YOY is a Tokyo-based design studio founded in 2011 by Naoki Ono and Yuki Yamamoto. Known for their conceptual approach, YOY creates furniture, lighting, and interior spaces that challenge perceptions, transforming familiar forms into functional pieces with a minimalist edge. Their designs have gained international acclaim, been showcased at leading exhibitions in Milan, Tokyo, and beyond, and been awarded prestigious accolades, including the Red Dot Award.
Driven by a philosophy that blends artistic imagination with practical application, YOY’s work brings a unique narrative to contemporary design. Each creation invites interaction and evokes curiosity, seamlessly blending form with purpose. With their focus on simplicity and conceptual depth, Ono and Yamamoto’s designs offer a fresh perspective on everyday objects, creating pieces that are as thought-provoking as they are functional.
"We always think of ideas together and when we find an idea that we both like we start to make prototypes together. Yuki’s often in charge of making physical things with craftsmen and contractors, on the other hand, Naoki’s often in charge of thinking how to communicate with this idea regarding how it should look and copywriting etc" - YOY