Yes, Nathan Yong is one of Singapore’s most respected product designers. But he is also a craftsman at heart and he has his brand Folks to prove it. It is a collection of furniture that “celebrates the purity of wood as a living and precious material”. But, as its name suggests, the brand is really about the “folks” behind the furniture—Asian craftsmen who have dedicated themselves to traditional carpentry works.

Moon Desk, Folks 3.0 by Nathan Yong

Tartan Sofa Bed, Folks 3.0 by Nathan Yong

Most recently, Folks released a new collection, simply called Folks Collection 3.0. This time, 14 new designs in wood and veneer pay homage to the skilled craftsmen of Japan. Yong has long had an affinity for Japanese woodwork—its attention to detail, its subtlety, its simplicity—and in that same breath, its complexity. Folks Collection 3.0 fuses this with Yong’s unique take on modern, everyday furniture, often designed with an almost architectural approach.

Cove Table, Folks 3.0 by Nathan Young

Crest Chair, Folks 3.0 by Nathan Yong

Pieces in the collection include the perfectly notched Skinny Coffee Table, the playfully composed Moon Desk, the architectonic Tartan Sofa Bed, and a range of both sturdy and nimble side tables. In a first, Yong has introduced the use of glass in two key pieces of the collection: the Clear Display Cabinet features a slender wood frame complemented by either clear or fluted glass and the ANTE shelf that recalls the abstracted lines of the De Stijl movement.

Skinny Coffee Table, Folks 3.0 by Nathan Yong

Trey Side Table, Folks 3.0 by Nathan Yong

Lotus Side Table, Folks 3.0 by Nathan Yong

The new collection continues Folks’ meaningful tradition earthy, craft-focused and humanistic design. More than an item of furniture, each piece is a visual and tactile memory to mark one’s everyday life.

Clear Display Cabinet, Folks 3.0 by Nathan Yong

Float Bed, Folks 3.0 by Nathan Yong

Shift Shelf, Folks 3.0 by Nathan Yong

Tri Bench, Folks 3.0 by Nathan Yong

Folks Collection 3.0 is currently on display exclusively at Grafunkt