Oki Sato

The Canadian-born Japanese product designer believes in the importance of encountering "small surprises" in our surroundings ... and he also believes the products that his Nendo design company creates should have a strong sense of storytelling. In this video you'll hear Oki Sato discuss his design philosophy as it relates to his intriguing reflective pond table (top photo).

Other surprising, story-filled products from Mr. Sato's Nendo operation:

skiima sofa - lighting and tables can be flexibly arranged within the seating system

moya low table - mysterious floating surface

shadowstand - iPhone stand that appears to cast a shadow

transparent lamp - fun with optics

scatter shelf - reflective angles on this shelf system play tricks on the eye

fadeout chair - floating on air?

decoboco sofa - three different cushion thicknesses

yori bench - slight twist moves people closer together

Robert Kuo

There's an ancient and a modern design sensibility in Beijing-born Robert Kuo's work. Prolific doesn't begin to describe his collaboration with and collections for McGuire Furniture, Baker Furniture, Ann Sacks Stone and Tile, Kohler Interiors Group, and S. Harris. The new S. Harris textile collection is influenced by dynastic Chinese patterns as well as western Art Deco and Nouveau styles.

No matter what Robert Kuo designs, there is a sense of strength and solidity, balance and calm, and the end results are consistently interesting and surprising.