Toshiyuki Kita

Toshiyuki Kita

Toshiyuki Kita was born in Osaka, Japan, in 1942. After graduating from the Naniwa College of Industrial Design in 1964 he moved to Milan in 1969 where he worked with renowned designers such as Mario Bellini and Silvio Coppola. Years that had a decisive influence on his understanding of materials, form and function.

In 1971 he founded his own studio in Milan and subsequently worked internationally in the fields of furniture, industrial and product design. His most famous designs include the "Alto Basso" table for De Padova, the "Kyòs" kitchen range for Disegno Duo, lighting for Kreon, and seating for Moroso, Wittmann, Tecnolumen and Interprofil.

The "Wink" armchair, designed in 1980 for Cassina is iconic: with its transformable form, steel frame on castors, and striking upholstery it is considered a playful reference to Pop Art. "Wink" is represented in international design collections, including those at MoMA in New York, the Centre Pompidou in Paris and the Museum für Kunst und Gewerbe in Hamburg.

Kita has received numerous awards for his work, including the Japan Interior Design Award in 1975, the Product Design Award in the USA in 1983, and the Compasso d'Oro alla carriera for his lifetime achievement in 2011. He has also worked as a professor at the Osaka Art Academy and as a guest lecturer worldwide. His works have been exhibited in Milan, Vienna, Paris, Helsinki, Shanghai, and many other cities.

With his design style, which combines Japanese tradition with international modernity, Toshiyuki Kita is one of the most influential designers of our time.