Seasons Large Serving Tray

An interpretation of functional kitchen and serving ware, Nao Tamura's Seasons Large Serving Tray is inspired by nature and technology viewed through the cultural lens of Japan. Like its smaller siblings, the large tray resembles a real leaf; it is flexible and enjoys its own shape leading to a multi-purpose, sculptural serving accessory. The silicone object, having won the Salone Satellite award at the Milan Salone Internazionale del Mobile 2010, is informed by the shape and role of the leaf within the culture of eating, in particular referencing rituals surrounding mealtime in the designer's homeland of Japan. The material chosen for the tray also becomes very relevant to the design, not only in the low-energy processes required to manufacture it, but also in its behavior where the trays are able to be rolled up, wrapped, and folded according to the dish being served.