by Anna Lazzaron
Designed by Jin Kuramoto, Pod is a collection of two friendly yet rigorous furniture that subtly invite a new relationship with space, encouraging different ways of sitting, gathering, and interacting.
Bridging the purity of Japanese design with the restless, inventive energy of Istanbul’s contemporary scene, the Pod collection designed by Jin Kuramoto, is quite an odd combination. Launched during Clerkenwell Design Week 2025, Pod is a promise made by its mother company, B&T Design: to keep surprising, rethinking the very basics of how we sit, touch, and gather.
Pod’s key characteristic is its geometric transformation. The family features a cylindrical structure that allows light to flow across the fabric, appearing to almost float in space. The furniture’s bodies do not actually touch the ground: they hover on height-adjustable bases, a detail that reinforces this sense of lightness while maintaining the comfort and structure provided by cold-molded HR foam and wooden cores. This balance between visual levity and physical solidity defines Pod’s distinctive presence in a room.
Gallery
Open full width
Quad by Jin Kuramoto x B&T Design, Mercado Design Days © Emirkan Cörüt
The designer Jin Kuramoto
Tri by Jin Kuramoto x B&T Design, Mercado Design Days © Emirkan Cörüt
Quad by Jin Kuramoto x B&T Design
Tri by Jin Kuramoto x B&T Design
Tri by Jin Kuramoto x B&T Design, Mercado Design Days © Emirkan Cörüt
Tri by Jin Kuramoto x B&T Design
Quad by Jin Kuramoto x B&T Design
Tri by Jin Kuramoto x B&T Design, Mercado Design Days © Emirkan Cörüt
Open full width
The collection offers the declinations of two basic forms: the triangle in Tri, and the square in Quad. By starting with the most basic shapes in their purest form, the ones we learnt to recognise as children, and then transforming them just enough to surprise us with a cylindrical section, the resulting pieces feel both comfortable and intriguing. Their enclosed shape encourages intimacy and conversation, distinguishing Pod from conventional sofas or benches and opening new possibilities for spatial interaction and communication.
Born in 1976, Japanese designer Jin Kuramoto established his studio in 2008, bringing with him a philosophy deeply rooted in his country’s design principles, grounded in simplicity. His core is to focus on the “essence of things”, an approach that becomes immediately apparent in the Pod. His interdisciplinary practice – spanning furniture, appliances, and automotive design – adds layers of exploration that help Pod establish a unique dialogue between space and human behavior.
Tri by Jin Kuramoto x B&T Design, Mercado Design Days © Emirkan Cörüt
B&T’s collaboration with Jin Kuramoto is especially meaningful. His poetic design approach and cultural depth add an emotional layer to their collection, reinforcing their belief that design is most powerful when shaped by different perspectives. To mark their first collaboration with Jin Kuramoto, B&T created 3 Days of Discovery in Istanbul, during which Kuramoto immersed himself in the textures, light, and rhythm of the city, shaping the emotional and cultural layer behind Pod. It was not only about developing new designs, but also about sharing emotions, exploring cultural exchange, and building a common design language together.
As he says, “When designing furniture, I focus on how the object can inspire the user and resonate with the space. Pod is about playful engagement – how people touch, sit and communicate through the object. I want it to come alive and enrich daily experiences.”
Quad by Jin Kuramoto x B&T Design
Rooted in craftsmanship from the very beginning, the furniture brand was founded in 1995 and has since grown into a global company, expanding its network to over 65 countries. Its story starts in a metal workshop shaped by hands-on skill, care, and a deep culture of making. Yet the journey did not stop at craft alone: early on, the founder recognised the potential of pairing that artisanal expertise with contemporary design thinking.
B&T’s philosophy starts with a simple question: “What can we do new today that will inspire people?“. Responding to that question, the brand creates not only design chairs, sofas, poufs and tables, but also looks, moods, emotions and feelings for inspiring spaces. Pod embodies this spirit, a synthesis of innovation and feeling.
Pod has been launched at Clerkenwell Design Week this year, coinciding with the brand’s 30th anniversary and the opening of a permanent showroom space in London.
