The pressures of sustainability are making it harder to be a young designer starting out in the industry, Nendo founder Oki Sato tells Dezeen in this interview.
Speaking to Dezeen at the Milan design week launch of his Hana-arashi collection for Italian brand Paola Lenti, Sato noted that it was just over 20 years since he first showed his work in Milan.
The designer, who founded architecture and design studio Nendo in 2002, showed as part of Salone Satellite ? the showcase for young designers at Milan furniture fair Salone del Mobile ? in 2003.
"It's very tough for a young designer"
Sato believes he would find it harder to start out in the industry today, as there are more demands placed on designers to focus on sustainable design. "Year after year I think the responsibility of the designers is getting very tense ? it's huge, and I feel that it would be really difficult for me to start as a young designer in this period because design is not just about coming up with interesting ideas and making stuff," Sato told Dezeen.
"You have to think about materials and the process ? is it not just human-centred, but for the planet, and we have to think about how it will be recycled in the future as well," he added.
"It's very tough for a young designer or a small atelier or workshop to think about all of these issues."
Oki Sato showed Nendo's collaboration with Paola Lenti in Milan. Photo courtesy of Paola Lenti
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