NEW NORMAL, NEW STANDARD exhibition - Meal Time at Tokyo, and Osaka, Japan

Arakawa & Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Shibuya-ku, Tokyo; President Hajime Arakawa) aim to support designer who is eager to create designed products suitable for beautiful scenes such as restaurants and hotel rooms. To reduce an infection risk caused by the global pandemic.

EXHIBITION CONCEPT:

Since last year of Fall, the "NEW NORMAL, NEW STANDARD" exhibition will go to the second phase this June.

The first phase of the exhibition was received a significant impact under the theme "Beautiful Countermeasures against Infectious Diseases."

Countermeasures against COVID 19 during dining are often undertaken with social distance and partitions. However, they can be cumbersome and inconvenient in many cases.

We hope to use the power of design to remedy this difficult time, albeit only slightly. For this year's exhibition, six selected designers developed products to make mealtime a pleasant and peaceful experience.

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MASHILO by Kaori Akiyama 

MASHILO by Kaori Akiyama 

The MASHILO chair is constructed exclusively from Japanese cypress trees sourced in Hiroshima Prefecture. In addition to being used as an anti-infection measure, the chair was designed to provide a place where people can enjoy a meal alone, quietly and peacefully, as if they were spending time in a forest, thereby allowing them to appreciate the feast itself more intimately. With these thoughts in mind, MASHILO comes into being as a place to savour a moment with a clear conscience.

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BREATHE SCREEN by Takanori Urata 

BREATHE SCREEN by Takanori Urata 

Developed to enhance mealtime experience, BREATHE SCREEN has a three-dimensional shape, with transparent silicone placed on both sides where it meets the cheeks and is worn with the face in between. This mask will reduce the inconvenience of attaching and detaching masks during "masked dinners," thereby making the precious limited mealtime of today more enjoyable.

Takanori Urata, after worked for Tokujin Yoshioka Design, established TAKANORI URATA DESIGN INC. in 2010. In 2014, he started sunsetclimax inc. for outdoor gears industry. He received some awards, such as GOOD DESIGN AWARD, iF DESIGN AWARD, DFA Design for Asia Awards, German Design Awards and so on. 

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CAMERIERE by Kairi Eguchi 

CAMERIERE by Kairi Eguchi 

CAMERIERE is an ideal mask stand for storing masks in restaurants, hotels, or at home. The vertically elongated structure stores mask efficiently and aesthetically in the minimum space required. The simple and soft lines found in cutlery are applied to create a visually harmonious design.

Kairi Eguchi Established KED, Japanese industrial design studio, based in Osaka in 2008. With the studio philosophy - “Discover the unknowns.”, KED not only provide standard design service, but also continue expanding its services such as product planning, design strategy, etc. to provide elegant and new approach for a better user experience. 

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Object Ⅱby Akira Nakagomi

Object Ⅱby Akira Nakagomi 

Object Ⅱis a splash-proof set of partitions that enhance the enjoyment and vitality of dining. The vibrantly hued acrylics add flavour to space instead of just functioning as tasteless partitions. Moreover, the pillar weights can be used as flower vases to add a touch of colour to meals. It is hoped that the presence of the partitions will be forgotten while dining and that the atmosphere will become a little more like it was before the COVID-19 disaster. 

Akira Nakagomi founded the AKIRA NAKAGOMI DESIGN in 2012, after working at TOKUJIN YOHSIOKA DESIGN. The goal is to design beautiful products, taking into account materials and techniques. 

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MASK VASE by Yuma Kano 

MASK VASE by Yuma Kano 

MASK VASE is a paper mask case stand designed for use while eating at restaurants. While it is a product for the "new lifestyle," wearing masks has become mandatory, it can also be used to add flowers and plants after the epidemic that will eventually come to an end. This design combines a mask case stand and a flower vase to remind us to live colourfully.

Yuma Kano, founded studio yumakano after working as an assistant to artist Yasuhiro Suzuki, is bringing the old environment to life through product design, product planning, brand direction, interior planning, artwork, and other projects. 

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Obi by Tomoki Doi 

Obi by Tomoki Doi 

This is a unique freestanding handkerchief that can also be used as a cup sleeve. The shape of the handkerchief is cylindrical to make it as compact as possible when placed in a pocket, yet self-standing on a desk to help it dry naturally. The product was designed based on the manufacturing process of Hirafu Orimono's knitted Japanese belt for the Kimono called an Obi so that it can be created efficiently and would create the appearance of an Obi when attached to a coffee cup. 

ANDASSOCIATES founded by Tomoki Doi is a design firm based in Tokyo that strives to design simple and flexible pieces, in hopes to add some playful elements. 

Event Information: 

Title: NEW NORMAL, NEW STANDARD 2 -Meal Time  

Tokyo exhibition

Venue: TIERS GALLERY by arakawagrip 

Dates: Tuesday, June 15 to Sunday June 20, 2021

Osaka exhibition 

Venue: Page Gallery (KAIRI EGUCHI DESIGN 1F) 

Dates: Saturday July 3 to Sunday, July 10, 2021

Designers: Kaori Akiyama, Kairi Eguchi, Takanori Urata, Akira Nakagomi, 

Yuma Kano, Tomoki Doi 

Sponsors: Arakawa & Co., Ltd., DOUBLE-H. Inc 

Cooperation: Doi Furniture Mfg.Ltd., Takeda Design Project, Hiratoyo Orimono, Izuru 

PR communication: Shieru Doi, Manaka Nishida 

Translation: Shizuka Konishi 

Website: https://newnormalnew.com/ 

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About Arakawa & Co., Ltd. 

Arakawa & Co., Ltd. invented the first wire gripper mechanism, which could be adjusted along the wire cable with one push and locked without a set of screws. This innovative system can be applied as a display tool for shop interiors and art museums by collaboration with architects and designers. 

Contact: Makoto Arakawa, makoto@arakawagrip.co.jp