SHIGERU ITO

ITOSHIGE STUDIO is a craft and design studio based in Barcelona, founded and led by Japanese designer and artist Shigeru Ito. The studio specializes in upcycling cardboard into small-scale furniture and storage solutions.

Through a growing video channel, ITOSHIGE STUDIO shares original designs and step-by-step crafting tutorials using nothing but cardboard. These are accompanied by downloadable templates and instructional books, making the studio’s philosophy accessible to global audiences.

The designs are deeply influenced by traditional Japanese woodworking aesthetics—especially sashimono—and emphasize minimalist beauty, practicality, and seamless integration into everyday life. A signature technique of the studio involves hiding the corrugated edges of cardboard, allowing the pieces to appear refined and cohesive without requiring any additional materials.

Unlike woodworking, metalwork, or ceramics, this approach does not require large facilities or special equipment. Anyone can begin crafting using materials they already have around them. As of July 2025, ITOSHIGE STUDIO is followed by over 130,000 people across all social media platforms

Through cardboard upcycling, the studio promotes sustainability while sharing Japanese values such as “knowing what is enough” (taru wo shiru) and the beauty of imperfection (wabi-sabi). The goal is to present a new form of craftsmanship that is both environmentally conscious and artistically expressive.

ITOSHIGE STUDIO aims to share 100 unique cardboard design projects by the end of 2026 (34 released to date), and actively seeks collaboration with educators, crafters, and organizations around the world to further spread a culture of beauty through reuse.