STOCKHOLM 2015: MINIMAL DESIGNS WITH A JAPANESE VIBE FROM M-S-D-S STUDIO

Elegant lighting and product design from a Toronto-based design duo

Although based in Toronto, the multidisciplinary design practice M-S-D-S Studio was right at home amidst the rows of blond wood and soft colors at the Stockholm Furniture Fair. Established by Jonathan Sabine and Jessica Nakanishi, the pair has a self-proclaimed affinity for Nordic design that can be traced to their roots. Sabine’s grandfather was from Norway and Nakanishi’s parents are Japanese. With Nordic design often being compared to Japanese minimalism, the connection is unsurprising and also explains the dual influence behind specific designs such as their Kokeshi Table Light.

The studio specializes in interior and product design and has worked with the likes of Shopify, Mjölk and Umbra. Stockholm was their first exhibition outside of North America and the UK where they presented a selection of lighting and design products in the Greenhouse space for emerging designers.

An energy efficient parabolic LED lightbulb is the driving force behind the Kokeshi Table Light’s machined aluminum cylinder. The conical reflector tops the design like a hat and can be adjusted to disperse light at different angles, changing the ambiance.

Half Cab’s wooden frame is half covered by painted aluminum doors, hence its name. The doors can be arranged as desired. They simply slide along the frame.

Inspired by the traditional Japanese futon, the Futon Daybed reinterprets the inherent foldable nature of the futon mattress with the integration of a folded bolster. The complementary Ladder Light is a feminine hanging light that evokes the graceful suspension of a necklace against skin.

The stackable A-Frame Chair is stripped down to its very essence. Interestingly, rather than focus on the chair’s seat or legs, the design centers around the most frequently viewed part of a chair: the back.

Circular LED technology is the base for the cone-shaped Annular Pendant, a design which stems from an exploration of previously impossible forms realized with very recent technical advancements.