Things are in motion at ITO Design. Whether innovative new products, award wins or exhibition dates – always keep up with the news here.
22.09.2023
Harmoniously flowing forms and now a winner: the Hug office chair designed for Enova has been awarded the Red Dot Award 2023. The jury was particularly impressed by the integral, newly developed automatic weight control. We are thrilled!
02.08.2023
The 49th G7 summit took place from May 19 to 21, 2023 in Hiroshima, Japan, where the Group of Seven came together along with representatives of the European Commission and other nations and organizations. During this three-day summit, the FF was the perfect seating accommodation for long discussions. The office chair that was designed for ITOKI with its unique origami design and its exceptional back rest is not only a real eye-catcher, but also provides best seating comfort. (Image source: Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan)
01.02.2023
As is generally known, all good things come in threes. After the German Design Award 2022 and the iF Design Award 2022, our successful executive chair Amola has recently won the prestigious Good Design Award 2022. Congratulations go to our designer Joel Velasquez, who has obviously created a highlight with this elegant, slender leather chair designed for Goodtone.
13.05.2022
Two are better than one. Hence, we are all the more pleased about the second award for our executive chair Amola: After the iF Design Award, the slender leather chair has also received the renowned German Design Award. Once again, the jury appreciated the combination of modernity and elegance, which makes this piece of furniture a subtle but exciting eye-catcher in every office and conference room.
30.04.2022
Slender, lively, prize-winning: Our executive office chair Amola was awarded the 2022 iF Design Award for its outstanding features. The leather chair impresses not only with its sophisticated appearance, but also with premium quality, filling every office with dignity. The modern piece of furniture was developed for Goodtone.
09.11.2021
Our modern executive leather chair Leonis has been awarded with the renowned Good Design Award. The chair that was designed for ITOKI features an automatically adaptable headrest, especially aiming at users of mobile devices.
23.06.2021
Our modern executive leather chair Leonis has won the coveted Red Dot Award 2021. The chair that was designed for ITOKI keeps the digital era in mind. Thanks to its functions such as an automatically adjustable headrest, it is especially fit for users of mobile devices. Technology meets premium craftsmanship.
16.06.2021
Smart design, honoured again: after the Wan shell chair was awarded with the Good Design Award in December 2020, it was now able to win the renowned iF Design Award 2021. Developed together with ITOKI, the nesting multi-purpose chair features minimalist shapes, warm colours and a three-dimensional surface texture created with state-of-the-art algorithmic design methods.
14.05.2021
Our Silhouette task chair has won two prestigious prizes in 2021. Both Red Dot Award and iF Design Award committees recognized ITO Design’s innovative approach for combining a friendly design language with outstanding ergonomic features. Developed in collaboration with Comfordy, Silhouette wraps its mesh backrest around the dual-lumbar pads, creating a soft and cozy line flow.
02.12.2020
Our nesting multi-purpose chair Wan has been awarded with the renowned Good Design Award 2020. It was selected as one of the top 100 products across all categories. With ITOKI Wan, we have redesigned the traditional plastic shell chair. With its minimalist shapes and friendly colors, it feels very homely.
28.12.2019
Ellie Pro, a minimal lounge chair and an ergonomic task chair at the same time, has won the coveted German Design Award 2020. With this prize, an international jury honors innovative products and projects from all over the world. The chair was designed for Polish company Profim and is ideal for collaborative offices and home offices. His inner values are worth mentioning, too: The self-weighing synchro mechanism hidden inside allows for comfortable sitting.
27.12.2019
Our innovative stool Uebobo was honoured: The minimalst yet functional piece of furniture was awarded with the renowned German Design Award 2020. Among other things, the jury praised its „compact shape and light weight“, which make it the ideal stool for agile work in an open office. Uebobo does not only feature an iconic design with bright colors. Furthermore, the stool offers dynamic seating comfort just like sitting on an exercise ball as well as height adjustability.
21.06.2019
Another design from our house has been honoured with a Red Dot Award: This year, our multifunctional office chair QuA was able to win the renowned award. The name „Red Dot“ has established itself internationally as one of the most coveted quality labels for good composition and is well known among the broad public. QuA delights with its flexible back shell: It deforms three-dimensionally, perfectly adapting to the user in any sitting position – for ultimate comfort. Moreover, the chair convinces with its modern look.
27.02.2019
Sequa, the transparent-looking office chair by ITO Design, was awarded with the iF Design Award 2019. For this award, a 67-member international jury of experts annually evaluates exceptional design. Sequa was designed for Japanese company ITOKI. The chair combines structural and flexible zones in its mesh backrest, forming a highly adaptive structure which can dynamically follow the user’s movements while always providing optimal support. The chair’s active character is underlined by its light and transparent backrest design.
22.08.2018
We designed our premium office chair Violle for the Polish company Profim – now the chair has been awarded with the renowned Polish Must Have Award 2018. The award honors outstanding Polish designers and manufacturers that offer a special value to the customer with their products. With its sleek design, Violle is a premium product in the office-chair segment. Its warm and friendly personality is characterized by soft and organically flowing lines. Its high-quality aluminium back frame creates a harmonious silhouette that flows seamlessly into the armrests.
20.07.2018
A special honor: Uebobo, the innovative stool with the minimalistic look by ITO Design, was awarded with the Red Dot Design Award 2018 in the category „Best of the Best“. Only 1.1 percent of all competition entries were honored with this highest acolade within the Red Dot Award 2018. This year, a 39-member jury of experts from 21 countries chose the winners among 6,300 entries. The renowned Red Dot Design Award is announced by Design Zentrum Nordrhein Westfalen e. V. and has been presented since 1955. The Uebobo stool was developed for UE Furniture. Its simple design is surprisingly functional. Its colorful shell is made from a highly elastic fabric, allowing the product to freely turn, tilt and stretch without ever losing its iconic shape.
04.02.2018
Uebobo, the innovative stool with the minimalistic look by ITO Design, was awarded with the iF Design Award 2018. For this award, a 63-member international jury of experts annually rewards exceptional design – and has been doing so since 65 years. This year, the best works were chosen among 6,400 entries from 54 countries. The Uebobo stool was developed for UE Furniture. Its simple design is surprisingly functional. Its colorful shell is made from a highly elastic fabric, allowing the product to freely turn, tilt and stretch without ever losing its iconic shape.
16.01.2018
Our Mickey stool for sitting and standing that we designed for the Polish company Profim has won the main prize at the German Design Award 2018. The award honours innovative products and projects, their manufacturers and designers that are game-changing in the German and international design field. This is guaranteed by its top-class international jury. Mickey is a versatile, comfortable stool with a height adjustment rate of up to 330 mm and an integrated footrest that easily transforms into a standing aid. Its pendular movement of about 10° to all sides promotes dynamic sitting. The chair was presented at the 2016 Orgatec fair in Cologne for the first time. Since midyear of 2017, it has been produced in series by Profim. We are glad about the still very successful cooperation with Profim that has earned us such a renowned award.
15.01.2018
Our premium office chair Violle that we designed for the Polish company Profim has won the German Design Award 2018. The award honours innovative products and projects, their manufacturers and designers that are game-changing in the German and international design field. This is guaranteed by its top-class international jury. Violle is an office and conference revolving chair with terrific design. The focus lies on the high-class aluminium frame of the backrest, which is available as mesh or upholstery backrest. At the same time, Violle is a highly ergonomic chair with innovative synchronisation mechanics. The chair was presented at the 2016 Orgatec fair in Cologne for the first time. It will be available at Profim presumably starting from the first quarter of 2018. We are glad about the still very successful cooperation with Profim that has earned us such a renowned award.
13.01.2018
The Turkish design magazine Konsept Projeler has approached ITO Design because they wanted to publish an article about the Swiss-German design studio. It can now be read in the recent issue. The interview is about the history of ITO Design, the advantages of a multinational team and the distribution of tasks in the team. Besides, ITO Design’s philosophy is commented on and the typical design process is demonstrated using the example of the TeamUP Chair. Finally, the interview is about recent projects at ITO Design and an advice to up-and-coming designers tops off the article. You can read the interview in English language here.
12.01.2018
The German ITO Design office has changed its location: While we used to be based in Nuremberg, now our office is situated in the town of Fürth. We have chosen a special building as our new site: the so-called “Malzböden” (malt floors), the historic, heritage-protected factory building of the former Humbser brewery, built in 1887. After reconstruction and modernisation, the Malzböden have become an attractive commercial property that offers innovative room concepts – just the right place for ITO Design. Learn more about our new location here: www.malzboeden.de – feel free to pay us a visit there.
20.11.2017
As a supporting member of the bayern design association, ITO Design is taking part in their annual exhibition at Nuremberg Fairgrounds. Next to a timeline showing our 30 years history of product development we are showing our award winning task chairs FF by ITOKI and Fern by Haworth. Trade show visitors can find our display in the lounge area at the north-west entrance of hall 12. www.nuernbergmesse.de
05.07.2017
Two of our designs, the Haworth Fern chair and the ITOKI FF chair, have received the Red Dot Award 2017 for their innovative ergonomic functions and considered designs. The Red Dot is an internationally recognized label of excellence in design and we are very excited to have two of our products win this year.
23.06.2017
At the 42nd G7 summit in Ise-Shima, Japan, the heads of government of the Group of Seven came together along with some guest participants from other nations, presided over by Japanese prime minister Shinzō Abe. A chair developed by ITO Design provided the ideal seating comfort during the two-day summit: all participants sat on the ITOKI FF. The award-winning office chair with the innovative origami design helps to avoid fatigue even when sitting for a long time – just the right choice for an international summit. (Image source: www.japan.go.jp)
02.05.2017
Developed by ITO Design for the Polish furniture manufacturer Profim, our office stool design Mickey has been honoured with a TOP DESIGN award in the office category. TOP DESIGN is Poland’s most renowned award in the industrial design field, where an international jury selects prime examples of successful design from around the world. Mickey perfectly adapts to the evolving requirements of modern workplaces. The especially wide range of height adjustments transform the stool from a low seat into a standing aid as required. It promotes active sitting by tilting laterally and following the user’s natural movements. Designed to be compact, lightweight and easy to move around, Mickey promotes increased flexibility and spontaneity in the work environment. The collection will be available from Summer 2017.
10.03.2017
After two renowned awards from Japan and Chicago, the FF now also wins an iF Design Award 2017 in gold. For this prize, a 58 member jury chose their favorites among submissions from 59 countries. The iF Design Award especially honors clear intention as well as quality in execution, material and concept. The FF is the result of a three years development process: Its completely flexible backrest responds intuitively to the user’s movements. When reclining, the sides of the chair naturally contract to increase pelvic support. The chair provides upright seating positions for work as well as relaxed positions with a recline of more than 50°. It is available in black or white, complemented by 10 fabric color options.
07.03.2017
Families, in which children with physical disabilities live, are often faced with challenges when it comes to mobility: a wheelchair takes up a lot of storage space in the car so that oftentimes the whole family cannot go on a trip together. In order to improve this situation, Kinderspitex now provided a car that safely fits a 5-person family and a wheelchair in the canton of Zug. The families can rent the car for free and only bear the fuel costs. Among other sponsors, ITO Design Switzerland joined in financing the car. It can be booked from now on at www.spitex-mobile.ch.
30.01.2017
After the FF, an origami-inspired office chair with outstanding back support, designed by ITO Design in 2016, already won the Japanese Good Design Award, the chair is now also honored with the Good Design Award of the Chicago Athenaeum Museum of Architecture and Design. For this highly renowned design award, criteria such as innovation, sustainability, creativity, technology, material and ecologically responsible design are taken into account. The FF is the result of a three years development process: Its completely flexible backrest responds intuitively to the user’s movements. When reclining, the sides of the chair naturally contract to increase pelvic support. The chair provides upright seating positions for work as well as relaxed positions with a recline of more than 50°. It is available in black or white, complemented by ten fabric color options.
21.10.2016
From October 25 to 29, 2016, the biannual German trade fair „ORGATEC“ will open its doors again to international visitors. True to this year’s motto “Creativity Works”, ITO Design will be present at the fair with nine innovative products that bring fresh seating solutions into modern working environments. ITO Design has collaborated with international partners from the USA, Japan and other countries to realize these projects. Among the exhibits at ORGATEC 2016, there is the TeamUP chair: an adhoc workstation that flexibly adapts to changing work requirements, suitable for individual tasks or teamwork. The Fern chair focuses on postures and flexibility, bringing a new level of all-day comfort to the working population. Another outstanding product is the FF chair whose three-dimensional, origami-inspired form provides functionally advanced support to the back. Buy tickets online at www.orgatec.com. You can find the following brand new creations at ORGATEC 2016: TeamUP (Interstuhl), Fern (Haworth), Tensa Next (König + Neurath), 1000 (Kinnarps), FF (ITOKI), Kineo (Forma 5), Violle, Wyspa and Mickey (Profim).
20.10.2016
In collaboration with the Japanese company ITOKI, ITO Design created the FF, an origami-inspired office chair with outstanding back support, in 2016. Only months later, the project is rewarded with the Good Design Award 2016. Hosted by the Japan Institute for Design Promotion, the Good Design Award celebrates creative works that bring value to our lives. The FF is the result of a three years development process: Its completely flexible backrest responds intuitively to the user’s movements. When reclining, the sides of the chair naturally contract to increase pelvic support. The chair provides upright seating positions for work as well as relaxed positions with a recline of more than 50°. It is available in black or white, complemented by 10 fabric color options. If you want to experience the FF chair first hand, visit ORGATEC 2016 in Cologne where the chair will be exhibited. Learn more about the trade fair at www.orgatec.com.
19.10.2016
Developed together with partners Interstuhl and BASF, ITO Design finally reveals its new TeamUP office chair. The idea for the chair was born within the frame of a design contest held by BASF in May 2014: using high-tech materials in order to create a new archetype of chair, ITO Design’s concept won the contest. TeamUP combines a conference chair’s mobility with an armchair’s comfort: due to its light weight and its anti-skid rollers, the chair can easily be moved while its polyurethane foam cushion provides optimum comfort. Furthermore, TeamUP is adaptable to any situation: folding up its side elements creates instant privacy and an ideal atmosphere for concentration tasks; and when team work is required, its magnetic elements join up to four chairs into a circle. If you want to experience the TeamUP chair first hand, visit ORGATEC in Cologne or K Messe in Düsseldorf where the chair will be exhibited. Learn more about the trade fairs at www.orgatec.com and www.k-online.com. For more information about the chair, please visit the official microsite.
15.08.2016
In an August 2016 dialogue with Michael O’Neill, head of global workplace research at Haworth, designer Carlo Shayeb of ITO Design talked about the changed requirements for ergonomics at modern workplaces: While ergonomic improvements used to focus on cubicles and individual workplaces, there is much more collaborative work happening in today’s companies – which creates the importance of establishing ergonomic standards for group and standing workplaces as well. The edited conversation, based on the Haworth White Papers, was now published on design magazine Deezen’s website.
08.08.2016
With the launch of a completely revised website, ITO Design presents itself in a clean, modernized way. While ITO Design Germany and ITO Design Switzerland formerly had separate websites, they can now both be reached through the new platform. We invite you to navigate through the site to discover our projects. Learn more about our company, our philosophy and our services and find out what’s new at ITO Design. If you are interested in working with us or if you have any other inquiries about our work, feel free to contact us at mail@ito-design.com.