Introducing “Ingenious Design” Concept through Working with Global Designers

Japanese office furniture brand NII will present its first exhibition outside Japan at Salone del Mobile.Milano 2026, marking its international debut with a showcase that brings together leading voices in contemporary design.

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BITMAP
Design: Todd Bracher
BITMAP is a reflection on flexibility, play, and the ways we inhabit space.
The piece is composed of two rectangular volumes — one larger, one smaller — fused along one edge. Where the smaller block meets the main volume, the balance becomes unexpected and the form appears almost suspended.
The smaller block functions as a side table, armrest, or additional seat, accessible from all sides. Although conceived as a single element, multiple pieces can be combined to create modular compositions, encouraging communication in multiple directions — side-by-side, face-to-face, or diagonally.

Developed within ITOKI Corporation—founded in 1890 and long established in the design of workspaces across Japan—NII builds on more than 130 years of expertise. Guided by the mission “We Design Tomorrow. We Design Work-Style.”, the brand reflects ITOKI’s ongoing focus on the evolution of work and its environments.

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CONNEXA
Design: Rodolfo Agrella
CONNEXA interprets the table as an infrastructure for conversation.
Its structural framework defines its organic character and supports transparent glass tops through a series of contact points, leaving the structure visible as a defining feature of the project. The composition is essential, and the system allows unlimited combinations and expansions through four different glass tops and five frame types, connected via dedicated connectors that ensure continuity and stability.
The design recalls biophilic forms, while its discreet presence invites gathering and dialogue.

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PIGNA
Design: AMDL CIRCLE – Michele De Lucchi
PIGNA articulates space through two elements: a divider and a sofa. The shingle-like panels gently screen the seating area, shielding it from view while still allowing light and air to filter through.
The collection is available in three configurations, calibrated to different levels of privacy: Low, with a height that preserves the perception of the surrounding environment; Middle, which reinforces a sense of enclosure; and High, offered exclusively as a divider, providing more defined screening.
The seating, wider than standard, ensures comfort. Together, the elements create a space that welcomes and protects, fostering communication within while maintaining a relationship with the outside environment.

At the Milan fair, NII will introduce four design series created in collaboration with AMDL CIRCLE, Todd Bracher, Rodolfo Agrella, and Jun Aizaki / CRÈME, positioning itself within an international design dialogue. The exhibition will include previously released works from Japan alongside new designs for 2026, including contributions by Industrial Facility, offering an early look at forthcoming collections.

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PARLAMENTO
Design : Jun Aizaki / CRÈME
PARLAMENTO interprets modularity as a space of continuous connection.
The system consists of four units of varying heights, designed to generate configurations that encourage interaction among multiple users. Sofas and tables, available in both low and high versions, evoke water ripples and organic morphologies through flowing, curvilinear forms that define space with fluidity.
Designed according to ergonomic principles, the elements facilitate interaction and information exchange in every direction and from any position. Flexible configurations create spatial continuity not only in meeting rooms, but also in reception areas and shared environments, where hospitality plays a central role.

Central to the presentation is the concept of “Ingenious Design,” through which NII explores how furniture can support communication, collaboration, and imagination in shared work environments. Emphasizing flexibility and adaptability, the designs propose dynamic spatial systems that respond to changing patterns of interaction and collective use.

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CONNEXA by Rodolfo Agrella
Photo credit: NII

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BITMAP by Todd Bracher
Photo credit: NII

Under the creative direction of Hirotaka Tako, NII extends ITOKI’s guiding principle—“Tech × Design Based on PEOPLE”—into a broader design research approach that foregrounds human experience in public space.

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PIGNA by AMDL CIRCLE
Photo credit: NII

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PARLAMENTO by Jun Aizaki / CRÈME
Photo credit: NII

HIROTAKA TAKO

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HIROTAKA TAKO
Chief Creative Director, ITOKI Corporation / Creative Director, NII
Photo credit: NII

Chief Creative Director, ITOKI Corporation / Creative Director, NII

After studying spatial design at Chiba University, Hirotaka Tako began his career at TOTO before joining Sony in 2003. He worked at Sony Design Center Europe in London, contributing to product development for the European market and participating in the Milan Salone. Back in Japan, he led creative direction across home entertainment, design R&D, and new business categories, later becoming Creative Director and Head of Sony Design Center Europe.

Since March 2025, he has been Chief Creative Director at ITOKI, overseeing global brand development, product design, marketing communication, and advanced design research. His work also spans spatial and interaction design for events, retail, and offices.

Alongside his corporate role, he designs furniture and objects as an independent designer, exhibiting internationally. His awards include iF Design Award Gold, Red Dot Best of the Best, and Good Design Gold Award.