Toshiyuki Kita (born in Osaka, 1942) is a world-renowned industrial designer famous for creating an aesthetic and functional bridge between traditional Japanese craftsmanship and European industrial design. Working between Osaka and Milan since 1969, his philosophy centers on the harmony between the five senses, nature, and technology.
Iconic Works
His creations are part of permanent collections in prestigious museums such as MoMA in New York and the Centre Pompidou in Paris.
Wink Chair (1980, Cassina): An adjustable armchair with anthropomorphic shapes, it became an 80s design icon.
Kita has received top honors in the design field, solidifying his role as a cultural ambassador between Italy and Japan.
Compasso d'Oro for Career Achievement (2011): He was one of the first non-Italian designers to receive this prestigious international award.
Design Philosophy
His approach, often defined as "humanistic minimalism," integrates the Japanese concept of mottainai (avoiding waste) with research into sustainable materials like bamboo and cedar wood. For Kita, design must enrich daily life while respecting the life cycle of objects.
The collaboration between Toshiyuki Kita and Cassina, which began in the early 1980s, is one of the most successful examples of blending Japanese creativity with Italian manufacturing excellence. Kita introduced a playful, ergonomic, and transformative approach to the brand's “I Contemporanei” collection.
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SILVER Seller in Padova, Italy
