Seiko Instruments Inc. (SII), based in Chiba, Japan announces the July, 2005, release of its “TO” [ti: ou] watches, the third series produced by ISSEY MIYAKE, following “INSETTO” and “VAKIO”.
The “TO” series well reflects Tokujin Yoshioka’s unique approach to design. He begins with selection of a material; then extracts its character, minimalizing design elements. As a result, the watches look as if they have been sculpted from a lump of metal. The fusing of ISSEY MIYAKE’s creative vision and SII’s advanced technology of watch-making now embraces the design inspirations of Tokujin Yoshioka, giving birth to the new “TO” series.
Tokujin Yoshioka
Interior Product Designer
Born in 1967. After studying design under Shiro Kuramata and Issey Miyake, he established Tokujin Yoshioka Design in 2000.
Since 1992, he has designed stores for “ISSEY MIYAKE,” “A-POC” and “PLEATS PLEASE ISSEY MIYAKE,” and exhibition spaces for, among others, “ISSEY MIYAKE Making Things” (Paris, New York and Tokyo,1998 – 2000) and “A-POC MAKING: ISSEY MIYAKE & DAI FUJIWARA” (Berlin, 2001). Also he designed space installations for “Robot Meme” ( Tokyo, 2001), “BMW” (Tokyo, 1998) and “HERMES” (Tokyo , 2002 – 2004).
At the Salone Internazionale del Mobile di Milano in 2002, he released chairs called “Honey-pop” (selected for the permanent collection of MoMA) and “Tokyo-pop.” Also, he worked on installations at dadriade based on the concept of future Japanese gardens. In 2004, he released a chair called “KISS ME GOODBYE.” Other experimental designs across diverse fields include the illuminator “ToFU” (2000), and the street furniture “Chair Disappearing in the Rain” (2003) and “SOFT BOING” (2004).
He has received numerous prizes, including the A&W AWARD – THE COMING DESIGNER FOR THE FUTURE (2001) and the 2001 Mainichi Design Award (2002).
Contact Information
Press Contact
Seiko Instruments Inc.
Corporate Communications Group
Io
Fax:+81-43-211-8011
e-mail:pr@sii.co.jp
Product Inquiry
Watch Sales & Marketing Dept.
Hirofumi Suzuki
e-mail:hirofumi.suzuki@sii.co.jp