NII, the office furniture brand developed by ITOKI Corporation (Head Office: Chuo-ku, Tokyo; President and Representative Director: Koji Minato), will participate in DESIGNART TOKYO 2026, one of Japan’s largest design and art festivals, taking place from October 30, 2026. At AUTOBAHN, the festival’s main venue on the KK Line (formerly the Tokyo Expressway), NII will present its latest collection to the Japanese public for the first time from October 30 (Fri.) to November 3 (Tue., National Holiday), featuring three new products: HAKUSAN, BIWA, and ALLROUND.

Visitors will have the opportunity to experience firsthand HAKUSAN, BIWA, and ALLROUND, the new collection first unveiled at Salone del Mobile.Milano 2026. The exhibition brings to life NII’s vision, “We set the stage for energizing work,” allowing visitors to experience the brand’s approach to creating inspiring workplace environments.

ABOUT DESIGNART TOKYO

DESIGNART TOKYO, launched in 2017 under the concept “INTO THE EMOTIONS,” is one of Japan’s leading design and art festivals. Set across Tokyo, one of the world’s most vibrant hubs of cultural diversity, the festival brings together leading talents from Japan and around the globe in fields such as interior design, art, fashion, technology, and food, transforming the city into a platform for creative expression.

This year marks the festival’s 10th anniversary, with the theme “Hibiki” (Resonance). The idea that new value emerges when designers and manufacturers, products and spaces, and people and people resonate with one another closely aligns with NII’s philosophy. Through its products and spatial presentation, NII seeks to create workplaces that foster connection, inspire collaboration, and stimulate new ways of thinking.

We invite visitors to experience NII’s vision of a workplace in resonance through this special exhibition.

EXHIBITION OUTLINE

Event Name: DESIGNART TOKYO 2026
Festival Dates: October 30 (Fri.) – November 8 (Sun.), 2026
NII Exhibition Period: October 30 (Fri.) – November 3 (Tue., National Holiday), 2026
Opening Hours: 10:00 AM – 7:00 PM
Special Hours:
　October 30 (Fri.), 2026: 12:00 PM – 7:00 PM
　November 3 (Tue., National Holiday), 2026: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Venue: AUTOBAHN (Main Venue)
　KK Line (Former Tokyo Expressway) / From Sukiyabashi Intersection to Ginza-itchome, Tokyo
　※Admission to the main venue requires a ticket.
Official Website: https://www.designart.jp/designarttokyo2026/

PRODUCT OUTLINE

The new collection brings together three distinct products by the London-based design studio Industrial Facility and ITOKI designers Kohei Wada and Hirotaka Tako.

Centered on the idea of bringing people together, the collection supports a wide range of workplace activities, from focused work and meetings to informal communication. Distinctive yet effortlessly integrated into a variety of environments, the designs encourage movement and interaction while offering a fresh perspective on what seating can be in contemporary workplaces.

HAKUSAN

HAKUSAN

HAKUSAN is a chair that combines distinct character with a sense of universality, composed of a steel and aluminum die-cast frame with a single molded plywood shell. Its distinctive forward-motion silhouette expresses both lightness and structural strength, bringing a quiet yet confident presence to any space. By using steel tubes with a larger diameter than typical stacking chairs, it achieves an appearance that balances lightness with the solidity of a dining chair. The contrast of materials and well-balanced proportions allow it to blend naturally into any setting while expressing a subtle individuality.

FUNCTION

  • HAKUSAN is designed to ensure ease of handling in everyday actions such as stacking and moving. By positioning the center of gravity directly beneath the armrest, it minimizes sway when lifted and creates a sense of lightness beyond its actual weight. Its structure allows the chair to be easily gripped from the front, enabling smooth stacking with minimal effort. Through repeated use, this ease of handling becomes intuitive, establishing it as a new standard in stacking chairs.

DESIGNER PROFILE
Industrial Facility

  • In 2002 Kim Colin (b. Los Angeles) and Sam Hecht (b. London) formed the design office Industrial Facility. Their approach reflects both a thoughtful consideration of form and a unique understanding of contemporary life, creating beauty out of utility in the products, furniture and exhibitions they design. They are sought for both their philosophical and pragmatic approach. Colin and Hecht have held creative director positions within Muji, Herman Miller and Mattiazzi and their international clients include Wästberg, &Tradition and Santa&Cole. They are Royal Designers for Industry with works held in the permanent collections of the Museum of Modern Art New York; Centre Pompidou, Paris; Helsinki Design Museum; and the Victoria and Albert Museum in London. In 2018, Phaidon Press published the complete works of Industrial Facility.
    Photo by Kane Hulse

BIWA

BIWA is a work chair defined by its soft, organic form that gently embraces the body while bringing a calm presence to any space. Its smoothly continuous shell and a shoulder rest that appears to float create a sense of both lightness and comfort, allowing for flexible seating that is not confined to a single posture.

While it carries a lounge-like character, BIWA is fully equipped with the functionality required for work, offering a new style of chair that bridges comfort and performance.

Available in 21 upholstery colors, the collection offers exceptional versatility and can harmonize effortlessly with a variety of spaces and interior styles.

FUNCTION

  • BIWA is equipped with essential functions required for work, including seat height adjustment, smooth synchro-tilt, and tilt lock at the initial reclining angle.
    The backrest is designed to accommodate flexible seating styles, with gently enveloping side panels that can also function as armrests. By embracing the subtle movements that occur with each change in posture, it enables a seamless transition between focus and relaxation.
    The floating shoulder rest, while visually light, provides a reassuring sense of support through its carefully shaped form, allowing users to rest their body comfortably without interrupting their flow of thought.

DESIGNER PROFILE
Kohei Wada (ITOKI, Product Design Department)

  • Product Designer, NII Design Team
    With a background in engineering—including mechanism and structural design—as well as expertise in ergonomics, Kohei Wada specializes in chair design that seamlessly integrates functionality, comfort, and refined styling at a high level. At ITOKI, he has consistently focused on the design of seating, including office task chairs, meeting chairs, lounge chairs, sofas, and lobby seating for public spaces. Seeing chairs as the objects closest to the human body, his enduring curiosity for chair design—so deeply embedded in everyday life—knows no bounds.
    He has received numerous awards, including the iF Design Award GOLD, Red Dot Design Award, and Good Design Award.

ALLROUND

ALLROUND

ALLROUND is defined by its gently rounded form and smooth, continuous surfaces, giving it a friendly and lightweight presence. Its simple structure, based on a single central column, combined with a minimal use of metal, allows the piece to blend quietly into its surroundings without asserting itself.

Its sculpted form, refined to its essence, becomes more expressive as it catches and reflects light. The soft curvature subtly shifts in appearance, creating a quiet yet distinctive presence within the space.

FUNCTION

  • ALLROUND features integrated casters concealed within the base*, enabling smooth, gliding movement without disrupting its clean appearance. It can be moved effortlessly when needed, allowing positions to shift naturally in response to people’s movements and the flow of interaction. Beyond its use as a stool, it can also function as a simple table, enhancing flexibility in layout across workshops, meetings, and lounge settings. Designed for versatility, ALLROUND adapts seamlessly to a wide range of situations within the office environment.

DESIGNER PROFILE
Hirotaka Tako (ITOKI, Chief Creative Director)

  • Creative Director and Product Designer, NII
    Hirotaka Tako takes a comprehensive approach that bridges and integrates seemingly opposing elements—object and experience, digital and physical, space and product—while striving for a creative expression that is both primitive and clear. During his ten years based in London, he was involved in the development and branding of products for global markets, as well as spatial design for offices and events, and participated multiple times in exhibitions at Salone del Mobile.Milano.
    After working at TOTO and Sony, he joined ITOKI. In addition to his role within the company, he is also active as an independent designer, creating furniture and objects. He has received numerous awards, including the iF Design Award GOLD, Red Dot Design Award Best of the Best, and the Good Design Award Gold Prize, and has served as a guest lecturer at design universities in Japan and the UK.

ABOUT 「NII」

NII

Ingenious design

NII is a furniture brand built on the concept of ingenious design, transforming the office into an engaging and vibrant stage. Working closely with globally acclaimed designers, NII creates innovative collections with a strong commitment to quality, comfort, and craftsmanship in every last detail. The distinctive design pursued by NII brings energy and inspiration into space—energizing teams, spurring communication, collaboration, and imagination. By connecting people, encouraging new ways of thinking and working together, and supporting new challenges, it becomes a driving force for creating new values.

BRAND OUTLINE

Brand Name: NII
Category: Office Furniture
Creative Director: Hirotaka Tako / ITOKI
Designers: AMDL CIRCLE
　　　　　　Todd Bracher
　　　　　　Rodolfo Agrella
　　　　　　Jun Aizaki / CRÈME
　　　　　　Industrial Facility
　　　　　　Hirotaka Tako / ITOKI
　　　　　　Kohei Wada / ITOKI
URL: https://www.nii-ingenious.com/
Instagram: @nii.design.official
Planning, Manufacturing and Sales: ITOKI Corporation

CORPORATE OUTLINE

  • Founded in 1890, ITOKI Corporation operates under its mission statement, “We Design Tomorrow. We Design Work-Style.” Leveraging its strength of “AI × Design based on PEOPLE,” ITOKI supports the creation of a wide range of spaces and environments through its business areas, including the manufacturing and sales of office furniture, office space design, workplace consulting, and office data analysis services, as well as furniture for home offices and learning environments, and equipment for public and logistics facilities.
    As hybrid work becomes more widespread and work styles continue to diversify, ITOKI is also expanding initiatives such as space DX solutions that enhance productivity and creativity, as well as consulting services that support optimal office operations through a hands-on, collaborative approach. In addition, ITOKI actively collaborates with external designers and partner companies to propose new work styles and workplaces for the future.
    URL: https://www.itoki.jp/

CONTACT

For media inquiries, requests for images, or interview opportunities regarding this exhibition, please contact the press representative below.

PRESS CONTACT
nii-press@nii-ingenious.com

SALES CONTACT
nii-sales@nii-ingenious.com