New in the Shop – Handcrafted Iron Frying Pans by JIU
I’m a big fan of rethinking everyday design and seeing if there is any improvement to be made. This is exactly what Japanese design studio TENT did with Osaka-based metalworkers Fujita Metal. Fujita Metal’s speciality is the production of more traditional metal objects, from frying pans to a
The Opulent & Imperfect – Noviembre Furniture Collection by BREUER
Mexico-based studio BREUER have asked some interesting questions in this new collection of work for 2020 titled ‘Noviembre’. The collection itself consists of tables, seating, and other decorative pieces that have been crafted to make the onlooker explore form and function in more detail
Claying with Type – Works by Hanna Whitehead & Guomundur Ulfarsson
Challenging the boundaries of design by finding inspiration from various sectors is what creativity is all about. Through the material that you source and scratch away at you leave small fragments that become ideas, stitching a foundation that will become your own work, thus seeing your vision come
New in the Shop – Sculptural Woodwork by Japanese Studio IPPEN
That unique space between art and function is one of the most interesting aspects of craft. Of course, set shapes may be used as a framework for production, but the qualities of producing by hand leaves small markings or traces that add warmth and character to an object. IPPEN is a Japanese studio c
The Timeless Classics – Furniture by Shin Okuda of Waka Waka
If we look back at Alvar Aalto and the other icons of the modernist design we have take in to account that this aesthetic has become a particular style or category in design. Whether that’s good or bad can be debated, but the film grain aesthetic, which obviously matches that specific time per
New at OEN Shop – Ceramics Handmade by Japanese Studio TOKINOHA
The rarity of a workshop that supports multiple craftsmen and their output is quite rare. I think it takes a particular kind of craftsman to want to go this route, looking to build a sustainable business around craft so that many more can enjoy these kind of works. That’s exactly what Kyoto-based
New Feature – Interview with Japanese designer Kensaku Oshiro
We recently released the ‘Kino Stool’ by Memo Furniture in collaboration with Japanese designer Kensaku Oshiro. Born in Okinawa, Kensaku studied at the Polytechnic School in Milan and worked at Barber & Osgerby in London. Oshiro used the inspiration of the surrounding Seattle landsc
Refined Minimalist Lines – Furniture Series by Studio HAOS
To achieve harmony in all the different areas that make up a great piece of design is no mean feat. Furniture in particular has so many unique elements that it seems as though it would almost be impossible to create a cohesive look that could span a whole collection. That’s why I admired this
Design Guide: Kyoto, Japan ??
Through this time of not being able to travel it's been therapeutic looking back through all the locations that I have visited. I spent 6 months last year living between Osaka and Kyoto and was... To view this content, you must be a member of OEN Patreon at $5 or more
Interconnectedness of Things – Works in Clay by Jonathan Phillips
Jonathan Phillips was an artist I spotted on Instagram quite a while back and have been following intently ever since. Currently based on the Welsh borders, Phillips was assistant to Italian potter Pietro Maddalena and later moved back to the UK to pursue ceramics as a career. Although the proportio
New in the Shop – Iron Teapots Handmade by IWACHU
Although I try not to make a distinction between new and old, it’s exciting to see those workshops that have stood the test of time and continue to use artisanal skills to produce beautiful objects that have become staples. In Morioka, Japan resides IWACHU, a family run workshop who have been prod
Movement of Water – MELT Series by Furniture Maker Antrei Hartikainen
Sculptural meets functional with this series by Finish designer and master cabinetmaker Antrei Hartikainen. No doubt Antrei’s strong interest in design has helped his woodwork come on leaps and bounds. Not only is he able to make functional pieces of furniture, he’s able to put forward h