An engineer with a passion for design, Isao Hosoe was born in Tokyo on March 8, 1942. He graduated in aerospace engineering with a thesis on a human-powered aircraft, then moved to Milan in 1967 to collaborate with Gio Ponti and Alberto Rosselli of the Ponti-Fornaroli-Rosselli studio.
In 1985 he founded his own studio Isao Hosoe Design and designs for some of the most important companies around the world and in various fields, from transport with the Meteor touring coach project, – awarded the Compasso d’Oro in 1970 – to furnishing elements for Cassina, furnishing accessories for Tonelli and even telecommunications instruments for Bosch.
Isao Hosoe with Alberto Rosselli, Meteor bus, Carrozzeria Orlandi, 1970
Meteor represents one of the first attempts at long-distance buses to improve the quality of design and passenger comfort: lower floor level, increased ceiling height, wide visibility and the entry of sunlight through a large roof window.
Japanese culture shines through in each of his projects, which he has skillfully infused into the Made in Italy design process. Extremely refined lines and careful use of materials, a concrete and critical approach aimed at creating emotional objects, attentive to the relationship they establish with people and their impact on collective well-being.
Left, Isao Hosoe, ashtray 4632, Kartell, 1971. On the right, Isao Hosoe with Marco Gaudenzi, Nicola Pari and Egiziano Azzolini, Fluida urban bike, Fluida s.r.l 2002
He knew how to collect ideas and concepts from fields far from design and translate them into a product, as in the Hebi lamp, made by collecting and assembling a piece of flexible tubing and other lamp parts found on the floor in the factory. An object that best expresses the designer’s favorite themes, which are also found in his more mature projects: ready-made, flexibility, ergonomics, and play.
Hebi, lamp for Valenti, 1972
Left, Isao Hosoe, Elica coffee table, Tonelli Design, 1989. A patented system of steel spheres rotates the base, accentuating the helical movement of the central column. On the right, Isao Hosoe, Albero magazine rack, Tonelli Design, 1988
Isao Hosoe Design and Lorenzo de Bartolomeis, SHOJI, 2017 A refined piece of furniture designed as a wardrobe for the entrance or bedroom: Shoji features a glass structure, sliding mirrored door, bench and sliding walnut drawers. Shoji has its origins in Japanese tradition, referring to sliding doors that indicate the relationship between the outside and the inside..
Alongside his professional activity, he also teaches at Italian and foreign universities, including the Polytechnic University of Milan, Domus Academy, La Sapienza University of Rome, Les Ateliers in Paris, and the University of Lisbon.
A fruitful career showcased in 5 solo exhibitions around the world and awarded with several international prizes, such as the Compasso d’Oro, the Gold Medal at the Milan Triennale, the Good Design Award and the IF Design Innovation. Isao Hosoe left us on October 3, 2015, and the funeral ceremony held in the Triennale’s Hall of Honor demonstrated how much he loved his Milan.
Isao Hosoe Design and Lorenzo de Bartolomeis, SHOJI cabinet, 2019
Nell’immagine di copertina, Isao Hosoe
