New at OEN Shop – Copper Metal Dishes and Objects by 86400
Founded in 2018 by Nobuhisa Yamamoto and Shota Shimizu, 86400 is a Japanese design studio and brand with the concept of producing tools that can improve our daily lives. Working with small manufacturers in Japan, their main focus has been a selection of metal objects that are functional but also hig
Floating in Space – No Vase Series by Studio Moisés Hernández
I have always been drawn to this idea of “emptiness”. I’m sure part of that comes from an inner desire to strip back and appreciate the simple things in life. Reducing complexity. It’s not that easy in this day and age with so many distractions all around us. I believe the in
New at OEN Shop – Cutlery by Metalworker Rieko Fujimoto
Just on the outskirts of Osaka is where Japanese metalworker Rieko Fujimoto resides, crafting tableware out her quaint studio. Thanks to her fascination with collecting classic metalworking tools, from hammers to files and even a tree stump used for hundreds of years to craft tools (see the last pho
New at OEN Shop – Cutlery by Lue Brass Industrial Now Available
We previously highlighted our new shipment arriving from Japanese metalworker Ruka Kikuchi of Lue Brass. His ‘Industrial Design’ collection has now come in to stock and we are shipping these out in 1-2 days from our studio. Ruka worked closely with a local metalworking studio in Japan to
New at OEN Shop – Metalwork by Japanese Artisan Tomomi Ishikawa
The appeal of functional ware for me is the time spent and connection shared with such necessary pieces of design. There’s also something fascinating about an object that melts away and becomes a lifelong companion. Tokyo-based metalworker Tomomi Ishikawa grabbed my attention with his characte
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
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
Honest Design – The KYSS Range by Tom Fereday & Kenny Yong-soo Son
On principle I’m sure most designers would love to be more open to honest ways of working. Unfortunately it’s not always up to the designer thanks to the larger companies standing behind such projects. Materials are often substituted for materials of lesser quality. Methods of constructi
New in the Shop – The Art of Monozukuri Expressed by Metalworkers SyuRo
On the face of it the Japanese word ‘Monozukuri’ means literally “to make things” in Japanese. But the relationship between human and object is much stronger than one might first assume. The appreciation for hand techniques, craftsmanship, and ethic are all wrapped in to this
Still and Purposeful – Song & Bora / Mo by Silversmith Alex O’Connor
The beautiful, minimalist work of UK-based silversmith Alex O’Conner. I was first drawn in by Alex’s ‘Kib and Skath’ capsule collection, a series of wearable sculptures that are part inspired by ancient forms. I thought this idea of incorporating craft in to our everyday live
Absolute Harmony – Metal Forms by Ulla & Martin Kaufmann
Personally my connection to jewellery as a craft is not that strong, but my fascination with form has led me to the work of Ulla and Martin Kaufmann, a husband and wife duo who have a keen sense for design, dedicating their metalworking career to the pursuit of only the essential in design. One of [
Blending East & West – Bamboo Series by Chien-Wei Chang
While many artists and designers are influenced and inspired by existing genres, art movements or other people’s work, Chien-Wei Chang uses his own life as a source of inspiration. He tries to always implement an honest reflection of his own experiences in his collections of homeware objects,
