ADF Milano Salone Design Award 2020 - Outstanding Performance Awards

We proudly introduce the two product design which won the ADF Milano Salone Design Award 2020 Outstanding Performance Awards, "UNDER PRODUCTION" by Mr. Daan Snippe and "Luis ～ from the cradle to the rocking chair" by Mr. Toshiki Yabushita.

Mr. Daan Snippe: "Under Production, small scale mass production - creating a larger economical benefit for the small producer"

Design Concept

Like most designers and small-scale producers, earning a living is a challenge. I decided to design a production method that would leave more room for financial prosperity; I call it : "small scale mass production".

During my internship, I was surrounded by companies operating with small scale production methods. I realized that the challenge of a self-employed designer is not only to come up with new designs but to realize a profit while doing so. This problem led me to formulate my research question: "To which extent is the efficiency of large-scale production beneficial to the small-scale producer to create something new?". I researched the production methods of companies that operate on a large scale (mass production) to see if there were key aspects I could adopt and adapt, to design a new, more economical production method.

Focusing on IKEA for its recognizability and its unique way of producing, I found that there were two aspects within its production method I could adopt. The first one being the price IKEA sells their products at, it is often cheaper than the material it is made of. The second aspect is their mentality of using as few materials, connections, and hours as possible.

Sourcing materials from IKEA's sales corner ('Koopjeshoek'), I designed a production method that creates a fast product resulting in lower production costs and creating a unique aesthetic, high-quality products, and individuality.

All products are built from the BACKABY couch of IKEA and wood, which was, and is always, on sale. The variation in wood color and finishes creates an infinite amount of possibilities.

Every item of the furniture collection can be assembled in less than an hour, depending on the scale of the production. The more objects have to be made, the faster a single item is produced.

This work is meant both as a viable production method to create functional hand made design, as well as a concept that can be adopted by many fellow designers. It is guaranteed to create objects with aesthetical values, values that would not have happened using another production method.

This is the GIJSBRAND chair, standardizing every measurement (43 cm) and creating simple connections, a two-hour production method is achieved. The material costs of this chair are €25. Chairs are available in bundles of two, costing €499.

This is the EWOUD coffee table. Using the same production method, materials, and connections as the GIJSBRAND chair, it is produced within one and a half hours, costing only €15 in the material.

This is the AERT bookshelf, and it is created with the same production method as the GIJSBRAND chair and the EWOUD coffee table. The material costs are €35.

Comment on winning the award

I am very honored to be chosen to win the Outstanding Performance Award. It is great to be recognized for my work by an organization like Aoyama Design Forum. I hope this work inspires people to approach design from a broader perspective, seeking out challenges and tackling them in new creative ways. Winning this award has given me the opportunity to reach a wider audience to share my ideas with, for this, I cannot be more grateful.

Daan Snippe

Mr. Toshiki Yabushita: "Luis - from the cradle to the rocking chair" 

Design Concept

Human proliferates, especially their early age growth is rapid.Consequently, much baby furniture is used only for a short time.That is when I conceived of a piece of furniture which could grow along with human. Why not have furniture that could be used throughout our whole life? I concentrated on the "rocking movement," which is common in babies, children, and adults' daily life. This rocking chair "Luis" changes its fazes as a cradle, rocking horse, and a rocking chair by switching the belt position according to the usage of the seat and the backrest.

In a world full of such things, it is challenging to live close to one thing. It is challenging to live a life with toys and clothes that we love. Still, with furniture, I inaugurated this product since I assumed that it would be possible to propose a new relationship with things in terms of a long perspective. Furthermore, this work is a product made for my child to convey such feelings to his children.

Using a belt as a seat and backrest fabric had it possible to change its shape depending on the usage.

Comment on winning the award 

Thanks to the honorable prize for this product that has shaped my feelings for my child. I'm currently working as a designer in Germany, but I'm hoping to be able to communicate new possibilities to the world through design, regardless of Japan or Germany.

Toshiki Yabushita

Toshiki Yabushita Profile

After graduating from Aoyama Gakuin University with a Bachelor of Science and Engineering degree, he worked in marketing and graphic design field in Tokyo. In 2013, Bachelor of Product Design, Burg Giebichenstein Kunsthochschule Halle, Germany. In 2014, he graduated first on the list from Burg Giebichenstein Kunsthochschule Halle. He studied basic bamboo craft skills under Tadashi Yagisawa, a bamboo crafter while in school. He proposed bamboo made products applying to modern life in 2016. The original business model was highly evaluated and acquired "BRUT" from the entrepreneur support program in Bremen, Germany. He worked as a part-time teacher at a German art university. He has worked on projects at several German design offices listed below, simultaneously.

• Ole Grönwoldt Spatial Design
• Saroshi - design of japan
• Christian Werner - Industrial Design
• henkels: gestaltet
• Simoleit Design

Main Awards and Exhibition History

• 2019 - 12th SHACHIHATA New Product Design Competition - jury’s special recognition award 
• 2019 - Invite to International bamboo design masters exhibition in Yibin
• 2018 - Winning α prize: Plastic Design & Story Award 2018
• 2018 – Invited to exhibit at the BIOTOPIA-FEST „STOFF DER ZUKUNFT“ Museum Mensch und Natur
• 2018 – Invited to exhibit at the Asian Bamboo Life Art Exhibition Crafts Museum, China Academy of Art
• 2017 – Exhibited at Craftstil. Der Manufaktur Markt im stilwerk Hamburg
• 2015 – Won a prize at the IDEENLOTSEN BREMEN - BUSINESS AS UNUSUAL 2015
• 2014 – Exhibited at the Dutch Design Week 2014
• 2014 – Nominated for GiebichenStein Designpreis 2014
• 2013 – Won a runner-up prize at the eco japan cup 2012
• 2011 - Nominated for the 51st JAPAN CRAFTS EXHIBITION
• 2011 – Exhibited at the TOKYO DESIGNERS WEEK 2011
• 2011 - Won the Japan-Germany Friendship award at the150th anniversary of Japan-Germany Relations ceremony.
• 2011 – Won the universal design award 2011
• 2010 – Nominated at the designpreis halle 2010
• 2009 - Nominated for Kyoto craftsmanship renaissance competition
• 2006 – Won a prize at the FIFA WM 2006-Mein erstes Mal in NRW

Furthermore, we look forward to having all of your entries since we are also planning to hold "ADF Milano Salone Design Award 2021" around Oct - Dec, 2020.