eurasian design: toshiyuki kita

Toshiyuki Kita is a celebrated furniture designer with offices in both Italy and Japan. His work is a fusion of fun and comfort, often employing soft, puffy fabrics and whimsical shapes. Above: the Aki, Biki and Canta triplet is part of the permanent collection at the Saint-Etienne Museum of Modern Art in France, with armrests and backs that vary as much in shape as they do in color.

Kita is perhaps best known for his Wink easy chair (1980), which is also part of a permanent collection–this time in New York’s MOMA. This low-slung polyurethane foam arm chair features an adjustable base and back; even the two ear-like headrests independently recline.

One of Kita’s most recent projects is the Dodo chair. Much like the extinct flightless bird that bears its name, the Dodo has a rotund, bottom-heavy profile. Unlike its biological counterpart, this swiveling and tilting chair is actually quite useful. The back and footrest are movable while the base and levers are tastefully finished with nickel plated steel. Also unlike the Dodo bird, the Dodo chair is unlikely to go extinct: it is also part of the permanent collection in Saint-Etienne.

As an industrial designer, Toshiyuki is also one of the chief creative forces behind Sharp’s AQUOS LCD screens. The culmination of his efforts is a space-saving design with a sleek and minimalist footprint. Available in multiple flavors, Kita’s handiwork is visible throughout the AQUOS lineup, from a portable 15″ LCD to Sharp’s flagship 65″ HDTV model.

Lastly: the Tok chair is the result of a collaboration with Dutch manufacturer Stokke. This stylish recliner has three distinct seating positions and a fixed angle between the seat and back for proper body support. Similar to the Eames lounge chair, the Tok consists of three laminated wood shells and is upholstered in textile or leather upholstery. As with much of his work, the Tok is a symbol of Toshiyuki Kita’s ongoing love for comfortable, well-designed furnishings.
toshiyukikita.com