This April, the world’s largest design event, “Salone del Mobile. Milano 2026,” was held in Milan, Italy. NII, a brand developed by ITOKI, made its debut at this event, which brings together the forefront of interior design.

In addition to the collection launched last year, NII announced three new products this time: “HAKUSAN,” “BIWA,” and “ALLROUND.” What they all had in common was the perspective that these were not merely office furniture, but designs that would allow people to naturally gather, converse, and cultivate relationships. What kind of landscape did NII propose for the ever-changing workplace? We will delve deeper into their philosophy along with the new products that made a great impression in Milan.

The future of the workplace as envisioned by “NII”

In recent years, our “Work Environment” has been changing at an unprecedented pace. The spread of remote work and hybrid work has redefined the definition of the office space, and the type of furniture required there is also being forced to change. At this turning point in history, Itoki’s office furniture brand “NII” has stepped up to meet the demands of the workplace market.

NII’s brand concept is “Ingenious design — creative and innovative design.” NII aims for more than just functionality and efficiency. What is needed in today’s office, where working styles are becoming increasingly diverse, is not a workspace that only pursues efficiency and convenience, but a place that is transformed into a vibrant stage where people naturally gather, connect, and inspire each other.

The creative director is Hirotaka Tako of Itoki, who has experience at Sony. He has partnered with top designers who are active on the front lines both in Japan and abroad, and together they are combining their knowledge and expertise to shape the future of work through their products.

The three new collections unveiled at Milan Salone 2026 are “HAKUSAN,” “BIWA,” and “ALLROUND.”

Last year’s collection focused on large pieces of furniture, such as sofas and tables, that gently divide spaces. However, with this new collection, NII has focused on the act of “sitting” itself. Takou explains:

“At NII, we emphasize ‘engineering,’ ‘design,’ ‘iconicity,’ and also ‘configuration’ and ‘mechanisms that encourage conversation.’ This time, we’ve proposed more standard furniture that’s easier to incorporate into offices and is more affordable than before.”

These three products strongly reflect the unique insights that Itoki has gained from developing work chairs over many years. Rather than simply being “chairs for sitting,” each product employs a different approach to support human movement and communication.

HAKUSAN – A new standard stacking chair designed for ultimate ease of use.

“HAKUSAN” was designed by Industrial Facility, a design studio run by Sam Hecht and Kim Collin, who have also designed for brands such as Muji and Herman Miller. Takou describes the chair’s features as follows:

“It has a very simple construction: an aluminum die-cast frame, a steel frame, and a single molded plywood shell. We used mass-produced parts for the steel and adopted pipes of common standard dimensions to keep costs down. The result is a chair that is lightweight and easy to stack, while still ensuring comfort.”

The sleek, flowing silhouette, with its integrated frame and armrests, creates a visually light feel while simultaneously ensuring overwhelming structural strength. The design incorporates an analysis of everyday movements like lifting and moving chairs, positioning the center of gravity directly beneath the arms. This minimizes unpleasant swaying when lifting the chair, making it feel much lighter than its actual weight. Furthermore, the design allows for a natural grip from the front, enabling smooth stacking with minimal movement.

“HAKUSAN” is a product whose true value can only be experienced through the everyday, seemingly insignificant actions repeated during daily office work. It has the potential to quietly blend into the office landscape of the future and become a new staple that will be cherished for a long time.

BIWA – A task chair full of inclusiveness that embraces freedom of movement.

“BIWA,” designed by Itoki’s product designer Kohei Wada, is a chair that shakes up the conventional concept of office work chairs. Wada explains the origin of the idea as follows:

“Typical lounge chairs gently cradle your body, but they don’t recline. On the other hand, office chairs move significantly to accommodate a person’s movements. I always thought it was somewhat backwards that lounge chairs, which are meant for comfort, are fixed, while chairs for work recline.”

These questions led to the idea of combining the enveloping form of a lounge chair with “ankle-move synchronized rocking.” It allows you to lean back while still following your natural movements. BIWA is designed as a chair that gently crosses the boundary between relaxation and work.

In recent years, offices have seen an increase in situations where people not only sit upright in front of a computer, but also lean slightly to the side to concentrate on their thoughts or to chat with colleagues in a relaxed state. BIWA responds to these changes by increasing freedom of posture with a backrest that wraps around to the sides. Furthermore, it also features the functions of a full-fledged work chair, such as seat height adjustment, backrest tilt, and locking into an initial rocking position.

Furthermore, the shoulder rests, positioned independently as if floating from the smoothly continuous shell-shaped backrest, create not only functionality but also an iconic impression. Maintaining the appearance of a lounge chair, it harmonizes with a variety of spaces, from offices and cafes to home offices. BIWA is quietly redefining the very framework of what a “chair for work” should be.

ALLROUND – A multi-functional stool that glides smoothly through space.

“ALLROUND” is a product designed by Hirotaka Tako, the creative director of NII. Its extremely minimalist design, consisting of a single leg, gives it a quiet presence, almost like a sculpture.

A distinctive feature is the built-in casters at the bottom of the base. Because the casters are not visible from the outside, it looks like a solid object when stationary. However, once you sit on it, it moves surprisingly smoothly. This contrast creates the unique lightness of this stool.

“Previously, stools were only found in places like school research labs or science classrooms, but I feel like there are more spaces with rows of stools in offices now. We’re using stools more often in workshops and such, but sometimes when you get up to put sticky notes on the wall, someone else has taken your seat when you come back. In those situations, you can stay seated and secure your spot while you move around.”

Using smaller casters would make it difficult to move on carpets and rugs, but we designed it with that size balance in mind. Although it’s made of metal, we paid attention to the form and texture so that it looks somewhat soft even when multiple units are lined up. The name “All-Rounder” reflects our desire for it to be a versatile product that can accommodate a variety of uses.”

Furthermore, “ALLROUND” not only functions as a stool to sit on, but also as a simple side table to place a laptop or documents on. Without being overly assertive, it naturally follows the movements of people and the connections of communication.

What kind of “chair” will the workplace of the future require?

The three new products displayed at the NII booth attracted significant attention from architects, interior designers, and journalists from around the world who visited the venue.

However, what NII presented this time was not simply a “tool for sitting.” It was an item that would draw out the relationships between people, create serendipitous dialogues, and enhance thinking, where people would naturally gather, change their posture, and deepen their thoughts while engaging in conversation. It was the very landscape that will be required in workplaces of the future.

The three collections, “HAKUSAN,” “BIWA,” and “ALLROUND,” are scheduled to be released from June 2026 onwards. In this era of ever-changing work styles, NII’s vision for chairs is sure to bring new vitality and creativity to future office spaces.

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Photo : OOKI JINGU 、Yuta Sawamura
Text : Michiko Inoue
Edit : Takahiro Shibata(Kichi)

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This article is a reprint of the piece titled “Changing the Landscape of Work Through ‘Sitting’: ‘NII’s’ Challenge as Seen at Salone del Mobile 2026,” which was originally published on our website, “ITOKI DESIGN HOUSE.”
Read the original article here: https://idh.itoki.jp/journals/exhibition-salone-milano-2026