Now in its 19th year, Maison & Objet is an interior design exhibition held twice a year in Paris, in the fall and winter. It's considered one of the three major trade fairs, alongside Italy's Milano Salone and Germany's Ambiente, and covers almost every genre of design, from interiors to crafts and toys. This winter's event took place over five days, from January 18th to 22nd. The event attracted a total of 76,000 visitors, roughly half of whom were from outside France, demonstrating the high level of international attention it garners. Approximately 1,700 of these visitors were Japanese, accounting for roughly 5% of visitors from outside France, the highest number outside of neighboring European countries. The large number of Japanese exhibitors also demonstrates the strong Japanese interest in the French market. The venue, "Park Des Expositions," is located in the north of Paris, making it easily accessible from both Charles de Gaulle Airport and the city center. It consists of eight halls, divided into sections such as ethnic, tableware, interior decoration, and home accessories. The "Now! Design Vivre" hall is the only one where select brands and products considered creative, regardless of genre, set up booths. Awards were also given, with French architect Odile Decq winning the "Designer of the Year" award in the overall category, and fellow French architect Joseph Dirand winning in the interior design category. The "Now! Design A Vivre" category, which Tokujin Yoshioka won last fall, was awarded to British industrial designer Barber Osgerby, who designed the Olympic torch for last year's London Olympics, and their exhibition took place in a large space.

Barber Osgerby is a studio founded in 1996 by the duo Edward Barber and Jay Osgerby, both graduates of the Royal College of Art. They are one of the most notable design studios today, having been selected as Designer of the Year by the UK Design Museum last year. This time, their latest work, "Tobi-ishi Table," inspired by the idea of stepping stones in Japanese gardens, was also on display.