Nosigner: Selected Works by Japanese Holistic Design Studio.

To put it simply, the work of Japanese design studio Nosigner is the type of creativity we live for. It’s holistic, deeply creative, conceptual, incredibly considered and entirely informed by the world right now, from the environment and sustainability, to how people like to live, think and work. In fewer words, it’s really fucking well thought out and we love it. And in better words, from Nosigner themselves, “We believe that design is not limited to the realm of the tangible. Everything is rooted in circumstance, we must ask questions, do our research, solve problems, support the future and be innovative”. Amen!

The multidisciplinary team has pretty much all bases covered, from art and creative direction, to graphic, product, spatial and interface design, to manufacturing, film direction, and photography. Because we can’t pick just one or two, today we’re sharing a selection of our favourite projects from Nosigner. Brace yourselves Yellowtracers, you’re in for a treat.

Nosigner directed the spatial design of ‘AERO MEGURO’, a store selling lifestyle and fashion products for children. Tiny in size at only 53sqm, the design needed to maximise space and be adjustable for both seasonal changes and events. Inspired by hand-held folding fans, the store features a large timber cabinet with eight moveable tiers at different levels that revolve on a pivot for flexibility, so the cabinet can be changed according to the occasion. It can be used to display products, as a desk and bench, or can be entirely folded away for events. A perfect example of restrained and functional Japanese craftsmanship. Major love.

‘SCALES’ is a signage project designed for a private junior school that caters for reclusive and special needs students. Inspired by rulers to represent the growth potential of the students, Nosigner designed a gigantic concrete ruler showing nine different measurement units that students can measure themselves against. Some of the units are familiar to students, others not – a deliberate action to help students foster an interest in different perspectives. The signage project sits at the entrance of the school, encouraging curiosity when children enter the building.

‘22141231-2’ is an excellent example of Nosigner’s product design skills. Designed to decorate the store of fashion label Taro Horiuchi, the mirrored installation was inspired by the ‘sun and blood’ theme of the brand’s current collection at the time. It acts as both a mirror and a piece of art, and is permanently part of the store’s display after such a positive reception. Nosigner used electronically controlled LED technology to project light from the object, representing the sun’s pulsing and powerful energy. Due to the use of aluminium foil, the light is diffused in a poetic way and will never reflect the same pattern twice. Nosigner named the object after the perfect solar eclipse that we are due to experience in 200 or so years.

TECHTILE #3.

TECHTILE #4.

A follow up to ‘TECHTILE #3’, ‘TECHTILE #4’ is a spatial design project that focuses on the sense of touch. Nosigner decorated a hall with balloons, some as large as 6m high, to experiment with notions of visibility, tactility and scale to transcend the human experience. The project was done in collaboration with the Techtile Executive Committee for client YCAM.

‘HAROGOMO’ is a type of celestial Japanese feather robe, and also the inspiration for the office re-design at Nosigner HQ. In a balance of beauty, simplicity and functionality, Nosigner draped feather-like threads of curtain throughout their workspace to create a divide between their work and storage spaces. Who needs cupboards when you have an endless supply of feathers and strong creative vision?

‘FLUOLESS’ is a design experiment that showcases Nosigner’s interest in sustainability. The disposal of fluorescent lights is a big problem in Japan, with over 400 million or 75,000 tonnes per year discarded. 85% are thrown into the sea, and the toxic materials are having a very negative effect on the environment. In response to this discovery, Nosigner sought to create something that would draw people’s attention to the issue. The resulting design is a large crystal structure using hundreds of discarded fluorescent lights, with the structure being used to light various installations or exhibitions hosted by Nosigner.

‘LECO’ is a product design project, designed to meet a demand Nosigner identified for indoor furniture that can showcase plants and vegetables. The system is designed using lumber timber and finessed woodworking techniques from Tokushima, as well as LED lights to encourage plant growth. A synergy of new technology and old tradition, perfectly proportioned and in tune with how people live and think today.

‘HATCH’ is a planter made of real egg shells, giving the nutrition of the shell to the plants that grow within. It places the plant in a new context, giving the user an image of a seedling sprouting from an egg. When the plants are grown, you can return them to the wilderness – because Hatch is biodegradable. Some day, that tiny seedling could be part of a forest.

Made from real egg shells, ‘REBIRTH’ is a lighting product designed by Nosigner to explore the concepts of fragility and strength. Despite their inherent fragility, egg shells can disperse weight amongst themselves, allowing for large, complex structures to be built.

Nosigner Office.

[Images courtesy of Nosigner. Photography by Hatta Masaharu, Nosigner, Lyie Nitta.]