Maison & Objet was held in Paris in January. Here we introduce some of the booths that attracted attention at this trade fair, which brings together the latest design products from around the world.

■ Lladró
This year marks the 60th anniversary of the brand, and as with last year, Lladró exhibited collaborative works with Spanish artist and designer Jaime Hayon. Hayon has been expanding his range of activities in Japan, presenting collaborative works with Kutani ware, and has been attracting attention. This time, following on from last year's "The Guest," the brand unveiled its new "Dazzle" series, featuring birds with striped patterns.

■ Y'a pas le feu au lac
A French wooden furniture brand founded in 2011, with a brand name that translates to "there's no need to rush." Founded by furniture makers Grégory and Marie Bodel and designer François-Xavier Balléry of the design studio "Fx Balléry," HAY aims to establish itself as a French brand of contemporary wooden accessories and furniture, cherishing the warmth of wood. While collaborating with various designers, each item maintains a consistent sense of unity.

■HAY
Established in 2002 with the concept of recapturing the charm of Danish design from the 1950s and 1960s. Its designs are considered exemplary of Danish furniture design, characterized by a blended sensibility typical of Scandinavian brands, and its impressive wooden lattice exhibition space. Its minimalist, natural atmosphere, distinct from French and Italian design, is highly compatible with Japanese sensibilities.

■Pijama
Exhibiting from Milan, Italy. Already a popular brand in Japanese design boutiques, the brand produces neoprene cases for gadgets like iPhones and iPads, and new sizes and colors are on display in addition to existing products. The brand's name comes from the idea that gadgets are covered in cases when not in use, i.e., while sleeping, and the covers are like pajamas.

■Kapla
A building block brand launched in France in the 1980s by Dutch designer Tom van der Bruggen. From the late 1980s to the 1990s, the brand won numerous toy awards. While very simple, the products are not only a toy that fosters imagination, but also attractive as interior accessories, thanks to the highly designed wooden boxes.

■Lactea Lamp
VIA (French Association for the Promotion of Creative Furniture) used a large space to exhibit works by young designers. Among the exhibitors, Shoji Katsume, a promising young designer from Japan, was invited to exhibit his Lactea Lamp. "Lactea" is Latin for "Milky Way." The stylish design cleverly utilizes organic LED technology in a spiral shape, and despite being just a prototype, it attracted the attention of many visitors. This demonstrated the high level of interest in Japanese design in Europe.

■Viviant: Special Exhibition
A special exhibition was held under the theme "Viviant" (Living in English) as a space to spark inspiration, with trend watchers as curators. This time, there were three sections, each with a concept of "Primitive Foods (NOURRITURES PREMIÈRES)," "Pioneers (PIONEER)," and "Renaissance (RENAISCIENCE)." Among these, the one that caught the eye was "Primitive Foods (NOURRITURES PREMIÈRES)." Incorporating bio-based elements into materials and designs is a recent trend often seen in London, and exhibits of tableware made from food and food-themed art presented the possibilities of next-generation design.

Maison & Objet attracted many exhibitors and visitors from Japan, including a booth organized by JETRO, which supports foreign trade. One example was the booth of Kyoto-based Sfera, along with Kaikado, Kochosai Kosuge, and Shuji, which exhibited under Sfera's art direction, showcasing stylish design while utilizing a Japanese atmosphere.

New developments are also anticipated, with plans for Maison & Objet Asia in Singapore in March 2014.