To the place where "good design" was created
Good design, excellent design, design that opens up the future, ideas that move people's hearts, and actions that lead society always have small beginnings.
Interviews with designers at the birthplaces of good design to find hints for the next design.
Transforming the World of Architecture through Digital Fabrication (Part 1)
Digital fabrication is attracting attention for accelerating the pace of manufacturing. The Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications defines digital fabrication as technology which produces creations based on digital data. There are many devices including 3D printers, 3D scanners, CNC milling machines, robotic arms, and sensors, and their expansion within the field of architecture is particularly impressive. The VUILD architectural group is producing cutting-edge examples of this. House for Marebito, an accommodation facility that was selected for the GOOD DESIGN GOLD AWARD in 2020, was an ambitious work created by meticulously cutting local wood with a digital milling machine and assembling the pieces like a plastic model kit. The company’s founder, Koki Akiyoshi, is pursuing the democratization of architecture and continues to boldly implement this principle in order to bring about a society in which anyone can become a maker. What he has in his sights is changing the Japanese construction industry. It was also an activity to propagate innovation.
Design Expands the Potential of Resin (Part 1)
“I want to raise the value of resin!” The brand “9º” (Kudo) was born from these words, part of a conversation between a designer and an engineer who met at an exhibition. These containers, which can be used for cooking, were selected for the GOOD DESIGN BEST 100 in fiscal 2018. What underpinned this project was the desire for people to continue using plastic (resin) items, which are often thrown away, for all their usable life. How was the brand built? We asked Yoshiko Saito and Mikito Ichinohe of KaB DESIGN to give us some hints about how they developed their ideas from the smallest starting point into reality, despite twists and turns along the way.
Design Expands the Potential of Resin (Part 2)
These 9º (Kudo) containers, which can be used for cooking, were selected for the GOOD DESIGN BEST 100 in fiscal 2018. This project started from a desire to raise the value of resin (plastics), which are often thrown away. While making the most of resin’s functions, 9º brings out a new look for the material and has attracted fans. How was this possible? We asked Yoshiko Saito and Mikito Ichinohe of KaB DESIGN to talk about the source of their ideas and their design work.
A utopia can be created (Part 2)
Johnson Town provides welfare services that would normally be handled by the government. It is a unique town where people who live, work, and create homes are integrated, and families with children, creators, people with disabilities, and the elderly live and work actively. In the first part, we asked about its history and design points. In the second part, Mr. Akio Isono of Isono Shokai Co., Ltd., the owner and manager of Johnson Town, and Mr. Osamu Watanabe, who planned and designed the town, talked about how they created an inclusive town.
A utopia can be created (Part 1)
In recent years, a construction method called bricolage has been attracting attention. It is a method to collect what already exists and anything immediately at hand, and change them into something new. Johnson Town, which is a revitalized housing area for the U.S. forces in Japan in the Showa era, is a good example. It is a broad-minded ‘town’ that is open to anyone, which could not be achieved by deliberate design. It is a town with a community where various generations live, work, and interact. However, it used to be a run-down place. How was it capable of changing into an ideal environment? We heard from Mr. Tatsuo Isono and Mr. Akio Isono of Isono Shokai, the owner and manager of the town, and Mr. Osamu Watanabe, the planner and designer of the architecture firm.
Even squids want to be designed (Part 2)
An unexpected entry was included in the 2023 GOOD DESIGN GOLD AWARD. It was Endo’s Gesoten squid leg tempura. Community-based stores are disappearing with the emergence of large supermarkets and mass retailers. Endo, a local store in Yamagata, once struggled under such circumstances. The reason why it survived is the combination of design and local soul food Gesoten. The food has become popular, attracting people even from other prefectures. A client and creators work together to develop and expand innovation. We are getting closer to the secret.
Even squids want to be designed (Part 1)
An unexpected entry was included in the 2023 GOOD DESIGN GOLD AWARD. It was Endo’s Gesoten squid leg tempura. Community-based stores are disappearing with the emergence of large supermarkets and mass retailers. Endo, a local store in Yamagata, once struggled under such circumstances. The reason why it survived is the combination of design and local soul food Gesoten. The food has become popular, attracting people even from other prefectures. A client and creators work together to develop and expand innovation. We are getting closer to the secret.
Giving shape to “what you love” (Part 2)
This time, we visited Dream, Inc., which is headquartered in Nagoya City, Aichi. Their product “SONAENO cushion type multifunctional sleeping bag” was selected for the GOOD DESIGN BEST 100 in 2021. The grab-and-go cushion-type sleeping bag was a big hit for its unparalleled viewpoint. The developer of this product, Momo Ishikawa, has always been extremely fond of emergency supplies. How did she channel her passion to engage in her favorite field into a successful process?
Giving shape to “what you love” (Part 1)
This time, we visited Dream, Inc., which is headquartered in Nagoya City, Aichi. Their product “SONAENO cushion type multifunctional sleeping bag” was selected for the GOOD DESIGN BEST 100 in 2021. This cushion-type sleeping bag can be used in a lounge all the time, and is ready for emergency use. A disaster prevention item that can be used in everyday life is something that seems unlikely. How did you come up with this idea? We talked to Momo Ishikawa, the developer of this product.
Aiming at a toy that inspires everyone (Part 2)
This time we visited A4/A-Yon (OFFICE CAMP LLC), which makes “tumi-isi,” hand-processed and hand-painted building blocks, in Higashiyoshino Village, Nara Prefecture. The unique building blocks each have a different shape and can be enjoyed by children and adults alike. The product was selected as one of the GOOD DESIGN BEST 100 in 2021. Mr. Daimon Kanno, product designer, started production of the blocks in earnest in 2016, eight years after the first release. Why did it take so long? How has he faced and overcome the challenges? He spoke on these questions from a creator’s perspective.
Planning/editing
Tomoko Ishiguro
After working in the editorial department of “AXIS,” she became a freelancer. She writes, edits, and plans, with a focus on design and life culture. Her major editorial works include LIXIL BOOKLET series (book, LIXIL Publishing) and “Oishisa no Kagaku” (magazine, NTS Publishing).