence
With this installation, what you can only feel in real life becomes visible in sight, the breeze of light. When you enter the room, all white, like a scene from a fantasy world, filled with flowers and silence that capture you right in. I remember everyone was captivated, in silence experiencing and wandering around the field with curiosity and admiration.
This is the moment I clearly remember that I was mesmerized by Oki Sato’s unique way of thinking and crafting extraordinary metaphors to tell a story. I was at the beginning of my career in Milano and this was where I started to expand my horizon and realize I have a passion for design, even bigger and broader than I thought.
Small ideas that make big differences. - Oki Sato
His vision and design perspective perfectly reflect Japanese minimalism and elegance in a simple but bold and captivating approach, the traits which I find in myself as a designer. Telling a story, creating an emotional connection, and conveying the idea in a simple yet bold manner. Although I have to admit, the minimalist-bold angle is not always expected or welcomed in every client's perspective due to cultural differences, trends, and behaviors but I think it is a delightful challenge to overcome.
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