Posts from — October 2008

Beginning today, the works of Microworks, the quirky design firm of up and coming designer Shunsuke Umiyama, will be on display for approximately 2 weeks. “No Humor No Design” is a mini retrospective, highlighting the humorous designs, which often poke fun at the notion of design itself. Through humor comes pleasure, one of the chief themes throughout the work. It’s showing over at OZONE.

[clockwise] ４° Shelf – so you never have another book falling over. Book Box – making the act of putting your crap away actually fun. Tail umbrella, BookPack & Birdhanger.

This is a rebound off of my previous post, but I thought it deserved a little more attention. Chris Kirby is an industrial designer based out of Tokyo. His mesmerizing new work is called negative pendant lamp. Fully utilizing the transparent characteristics of porcelain, the negative pendant lamp is a sculpture by day and glowing lamp by night.

images courtesy of Chris Kirby. Photos by Max Hodges.

The Mottainai Shop was established a little over a year ago as an outlet for stylish and eco-friendly products. Some of the items that caught my eye were these ceramic cups made from reclaimed ceramics, and these adorable chopsticks. They encourage people to keep a pair at work, or carry a pair in your bag, because wooden chopsticks are so wasteful!

The word “Mottainai” was actually chosen by environmental activist and Nobel Peace Prize winner Wangari Maathai. As the story goes, upon her visit to Japan, she was so moved by the fact that a single word (mottainai) could embody all the nuances of the words reduce, reuse, recycle and respect, that she decided to promote the word globally.

And now, your trivia tidbit of the day. The teardrop logo was designed by Bunpei Yorifuji, the mastermind behind Tokyo Metro’s humorous ad campaign to teach their straphangers a few manners.

I’m so very excited about the 2nd prototype EXHIBITION that is scheduled to take place at Gotanda Sonic in Tokyo. Last year’s was great and I’m sure this year will be even better! Thirty (mostly) Japanese designeres & architects will be showcasing prototypes of new work in an attempt to deconstruct the final product and focus on the process. Here is a sneak peak of some of the work that will be on display from October 30th.

And it looks like Jean Snow, a respected blogger/writer in the Japanese design community, has joined the exhibition committee!

Spiral Lamp by Chris Kirby

Peeler; a set of greeting cards designed by Akihiro Kumagaya. Love these! Can’t wait for them to be commercialized.

ASO / TANE by Naoya Misawa. This is an awesome concept, born from a will to escape from the hegemony of center-based tea cup saucers!

Paper Size Tote by Miki Sakai of MS4D.