Tomoko Azumi

, t.n.a. design studio
Works with Barbara Etter
Tube-shaped vases explored glass, paper, and fire. Inspired by the pads of wet newspaper used by glassblowers to shape hot glass, soaked cardboard and paper molds were used to form the molten, liquid glass, which burned off the paper. The glassblowers blew molten glass into cardboard tubes slit and cut by the designer.
Tomoko Azumi GlassLab Design Program
Japanese, b. 1966
I wanted to bring in some sort of chance, and unpredictable control.

Tomoko Azumi was born in Hiroshima, Japan in 1966.  In 1989, Azumi received a B.A. in environmental design at Kyoto City University of Arts. She worked for an architectural practice in Tokyo before moving to London in 1992.  In 1995, Azumi earned an M.A. in furniture design from the Royal College of Art. In that same year, she co-founded a design studio in London, called AZUMI, with her former husband, Shin Azumi. 

Azumi opened t.n.a. Design Studio in East London in 2005, after dissolving her former partnership. Design work includes furniture, household and electrical products, lighting, shop and office interiors, and exhibition displays. The studio also conducts workshops and research projects. Clients include Abode, Design Nation, Guzzini, Habitat, Iittala, Keen, Phillips de Pury & Co, Röthlisberger, and Sfera.

Azumi was Research Fellow at London Metropolitan University from 2006 to 2007. She has also served as a juror for several design competitions, including Good Design Awards, JIDP, Japan (2008), 100% Design London (2009), imm Köln Furniture Fair Design Awards, Germany (2010), and D&AD Design Awards, UK (2012).

Videos: 

During Art Basel in June, 2011, GlassLab presented at the Vitra Design Museum. Designer Tomoko Azumi describes working at GlassLab during this event.

Events
GlassLab at Vitra Design Museum 2011
Art Basel/Vitra Design Museum |
June 14 - 19, 2011
The Vitra Design Museum and The Corning Museum of Glass partnered together during Art Basel 2011 to provide GlassLab on the Vitra campus. International designers, like Stephen Burks, Sigga Heimis,... more
Process: 
Tomoko Azumi GlassLab Design Program
Tomoko Azumi GlassLab Design Program
Tomoko Azumi GlassLab Design Program
Tomoko Azumi GlassLab Design Program
Tomoko Azumi GlassLab Design Program
Tomoko Azumi GlassLab Design Program
Tomoko Azumi GlassLab Design Program
Tomoko Azumi GlassLab Design Program
Tomoko Azumi GlassLab Design Program
Tomoko Azumi GlassLab Design Program
Tomoko Azumi GlassLab Design Program
Tomoko Azumi GlassLab Design Program
Tomoko Azumi GlassLab Design Program
Tomoko Azumi GlassLab Design Program
Tomoko Azumi GlassLab Design Program
Tomoko Azumi GlassLab Design Program
Tomoko Azumi GlassLab Design Program
Tomoko Azumi GlassLab Design Program
Tomoko Azumi GlassLab Design Program
Tomoko Azumi GlassLab Design Program
Tomoko Azumi GlassLab Design Program
Tomoko Azumi GlassLab Design Program
Tomoko Azumi GlassLab Design Program
Tomoko Azumi GlassLab Design Program
Tomoko Azumi GlassLab Design Program
"Tube" Vase Prototypes by designer Tomoko Azumi at GlassLab
Tomoko Azumi GlassLab Design Program
Tomoko Azumi GlassLab Design Program
Tomoko Azumi GlassLab Design Program
Tomoko Azumi GlassLab Design Program
Tomoko Azumi GlassLab Design Program
Tomoko Azumi GlassLab Design Program
Prototypes: