Zaishu was launched in 2004 by Australian designers Matthew Butler and Helen Punton at the prestigious Australian Centre for Contemporary Art in Melbourne. It was subsequently launched internationally at the Milan Furniture Fair and Milan Art Fair.

The name Zaishu is derived from the Japanese word ‘zaisu’ which refers to a seat without legs used in traditional Japanese homes.

Zaishu Studio operates in an ethical manner by providing functional eco furniture with an emphasis on social responsibility. Our art projects with artists and non-profit community and school groups are acclaimed internationally by galleries, design magazines and customers for their interactive and creative focus. Zaishu Studio uses furniture design to celebrate culture and encourage social unity.

In 2006 Home Beautiful Magazine named the Zaishu seat/table ‘Product of the Year’. The Sydney Powerhouse Museum has two on permanent display in their ‘Inspired Design Across Time’ exhibit. The Museum also premiered our Zaishu documentary filmed in India by Canadian director Mike Crowhurst.

The global success of Zaishu is owed to many generous collaborators including the following artists, designers and creative minds.

Special thanks to: Christopher Kaltenbach, Simone LeAmon, Spacecraft, Florence Broadhurst Library, Jan Murphy Gallery, David Bromley, David Band, Dumbo Feather Magazine, Third Drawer Down, Citylights Collective, Tin&Ed, Artisan, Cloth, Djaafar El Ghazi, Fred Ting, Rainer Spehl, Bon Gout, Mini Graff, Moth Design, Russel Kerr, Kerry Punton, Kaz Brecher, Daniel Barbera, Heidi Dokulil, Hande Renshaw, Jennette Snape, Trent Jansen and the hundreds of participants of our Zaishu art projects.

Some of our exhibitions include:

• Victorian State of Design Festival, Australian Centre for Contemporary Art
• Tokyo Design Week, Container Gallery
• Tokyo Designer’s Block
• Seoul Design Festival
• Milan Furniture Fair Salone del Mobile, 1000 Eventi Gallery
• Sydney Esquisse Design Festival
• Victorian State of Design Festival: WOW
  
• Vancouver 30 Days of Sustainability, Robson Square
• Stockholm 3rd Day Hope, STREET Gallery
• Berlin Design Mai, Gleisdreieck
• National Design Festival, Melbourne
• India Project at Samparc Children’s Village
• Sydney Powerhouse Museum, Inspired Design Across Time
• Buenos Aires Potencialidades
• Vienna & Zürich, Blickfang
• Fiji Tribewanted Project at Reformschool, Los Angeles
• New York Fashion Week, NOHO Manhatten
• Bangkok Design Festival, Australian Embassy Thailand
• Amsterdam, Galerie Schaap, The Netherlands
• Paris Maison & Objet
• Milan Macef, Italy
• New York International Gift Fair
• Museum of Contemporary Art, Sydney

Creativity, participation, responsibility and evolution are our driving forces as we look forward to new projects and directions. We invite you to join our mailing list or visit the website again for updates.