Founded in Toronto in 2011 by designers Jessica Nakanishi and Jonathan Sabine, MSDS Studio works across interiors, furniture, lighting and product design. Their work has a sense of restraint while leaving room for surprise. Craftsmanship and materials are celebrated, yet the final product never feels overly precious.

This sensibility extends to the way Nakanishi and Sabine work. MSDS stays closely involved throughout the design process, embracing prototyping and collaboration as a way of letting projects evolve. 

We spoke with Jessica and Jonathan about how MSDS came to be, why materiality matters, and the value of leaving a little room for the unexpected.

Q: How did the two of you first decide to start designing together? 

A: It happened naturally. A group of us were putting on shows at the time, so we were presented with an opportunity to collaborate. Soon after we began collaborating we landed some larger paid projects and the momentum just carried us forward.

Q: What does MSDS stand for, and how did you decide on that name?

A: It stands for Make Stuff Design Stuff. It’s also an initialism of Material Safety Data Sheet, a component of the Canadian workplace safety program. That aspect of it is a reference to the workshop origin of our practice. The name was a decision we made on the fly; we felt it expressed a DIY ethos and a relaxed attitude towards the world of design, which tends towards the self-serious.

Q: Your work has such a thoughtful relationship with materials. How do you choose which ones to highlight in a project?

A: Often it’s a confluence of our interest, what material meets the demands of the project, and the constraints of the budget. Materiality is, like, half the job, and a sensitivity to it isn’t unique to us or to our time. 

Q: Are there specific fabrics or textures you’re always drawn to when it comes to getting dressed?

A: We both prefer natural fabrics with dimension, ruggedness. Wool, cotton, linen, etc. We like clothes that last a long time and which gain character through use.

Q: Collaboration seems like a big part of your work, whether with clients or fabricators. What does a really good collaboration look like to you? 

A: Good design/art involves surprise and unpredictability, and there are different ways of achieving these things: cleverness, parametrics, abstraction, etc. A good collaboration will involve the other party acting as a variable, taking you in a direction that you wouldn’t have gone on your own.

Q: Looking back, what was the biggest learning curve in the early days of designing as a team? Any advice you would give to your younger selves?

A: Be careful about who you license your design to. The wrong decision can cost you tens of thousands or more. Finding good staff is hard, being a good boss is even harder. Go out as much as possible, though it’s hard because this field requires WORK. You have to meet people and be out in the world. 

Shop Jessica & Jonathan's Looks

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