Dezeen School Shows: an adjustable stool crafted from cord and wood inspired by a traditional Japanese string game is among projects from Okinawa Prefectural University of Arts.

Also featured is a shelving unit referencing traditional Okinawan buildings, and a tray crafted of discarded wood.

Okinawa Prefectural University of Arts

Institution: Okinawa Prefectural University of Arts
Course: Department of Design
Tutor: Hiroki Takada

School statement:

"At Takada Laboratory within the Design Major at Okinawa Prefectural University of Arts, students are guided to create work that connects local culture, material exploration and international design discourse.

"The studio emphasises research, sketching, prototyping and full-scale production, supporting students in developing projects from initial ideas to exhibition-ready outcomes.

"A defining feature of the laboratory is its exhibition-led approach. Students are encouraged to produce work with the clarity, originality and finish required for international presentation, including exhibition contexts such as SaloneSatellite in Milan.

"Through this process, they learn to see design not only as object-making, but also as a form of communication that can engage wider audiences.

"The laboratory also places strong value on close individual mentoring. Each student is supported in refining ideas, materials and design language through sustained one-to-one guidance.

"This approach has contributed to a growing record of international recognition, including multiple iF Design Award and A' Design Award achievements.

"By combining careful mentoring, practical making and outward-looking presentation, Takada Laboratory cultivates designers able to develop original work with both local depth and broader contemporary relevance."

Airom by Hiroto Nakamura

"Airom is a lighting installation that gives visible form to air through tracing paper. The material takes shape only when filled with air, while the light inside softly reveals its presence.

"Each shade is hand-formed without moulds, resulting in subtle differences and an organic character.

"The project explores the relationship between air, light and form, transforming an invisible element into a gentle spatial experience.

"Its name combines the ideas of air and form, expressing a structure that appears temporary and delicate, yet becomes present through inflation and illumination."

Student: Hiroto Nakamura
Course: Design

Ki-ri stool by Yuimi Yonesu

"Ki-ri Stool draws on the quiet charm of Japanese paper. More than a decorative material, it holds light and air, returning them as a gentle glow and subtle movement.

"The design reflects the Japanese sensibility of ma, creating a sense of stillness that calms the surrounding space.

"Layers of paper soften the form and give the stool a delicate presence, while the wooden structure adds warmth and stability.

"Both Japanese paper and wood age gracefully over time, deepening in tone and revealing traces of shared use.

"The piece explores how material, atmosphere and time can quietly shape everyday experience."

Student: Yuimi Yonesu
Course: Design

Jellyfish Table by Erina Oshiro

"Jellyfish Table is inspired by the graceful movement of jellyfish drifting through the ocean.

"Although jellyfish are naturally soft, this design reinterprets their organic form through contrasting materials: glass and bent steel rods.

"The legs are created from flowing curved rods gathered together to evoke the rounded, floating presence of a jellyfish.

"A transparent glass top reveals the vivid structure beneath and allows light, colour and reflections to interact across the surface.

"Through its delicate balance of fluid lines and clear materiality, the table brings a sense of softness, lightness and quiet movement into the interior."

Student: Erina Oshiro
Course: Design

Flowerblock Shelf by Mizuki Chinen

"Flowerblock Shelf is inspired by 'flower blocks' a distinctive architectural feature commonly found in Okinawan buildings.

"These perforated concrete blocks soften strong sunlight while allowing air to pass through, combining function with decorative beauty.

"This project reinterprets that quality in a shelving structure by creating gaps between the wooden boxes, giving the piece a light and airy character.

"The open framework reduces visual heaviness and brings a sense of spaciousness to the surrounding interior.

"By translating a familiar element of Okinawan architecture into furniture, the design connects local building culture with contemporary everyday living."

Student: Mizuki Chinen
Course: Design

PoinT by Yuina Nakada

"PoinT is a minimalist stool inspired by the simple beauty of triangles. The design explores how negative space can transform a solid form into something light and airy, giving the object a floating presence that blends naturally into its surroundings.

"Constructed from angular wooden planes, the stool balances clarity of form with visual openness.

"A gap in the seat is designed to fit the hand, allowing the stool to be easily carried.

"By focusing on the relationship between structure and emptiness, the project creates a practical piece of furniture with a quiet, understated beauty suited to everyday use."

Student: Yuina Nakada
Course: Design

Strings by Yuuna Yamashiro

"Strings is a stool inspired by the Okinawan sanshin, a traditional stringed instrument.

"Tensioned cords run across the structure, allowing users to personalise the object by slipping everyday items between them.

"More than a simple storage feature, this interaction creates a subtle emotional connection between the user and the objects they choose to display.

"The moulded plywood form provides gentle curves, stability and visual lightness.

"By combining storage, personal expression and functional seating, the design adapts to its user and brings small moments of richness and individuality into everyday domestic life."

Student: Yuuna Yamashiro
Course: Design

Flower Basket Stool by Minori Furugen

"Flower Basket Stool is designed as a personal vessel for holding treasured everyday items. Slender steel rods lean together to support the seat, expressing the idea that strength can emerge through mutual support.

"The open structure allows users to place favourite objects inside, making each piece feel personal and complete through use.

"This interaction transforms the stool into a one-of-a-kind object shaped by its owner's choices.

"With its flower-like seat and gently curving lines, the design brings a soft rhythm and playful character to the interior, combining seating, storage and emotional attachment in a single form."

Student: Minori Furugen
Course: Design

Cube by Saya Takamine

"This project is inspired by the contrast between artificial urban structures and the resilient vitality of plants emerging from their crevices.

"It reinterprets this relationship as an object for everyday living, bringing the quiet presence of nature into the domestic environment.

"The design expresses the tension between hardness and growth, permanence and change. While the form has a distinct sculptural presence, it gently tapers to avoid overwhelming the surrounding space.

"By translating a familiar urban scene into an interior object, the project encourages renewed awareness of nature’s subtle resilience within built environments."

Student: Saya Takamine
Course: Design

Bee tray by Yuki Nakasone

"In Okinawa, where seasonal storms are frequent, trees are often damaged or felled by strong winds, and parts of this timber are discarded.

"This project reuses such material and reconfigures it as a tray. By layering wood from different tree species, the design reveals variations in colour, grain and density while creating a structured composition.

"The curved form highlights the natural richness of the reclaimed timber, giving new value to material that might otherwise be wasted.

"Its striped arrangement also recalls the pattern of a honeybee, connecting the object's visual rhythm to a quiet reference from nature."

Student: Yuki Nakasone
Course: Design

FlipFlipFlip by Sen Itoman

"This wall-mounted board is designed to organise and display different kinds of information within the home.

"Walls often hold a mix of cherished photographs, favourite posters and practical documents, making it difficult to separate what should be shown from what needs to be referenced.

"The design uses a system of layered panels that can be flipped through, allowing users to switch between categories of information as needed.

"By combining storage, display and interaction in a single wall-mounted object, the project creates a balance between memory and function, helping users manage everyday information while keeping personal images visible in the living space."

Student: Sen Itoman
Course: Design

Yui stool by Eito Yamanaka

"Yui Stool is inspired by ayatori, a traditional Japanese string game in which a single loop of string is transformed into many different shapes by hand.

"Based on this idea, the stool allows its form to be freely adjusted by the user. It is constructed from five pairs of wooden rods, representing hands interacting with the string.

"The red cord creates both structure and movement, giving the piece a playful and dynamic character.

"By combining flexibility with a clear structural logic, the design reinterprets a familiar childhood game as an interactive piece of furniture."

Student: Eito Yamanaka
Course: Design

Partnership content

This school show is a partnership between Dezeen and Okinawa Prefectural University of Arts. Find out more about Dezeen partnership content here.

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