THE JAPANESE DESIGN STUDIO ‘NENDO’ INSPIRES YOUNG MINDS TO LEARN ABOUT ‘DESIGN’ THROUGH AN ADORABLE ILLUSTRATION BOOK WITH THE MAIN CHARACTER BEING A COFFEE CUP
TEXT: PAKPOOM LAMOONPAN
PHOTO: KETSIREE WONGWAN EXCEPT AS NOTED
(For Thai, press here)
There’s probably no need for an elaborate introduction when it comes to nendo. The Japanese veteran studio has brilliant track records in product and spatial design and a long list of globally acclaimed projects, ranging from everyday objects and buildings to branding. Oki Sato, the founder and director spearheading the studio’s operations, has released several monographs. While most design books are essentially collections of past works presented as a visually-oriented publication that encapsulates the designer’s or studio’s design evolution and identity, few books contain the type of content that would have readers considering possible meanings or definitions of design. But this book by Oki Sato is different because of his intention to create an illustration book for children while aiming for parents and their little ones to learn about design together.
The title of the book, “Not just a cup,” or a more direct translation of the Japanese title, “What is a cup?” is a question that prompts readers to rethink the importance of questioning things in our daily lives before creating a work of design.
The story is told in the style of a picture book, with the main character being a coffee cup who is faced with the dilemma of not having a spoon to mix the coffee. The cup tries to solve the problem by adjusting itself into different shapes and forms. The author continues to ask readers questions such as, “What will take place if this happens?” “How come things are the way they are?” Flipping through the pages of the book, ideas are reconciled and expanded. The book concludes with an open-ended question about what the cup could become or what possible solutions to problems could be devised. Aside from the simple and friendly illustrations, the book’s size is well thought-out, as one would expect from the mind of a product designer.
Photo: Akihiro Yoshida
The book’s launch event in Tokyo includes an exhibition of over 20 coffee cups designed by Oki Sato based on ideas from the book, such as a cup with a drawer, a cup that is also a clock, a cup/lamp hybrid, and so on, depicting a complete design cycle from idea inception to physical objects.
Photo: Akihiro Yoshida
In reality, many Japanese people, like a lot of Thais, associate design with visuals and aesthetics. Most people perceive designers as people with inherent ability and artistic sensibility, which is why they are hesitant to express their ideas and inputs when it comes to design, claiming that they are not built for it. Design, in fact, entails much more than just beauty; it involves the skills and ability to think and ideate, something all children should have and learn to develop.
Despite the fact that it was published in 2018, the book remains one of the best-selling books and has been recommended as a picture book to teach children about design. The book also sends messages to parents about nurturing their children’s imaginations while learning to look at things from different perspectives with their children.
Photo: Akihiro Yoshida