Sho Ota’s research focuses on the forms and textures that surround us. His “Surfaced” collection reveals the structures beneath industrial surfaces. For example, the collection’s coat rack shows the structure of wood to the viewers, while also turning a common piece of furniture into a functional sculpture. The final form appears throughout the creation process, and is also enhanced by the wood, as its appearance and texture can vary, making each piece unique.

Sho Ota (b. 1984, Japan) is a designer based in Eindhoven, The Netherlands. After graduating from Design Academy Eindhoven with an MA of Contextual Design in 2018, he started his own design studio there. Before coming to the Netherlands, he had been working as a designer and prototype maker at a wooden furniture manufacturing company in Japan.