Sori Yanagi – Japanese Industrial Designer

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Sori Yanagi. Butterfly Stools. 1956
Sori Yanagi. Butterfly Stools. 1956

Sori Yanagi (1915-2011) was an industrial designer from Japan. Although previously trained as a fine artist and worked in an architectural studio, Yanagi went on to study industrial design in 1947.

Biography

1952 he opened his design studio in Tokyo, the Yanagi Design Institute. He attracted attention with his award-winning Nippon Columbia record player. He also won the first prize at the Mainichi Industrial Design Competition in 1952.

As one of the first generation of Japanese industrial designers, he continued to attract attention to design in a wide range of media, from furniture to domestic products.

In his elegant plywood and metal butterfly stool (1956), he explored the combination of Japanese and Western tradition and the possibilities of modern materials blended with elegant shapes such as stainless steel and * Bakelite water jug for the Uehan Shoji Company (1958).

“The fundamental problem is that many products are created to be sold, not used”

Sori Yanagi 1915 – 2001

Recognition

The Gold Medal award further enhanced his reputation at the *Milan Triennale of 1957 and the prestigious *G Mark Prize in 1958 for his Aluminum Speed Kettle.

Works

Teapot by Sori Yanagi
Two-tiered container with lid, Folk crafts of Tottori prefecture by Yanagi Sori
Columbia record player and radio, model RG-700 by Yanagi Sori
Elephant Stool by Yanagi Sori

The Gold Medal award further enhanced his reputation at the *Milan Triennale of 1957 and the prestigious *G Mark Prize in 1958 for his Aluminum Speed Kettle.

As a founding member of the Japan Industrial Designers Association in 1952, he played an essential role in consolidating the emerging design profession. He also wrote extensively on design, including his book Sori Yanagi’s Works and Philosophy (1983).

He also played a role in Japanese design education, teaching at Women’s Art College Tokyo (1953-54) and the Kanazawa University of Arts and Crafts. Later in his life, in 1977, he became director of the Japan Folks Crafts Museum in Tokyo.

Sources

Byars, M., & Riley, T. (2004). The design encyclopedia. Laurence King Publishing.

Oxford University Press. (2004). A Dictionary of Modern Design (1st ed.).

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