nendo continues to expand the product portfolio of his personal line, by | n. the japanese designer has envisioned his own brand with playful and unconventional objects that are meant to functionally and aesthetically enhance everyday life.

nendo by n meji umbrella stand designboom
‘meji’ draws its formal influences from the joints of a tiled floor
all images by akihiro yoshida

 

 

 

nendo’s ‘meji’ stand stays clear of the typical containers or boxes usually used to hold umbrellas, which often seem out of place when they are unoccupied. by using grooves instead of holes, ‘meji’ draws its formal influences from the joints of a tiled floor. when necessary, an umbrella is simply set into the slots; and, when not in use, it maintains a neat appearance — even when there are multiple modules lined up in one’s entryway. the design is made using a dense resin called polystone, and then covered with silicon offering pliability and durability. options include a single-umbrella stand and a three-umbrella stand, each available in five colors. nendo by n meji umbrella stand designboom
‘meji’ comes as a single-umbrella stand and a three-umbrella stand

 

 

with ‘mobile-cushion’, also for by | n, nendo taps into our digitally connected lifestyles. the pillow is made from multiple types of fabric, sewn together in a patchwork style. two sections of the material each provide a pair of openings that can be used to secure a smartphone or tablet PC. this makes it easy to view the screen while relaxing on one’s sofa or bed, or propping up the ‘mobile-cushion’ on one’s lap to make use of the tablet keyboard more comfortable. while serving to protect devices, the design can also function as a normal cushion, with the device slots obscured by the patchwork motif when not in use. nendo meji umbrella stand by | n designboom
when not in use, ‘meji’ maintains a neat appearance nendo meji umbrella stand by | n designboom
three-stand version
nendo meji umbrella stand by | n designboom
mosaic of ‘meji’ umbrella stand modules

nendo by n mobile cushion designboom
with ‘mobile-cushion’, nendo taps into our digitally connected lifestyles

nendo by n mobile cushion designboom
a patchwork motif camouflages openings to store mobile devicesnendo by n mobile cushion designboom
two sections of the material each provide a pair of openings that can be used to secure a smartphone or tablet PC nendo mobile cushion by | n designboom
propping up the ‘mobile-cushion’ on one’s lap makes use of the tablet keyboard more comfortable nendo mobile cushion by | n designboom nendo mobile cushion by | n designboom

nendo mobile cushion by | n designboom
while serving to protect devices, the design can also function as a normal cushion

nendo mobile cushion by | n designboom
the ‘mobile-cushion’ is available in three different colors