While rushing through the aisles of Milan’s Salone Satellite this year (there wasn’t enough time to see everything!) I came across the nice and simple display space of an up and coming Japanese designer named Takashi Sato.

There were numerous displays this year, as always, that were simple and straightforward however something made me stop and look at his work a little more closely. That something was a pair of beautiful lamps called “Tongs” that are made from a single and elegantly formed piece of aluminium.

There was one black and one yellow, and while yellow is a color that usually turns me off I was so drawn in by the details and execution that I found that I actually preferred it in such a bright color…it went beyond the archetypal “white or black” color palette of many modernist designers (although the black one was very sexy too).

These turned out to be one of my top 5 picks of Milan 2008 and illustrate a good point about doing more with less. Executing simplicity the right way is difficult and Takashi’s work is a perfect example of this.

After marvelling at his lamps I noticed a few other great pieces, including his Coat Hanger which was nominated for a 2008 Design Report award and a beautiful felt folding stool.

I took note of his website which is definitely worth a visit.