[Unit 11 - Equipment and facilities for shop, office and public space]
Date: November 1(Fri) 2019 14:30 - 15:30
Guest: Hisae Igarashi(Unit 11 / Uniit Leader)
Introduction: There is more than one measure of evaluation
The judges of the Good Design Award are experts that come from a diverse background so in evaluating the products, they have an extensive discussion from a broad perspective. The fact that the measure of evaluation is not just one or two makes the evaluation process challenging.
As it is almost a given for products today to look beautiful, the focus is shifting away from just possessing formative aesthetics. More and more products are designed to be used by groups of people that use functions and apps with network connectivity. We could see the companies' struggle to update the features, how little the changes may be, to something more convenient.
Among the award-winning products from this unit, we'd like to talk about those that left a great impression.
ATP Hygiene Monitoring System [Lumitester Smart] (GOOD DESIGN BEST100)
Selected for the Good Design Best 100, this product is a tool that detects invisible stains and residues in restaurants, food manufacturers and medical institutions. As the results are produced in just 10 seconds, it eliminates the need to send the samples to an inspection site. In addition to being useful in preventing foodborne illnesses, it allows companies to manage the data for different locations in its dedicated app. The product itself looks like a remote control for an air conditioning unit. Despite being a hygiene monitoring tool, it is easy and not intimidating to use even for beginners. The design with a clean impression was also highly evaluated.
Chair [Any] (GOOD DESIGN BEST100)
This chair Any was selected for the Good Design Best 100 and comes in a single color down to the wheels. All the details are meticulously planned, from the delicate lines of the body to the small and discreet wheels. The stance of overcoming challenges to achieve optimal design was highly praised. The name "Any” comes from the company's desire to have the product utilized in a variety of contexts ranging from workspace to casual settings.
Urinal [Sensor Integrated Wall Hung Urinal: YU-A21A,YU-A21A-TU]
This year, we saw many praise-worthy entries for products related to public restrooms. What the award-winning works had in common was that they are designed to be easier to clean. With Tokyo hosting the 2020 Olympics and Paralympics, a further increase in foreign tourists is expected. We hope that these new products will give them the impression that restrooms in Japan are beautiful.
With the mission of developing a more compact urinal, this product achieved to cut down the surface area by two-thirds for easier cleaning and reduced cleaning time. It addresses the issues of the aging society and challenges of finding janitors. They look very beautiful as well.
Public Toilet [Resilience toilet(considerate of disaster): BC-P112SA, DT-PB150CH] (GOOD FOCUS AWARD [ Disaster Prevention & Recovery Design])
This pubic toilet has been selected for the Good Focus Award [Disaster Prevention & Recovery Design] for its disaster-resilient features. An upside-down plastic water bottle can be affixed to the tank to reduce the water required for flushing from 5 liters to 1 liter. As it has the same exterior design as a conventional model, we had a discussion whether there is any act of designing involved. However, it was recommended from the viewpoint that the design that people are familiar with would probably give them a sense of security in the event of a disaster. Some judges voiced their concerns whether it would be easy to secure even a liter of water in an emergency situation. There are different levels of affectedness and this toilet may be one of the most important items to have in handy depending on the situation. The company was also highly evaluated for carrying out public activities including disaster prevention seminars and product demonstrations.
Light Fabric Sign [LUFAS] (GOO DESIGN BEST100)
Selected for the Good Design Best 100, light fabric sign [LUFAS] was developed to satisfy the demand for electric signs that could be installed easily by anybody. Most signs like this are made of acrylic, which requires a sturdy, self-supporting frame. However, since this is made of polyurethane film, it could easily be shipped to the customer after printing. The revolutionary technology allows even a woman to install the sign by herself without leaving a crease. Compared to its acrylic counterpart, the product reduces CO2 emissions, which was also highly evaluated.
Play Equipment [PLAYRING] (GOOD DESIGN BEST100)
Last but not least, another winner of the Good Design Best 100 was a play equipment named PLAYRING. It integrates features of monkey bars, slides and other steel equipment commonly seen in playgrounds. With very little contact with the ground, it looks rather unsafe, which gives children a sense of thrill. Some judges pointed out that the white color could make the equipment look dirty over time, but in the end agreed that the visible wear and tear would actually be enjoyable as it shows how much it is being played with over the course of time. The design that would fit naturally into a space for adults was also praised.
Summary: Making a case for key evaluation points and challenges faced
This year, the form for the first screening (*evaluation based on information provided on the web) included a space to write "Three points that deserve special mentioning.” We have a request for the future applicants. For this section, please give us some information that cannot be picked up from the design itself, tell us areas for which you want to be most evaluated and describe your challenges.
Another point worth adding is that, for the interactive hearing, it would be best to present behind-the-scene details that the judges would have no way of knowing from just looking at the product, instead of repeating the information that is already given.
The judges believe that the products selected for Best 100 will be the products that represent the whole year. We hope that potential applicants will take time to look at the award-winning works in Best 100 to draw inspiration from the winners' stance toward the environment and the passion behind the design.