Tokujin Yoshioka has received the 2012 NOW! DESIGN à VIVRE award – given each year by Maison & Objet, Paris, to one creator, acknowledged as most influential in making an impact on the world’s creative design scene.

Yoshioka was born in Saga, Japan in 1967 and graduated from Kuwasawa Design School in Tokyo.  After graduation, he studied under Shiro Kuramata and Issey Miyake, before going free-lance in 1992, and establishing the Tokujin Yoshioka Design Office in 2000. While he has collaborated with companies such as Hermes, BMW, and Swarovski, his works transcend the boundaries of product design, architecture, and exhibition installation, and are highly valued as pure art.

Shown above – Yoshioka’s “Crystalized Project” featuring (from top left to bottom right) his Tear Drop light, “The Invisibles” chair designed for Kartell, “The Invisibles” chairs and “Snowflake” installation for Kartell – Italy 2010, Venus Natural Crystal Chair, Second Nature exhibit – Japan 2008.