Nao Tamura

Born in 1976, Japanese designer Nao Tamura grew up in Tokyo and studied at Parsons School of Design in New York, where she now runs an independent practice. Her work spans furniture, lighting, objects, and installations, drawing on the creative cultures of both cities. Natural forms and Japanese making traditions often provide a starting point, translated into designs with practical purpose and an expressive character. For Established & Sons, she created Tiki, a portable lamp with the delicate silhouette of a perched bird. Her Origata furniture collection for Porro takes a different cue from Japanese culture, applying the economical cutting and assembly of a kimono to aluminum benches and consoles. Other notable designs include the TURN and TURN+ lights for Ambientec, which combine precisely machined metals with carefully controlled illumination. Tamura’s work has received iF and Good Design awards, as well as first prize at SaloneSatellite in 2010. Her designs have also been exhibited at the Vitra Design Museum and Palais de Tokyo.