Source: http://blog.sina.com.cn/s/blog_473f90ad0100ae83.html

Here is a interview with Junya Ishigami, one of the designers who participated in the project. (via http://opners.jp)

- What is the concept of La chaise which you designed?

My favorite Eames chair is “La chaise”. You can sit, and lie down, or stretch your legs on it. If you look at it closely, the surface looks like a hill or landform. In Eames’ documentary film “Power of Ten”, I also remembered that they showed this kind of perspective. That is why I thought about this concept.

- There are houses, forests, parks, cows, etc. Depending on how you look at it, the impression of the city changes.
For example, from this angle you can see the forest, but from another angle, you can’t…..I was thinking about this kind of realism of a landscape. I was drawing on a chair, but it was more like building a space on a chair.

- why did you use a pencil?

It is a white chair, so I thought it would be nice to give light and dark coloring. I also like to use a pencil. It can be thick or thin….drawing by a pencil is more sensitive. Without being conscious, each drawing becomes more unique.

- What is your relationship with art and architecture?

Sometimes my work is associated with art, but I am looking for various environments in order to see the possibility of architecture. I don’t think about art without thinking about architecture. We build a model and imagine a real building in architecture. There are lots of discoveries by looking at a model. This “la chaise” project is also an experiment to discover something.

Nendo’s Oki Sato says, “we have been paying so much attention to mobile phones, but we need to design something that will support our lifestyle - something that functions as “glue”.

Here are two products which Nendo has designed for “another work*s” project.

The first product is called “socket-deer”. Whenever you want to recharge your mobile phone, you put it on “socket-deer”.  Even if you are not recharging your mobile phone, it is still attractive as an interior object.

The second one is called “music-cage”. It is a wireless speaker and works with bluetooth. You can listen to music stored on your mobile phone.

It is made of paper, but it is much stronger than normal paper. The material is called “Naolon” developed by a small company in Yamanashi, Japan. The wrinkled surface gives a unique impression. Naoto Fukasawa, who was born in Yamanashi, found this material and decided to start a new brand called “Siwa” by taking advantage of the material.

Via: Excite/Ism

The simplicity is always the theme of ±0, and this kettle is also designed to be as simple and functional as possible. The volume is 0.8 litter, and the size is 178 x 207 x 143mm. The color is available only in white. The price is 10500 yen or 110 dollars.

Following the success of last year’s second EU-Japan Design Competition, the Delegation of the European Commission to Japan is pleased to announce the launch of the 2008 edition of this contest for designers and design students between 18 and 30 years of age who reside in Japan.

Organised in close cooperation with the EU member states’ embassies and cultural institutes, the competition also receives the support of Japanese institutions like the Japan Industrial Design Promotion Organisation (JIDPO) and Japan Industrial Designers’ Association (JIDA).

This annual competition aims to promote EU-Japan cooperation in the area of design and to raise awareness in Japan about European design and educational opportunities in Europe. Its long-term goal is to create links between Japanese and European design professionals and academic institutions.

Read more:designcompe.eu

You can see more images here:
asahikawa-kagu.or.jp