why:
To securely connect Japan's present leading wood industry to the future.
The craftsmanship of shipwright technology that supported the "Awahan" naval forces of Tokushima Prefecture was handed down from the Edo period. This technology developed from the Meiji to the Showa period as a major production area for box furniture that mainly focused on chest drawers, mirrors, and altars. However, Japan's traditional industrial value of production had fallen to 1/5 in the past 40 years. Tokushima's wood industry has been declining year by year, due to changes in modern lifestyle. Along with the rise of cheaper overseas products, Japan's leading box furniture production drove into prosperity. Where the wood industry was going out of business, we questioned what kind of design could revive the industry to create new opportunities for highly skilled carpenters of Tokushima.
Changes in production value of
traditional craft industry.
伝統的工芸品産業の生産額等の推移
how:
A table with an invisible drawer.
Together with the craftsmen of furniture manufacturer "MOTOBAYASHI kagu" in Tokushima Prefecture, we designed a dining table we called "IMAGINARY." We focused on a technique called "three-way fastening," which is a method often used when producing box furniture. We embodied an "invisible" drawer placed the side of the table without adding any more additional lines. It was designed to conveniently used the drawer to store cutlery and also documents, without any wasted space that focused on the simplistic beauty of a table.
now:
Although the design was highly appreciated, the original purpose still needs to be reached.
Although the design was highly appreciated, the original purpose still needs to be reached.
IMAGINARY was highly acclaimed and received the 2010 Good Design Award. However, at the same time, we realized that it was not enough to create one good design for a production area in a critical situation. Our purpose is to create new markets, movements, and relationships through branding and communication strategies, to save as many craftsmen and production areas as possible. These designs were a part of a series of projects NOSIGNER and Eisuke Tachikawa worked on, as a traditional industrial producer in Tokushima prefecture from 2007 to 2009. This series brought about valuable experiences that would determine our future missions.
what:
Imaginary
when:
2009
where:
Tokushima, Japan
who:
Product Design
NOSIGNER (Eisuke Tachikawa)
Manufacturer
Photo
Masaharu Hatta