Open Studio 6.30pm Wednesday 15th August
This month will see Tomoko Azumi’s design studio hosting the fourth session of Blueprint Open Studios. One of the most exciting designers working today, Tomoko’s background in Environmental and Industrial Design, has lead her to produce practical and spectacularly finished furniture and design products.
Tomoko commenced her working life in an architectural practice in Japan, then in 1995, whilst studying furniture design at Royal College of Art, she formed a practice with her partner at the time Shin Azumi, finally set up her own practice, TNA Design, in London in 2005.
She has received critical acclaim across the international design community for producing efficient yet beautifully simple products and furniture. She has won numerous awards and her work is exhibited in many public collections including the V&A, Brighton Museum and the Crafts Council. Her individual and collaborative work demonstrates her ingenious talent in developing compact and versatile products. Most notable are her current pieces for Digitability at Designmai Berlin this year (see her Twiggy lamp above) and her exhibition last year, ‘10 Ten X’ which won two awards, one of which was for Best Contribution from 100% Design/Blueprint Awards. At the moment her work can be seen featured in an exhibition ‘It starts from Here’ at the De La Warr Pavilion in Bexhill, an exhibition of new ideas for a modernist masterpiece.
Tomoko is also an active and inspirational mentor to new designers; she is a Research Fellow at London Metropolitan University, Digital Manufacturing Centre, a staff tutor at RCA Design Products and regularly takes part in the Vitra Summer Workshop.
Her portfolio is a treasure trove of intricate yet simple furniture and products and many of them will be on show in the cool white space of her studio in Clapton, which doubles as her living space. Tomoko will provide us with unique insight into the studio’s current and future projects plus the rare opportunity to see the design process of a new chair from initial sketches right through to manufacturers prototype.
Spaces will be limited so to join in our latest Open Studio send an email to Susan Holder at blueprintopenstudios @wilmington.co.uk. Tickets cost £10, which includes a glass of wine.
