Milan Design Week 2026
RYOTA YOKOZEKI STUDIO will hold a solo exhibition in the 5 VIE area.
Under the theme of "From Flat," the exhibition will feature several new lifestyle items created from flat materials in three dimensions.
Title: From Flat
Dates:
April 20th (Mon) - 26th (Sun), 2026, 10:30 AM - 8:00 PM
Press Preview : April 19th (Sun), 7:00 PM - 10:00 PM
5vie Party : April 22nd (Wed), - 11:00 PM
Venue:
Cavallerizze
Leonardo da Vinci National Museum of Science and Technology
Via Olona, 4, 20123 Milano
Everything begins
from flat.
“From Flat” is a design theme centered on the process of transforming flat materials (sheet materials) into three-dimensional forms. In my studio, hands-on experimentation with diverse materials gives rise to ideas and structures that inspire me to create new lifestyle pieces. Behind this project lies a multifaceted and neutral perspective, encompassing social communication, environment and portability, material diversity and potential, form and structure. Through this solo exhibition, I draw inspiration from the history, materials, and processes of mass production to explore and express new interpretations and values.
Ideas and Structures Born from Hands-on Creation
Looking back, as a Japanese, I’ve been familiar with origami since childhood. Creating something three-dimensional from a flat sheet has therefore always remained one of the most instinctive and fundamental ways for me to create. This act of creation carries a different kind of appeal from European traditions rooted in carving stone or kneading clay.
In an era increasingly shaped by digital tools, working directly with one’s hands continues to spark unexpected discoveries like new ideas, coincidences, subtle tensions, functions, and forms. “From Flat” embraces these diverse qualities, allowing them to coexist in a positive dialogue.
Form and void, front and back, coarse and dense, tension and relaxation, contradiction and coherence. Strength, lightness, weight, crumpling, resilience. Folding, bending, pulling, overlapping, transparency, reflection, gravity, tension. By constructing materials into three-dimensional forms, form becomes a carrier of both function and emotion.
Environmental Resources and Portability
We seek creative delivery methods that transcend conventional flat-pack concepts. Today's globalised manufacturing demands environmental performance, driving rapid growth and optimisation in delivery systems.
Without simplifying products at the expense of quality, flat-pack offers a way to reduce environmental impact by reinterpreting value beyond efficiency alone. They require not only the appeal of packaging that protects contents, but also the appeal of structure itself, and the appeal of an experience and hospitality that resonates with the user. Furthermore, an easy-to-assemble structure is also one that facilitates recycling by separating materials, making it appealing from an environmental perspective.
Social Communication
I favour teams where discussions can build upon each member’s specialised expertise. Rather than judging people through their background, circumstances, status or education, I believe in first approaching people on a flat, open footing. By respecting each individual’s personality, experience, expertise and potential, we can build multidimensional teams and relationships that move beyond mere hierarchies. This approach raises the quality of everything we create together.
During Covid, the world became temporarily flattened, prompting industries everywhere to reconsider a fresh start. In today’s modern landscape where industrial development and social structures continue to grow more complex, this feels like an important opportunity to rethink how society evolves. When viewed from a flat level, creativity and standardization, natural and artificial systems, mass production and craftsmanship, coexistence and individuality: they all offer a framework for imagining what comes next.
The Diversity and Potential of Materials
We approach both natural and synthetic materials with equal consideration. By understanding each material's characteristics and combining them purposefully, we can discover their new appeal and possibilities. Natural materials such as wood, paper, and leather, as well as mineral resources like stone, iron, and glass, possess an undeniable appeal. Yet at the same time, we hold equal respect for industrial-standard sheet materials such as plastics, rubber, film, and composite materials which are products of scientific and industrial development.
With industrial progress, numerous standardised sheet materials have been invented. While they may seem standardized and unremarkable, they are inventions packed with the wisdom of our ancestors. By reinterpreting these evolved materials and introducing intentional form through shaping, we unlock new expressions, meanings and potential.
