Jack Sasaki always dreamed of becoming a woodworker.

​

A Tokyo native, he moved to Seattle with his family at age 16 and went on to study architecture at the University of Pennsylvania. At a young age, he was already moved by the story of the seminal Japanese woodworker George Nakashima, who started his furniture-making studio later in life.

​

But after college, Jack returned to Tokyo, where he found success developing high-end properties for one of the country’s largest construction firms—eventually transferring to the company’s Southern California office in 2000. Decades would pass until, at age 55, he finally realized his dream. In 2018, Summer Studio was finally born with one humble stool made in central Los Angeles, where Jack raised his family.

​

The collection evolved rapidly and organically. The sleek Nord Chair—a “deceptively simple” piece inspired by the gentle curves of antique Swedish folk furniture—quickly became a bestseller among A-list interior designers like Jake Arnold.

​

As creative director, Jack embodies Summer Studio’s vision, which is all about mindful simplicity. He describes his approach as minimalistic, but his country of origin also informs his designs. Yearly trips to Kyoto, renowned for its use of wood in residential architecture, offer endless inspiration, as does absorbing the slow-paced films of Chinese directors like Jia Zhangke. We spoke with Jack about his practice, his tried and trusted materials, and what makes an exceptionally great dining chair.

​

My design philosophy

My designs are merely an extension of what other furniture makers have done in the past. I only take small steps in creating something new and special, which is actually a difficult task.

​

My materials of choice

We mainly work with wood, specifically white oak, black walnut, and dyed black ash. I’d love to expand into other materials, including fabric and metal.

​

What inspires me

European mid-century modern architecture and design, especially from France.

​

What makes the perfect dining chair

I love dining chairs that are intended for everyday use. Our chairs are often paired with kitchen tables for casual meals, where people spend a lot of time every day. The chair has to be comfortable and age well. Understated charm is also important.

​

What sets Summer Studio apart

Every product is highly functional and logical in its construction, which reflects my architectural background. Each piece is crafted at our workshop in Los Angeles by skilled craftsmen using cutting-edge machinery.

​

My idea of ultimate luxury

Living with pieces designed by you or your friends feels like the ultimate luxury to me. It makes you feel connected to others and comfortable with yourself.

​

What I’d love to add to our assortment

I’d love to design a flat-pack chair that actually works for the luxury market. This is, of course, for environmental reasons.

​

What’s next for Summer Studio

We have so many exciting products in our pipeline! This year, we’re adding a new chair, a counter stool, and a pendant lamp to our selection.

​