Collection by Alissa Walker

Yakitate!

Yakitate, or "freshly-baked" in Japanese, is an accurate description of the piping hot talent curated by the online design magazine designboom for this year's Dwell on Design. Eight Japanese designers have been hand-selected by designboom for their unique blend of innovation and tradition, as well as their aesthetic connections to the modern design of California. The designers themselves will even be on-site and in-person, showcasing their craft in live demos. Visit the Yakitate schedule as part of the Exhibition at Dwell on Design, which you can see with an Exhibition Plus ticket. Register at dwellondesign.com. Check out fresh work from all eight designers here—still warm from the oven.

Wakako Kita

Wacco by Wakako Kita

As the daughter of Toshiyuki Kita, a legendary Japanese furniture designer, the illustrator and product designer was exposed early on to the world of locally-manufactured craft. 

Oriori bags are based on origami concepts, allowing them to be folded into smaller and smaller volumes until they become a thin strip of fabric which can be easily tucked away.
Wakako Kita Wacco by Wakako Kita As the daughter of Toshiyuki Kita, a legendary Japanese furniture designer, the illustrator and product designer was exposed early on to the world of locally-manufactured craft. Oriori bags are based on origami concepts, allowing them to be folded into smaller and smaller volumes until they become a thin strip of fabric which can be easily tucked away.
Eisuke Tachikawa

NOSIGNER by Eisuke Tachikawa

This Tokyo-based multidisciplinary designer manages a wide range of work which includes everything from graphic art to interior design with a focus on sustainability and technology. The HK Gravity Pearl is a set of artificial pearls which are magnetized, allowing them to "string" together into a bracelet, necklace or earrings.
Eisuke Tachikawa NOSIGNER by Eisuke Tachikawa This Tokyo-based multidisciplinary designer manages a wide range of work which includes everything from graphic art to interior design with a focus on sustainability and technology. The HK Gravity Pearl is a set of artificial pearls which are magnetized, allowing them to "string" together into a bracelet, necklace or earrings.
Yuji Kawauchi and Yuri Hamaguchi

Atelier Sango

A unique collaboration between an animation designer and a photographer is part animé, part claymation. Atelier Sango produces fine-art sculptures as well as animations for advertising campaigns, creating series like their Legend of Japan, which reimagines characters from traditional Japanese stories.
Yuji Kawauchi and Yuri Hamaguchi Atelier Sango A unique collaboration between an animation designer and a photographer is part animé, part claymation. Atelier Sango produces fine-art sculptures as well as animations for advertising campaigns, creating series like their Legend of Japan, which reimagines characters from traditional Japanese stories.
Kazuhiro Yamanaka

Kazuhiro Yamanaka Office

The elegant work of this London-based furniture and lighting designer can be found in chairs and lamps everywhere from MoMA to Colette. The gorgeous new 

Cielo lamp (right) takes inspiration from the colors of the sky with a lenticular shade that creates an ever-changing visual experience.
Kazuhiro Yamanaka Kazuhiro Yamanaka Office The elegant work of this London-based furniture and lighting designer can be found in chairs and lamps everywhere from MoMA to Colette. The gorgeous new Cielo lamp (right) takes inspiration from the colors of the sky with a lenticular shade that creates an ever-changing visual experience.
Kouichi Okamoto

Kyouei Design by Kouichi Okamoto

With a career that started as a DJ and sound producer, this designer has successfully integrated the concepts of light and sound into his products and installations, which often integrate his own musical talents. The 

Honeycomb Lamp installation featured dozens of paper lamps lit from within.
Kouichi Okamoto Kyouei Design by Kouichi Okamoto With a career that started as a DJ and sound producer, this designer has successfully integrated the concepts of light and sound into his products and installations, which often integrate his own musical talents. The Honeycomb Lamp installation featured dozens of paper lamps lit from within.
Junko and Yasumasa Shiba

Shibaya

This Shizuoka-based husband-and wife design team work exclusively with stone, a traditional craft that was inherited by Yasumasa when he worked at his family business. The 

Stone Candle Holder and Small Stone Plate is made with a composite of marble and stone which is hand-sculpted and shaped.
Junko and Yasumasa Shiba Shibaya This Shizuoka-based husband-and wife design team work exclusively with stone, a traditional craft that was inherited by Yasumasa when he worked at his family business. The Stone Candle Holder and Small Stone Plate is made with a composite of marble and stone which is hand-sculpted and shaped.
David Guarino

A Zillion Ideas

A multimedia agency founded by this French-born photographer launched the product line "everythingisaremix" that examines mashup and remix culture. These hats and skateboards are covered with vintage Japanese kimono fabrics, successfully blending two important design icons from two different eras.
David Guarino A Zillion Ideas A multimedia agency founded by this French-born photographer launched the product line "everythingisaremix" that examines mashup and remix culture. These hats and skateboards are covered with vintage Japanese kimono fabrics, successfully blending two important design icons from two different eras.
David Guarino

A Magazine Library

A second installation by Guarino was launched in Tokyo in March 2009 and has since traveled around the world. Over 1000 international magazines, zines and art brochures—most of which are Japanese, and many of which are rarely seen in North America—will be collected in a pop-up library and reading room at Dwell on Design.

Don't miss a word of Dwell! Download our  FREE app from iTunes, friend us on Facebook, or follow us on Twitter!
David Guarino A Magazine Library A second installation by Guarino was launched in Tokyo in March 2009 and has since traveled around the world. Over 1000 international magazines, zines and art brochures—most of which are Japanese, and many of which are rarely seen in North America—will be collected in a pop-up library and reading room at Dwell on Design. Don't miss a word of Dwell! Download our FREE app from iTunes, friend us on Facebook, or follow us on Twitter!