Comments + Critique Time
You might’ve missed a rather interesting discussion in the comments of one of my earlier posts - about the patent and novelty issues on the MUJI winning entries. Scott, a designer-engineer-patent-agent hybrid brought up some interesting perspectives, and in our conversation I thought it’d be a pity that we don’t get to see the other entries. So Scott has uploaded his in the spirit of sharing - maybe we can both crit and get inspired?
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The first one is called Postie. “It’s a simple bent structure that offers a day-of-the-week platform for POST-IT’s to help organize the THINGS TO DO and various meetings, etc per week. As you know, the mind works well graphically and this simple structure should help the worker visualize what needs to be done and by when.”
The other idea is the Tackie. Scott: “This one is a two-pin thumb tack that is designed like a coin (better grip) and further includes a curved slot that can receive a card for advertisement. I know using two pins for thumb-tacks is known, but not the combination of two pins and a coin-like handle and the slot. The thumb-tacks are also stackable for cleaner and safer storage.”
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Personally for POSTIE, I liked the idea of using Post-Its as a medium for activity planning. Them being spontaneous and convenient gives a more flexible approach to laying out your schedules - adding an appointment simply means tacking on an extra note in the relevant space. However, the design solution felt rather clunky (despite it being collapsible) - it seems too much of a material structure for the sole purpose of delineating days. Could the same purpose have been achieved not by a metal product but maybe by graphics, especially as MUJI is rather particular about clutter.
As for the Tackie idea, I definitely agree on the easier-and-safer to store part. Most pins are cluttered in boxes which can be difficult/’prickly’ to retrieve. I was mentally trying to search for applications for these pins though - what are the wider applications apart from the notice board (which seems rather niche). Aesthetically, I think MUJI has a rather particular ‘fetish’ for being simple and not overtly attention-seeking. Maybe something like this?
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Hi Kok:
Thanks for your thoughts regarding Postie and Tackie. Postie is meant to be substantial in mass because it is meant to STAY on the desk. A light version would lift and move if you removed a Post-it. You suggest providing this feature graphically. I’m not sure how this could be done because an important feature is the steps that give a greater sense that the week is nearing its end. I wanted to create a platform that the user could always find on a busy desk and always rely on its location. It would become a centerpiece of their weekly organization plan. It’s also not collapsible - it’s a cut and bent piece of thick metal. It does offer Post-it pad storage underneath. I appreciate your thoughts and realize that MUJI would not like the apparent waste of materials.
Regarding Tackie, I considered a Chicklet shape, but the function of this item IS to be noticed and to standout on the bulletin board (I want it to have attention) and I thought a circle would stand out better on a rectangular bulletin board. I do like the ratios of your design suggestion. I’m not sure I agree with your niche comment. Most of the products we use everyday have very specific and few uses, such as a coat hanger, a paper clip, even a stapler. Tackie is what it is. But it does holds paper to a flat surface better because there are two pins and the paper therefore cannot rotate and tear. The tacks are stackable AND also hold a card orthagonal to the work surface. I guess a simple thumbtack could be considered niche, but it’s a niche that’s been proven to be pretty popular with the masses.
I’m in the process of manufacturing both ideas and I will send you some actual samples if either reach production.
Thanks again.
Scott
Hey scott, i believe Kok is commenting on the relevance of your design to MUJI’s philosophy and not on the product itself. I’m pretty sure there will be people willing to buy ur design out in the market but if you set out to question the idea of what is really neccessary and what’s not, you may find certain products or functions that exist purely due to this thing call marketing. e.g i like to ask if consumer really needed a 8 to 11 mega pix digicam? People do buy them due to the idea of status/ marketing etc. but do u really need them? In actual fact stuffing loads of pixels into a same tiny sensor gives lousy image quality. But do take note consumers still flock to buy such cams. Muji on the other hand may push out a 5mp model if they were to manufacture one.
MUJI’s philosophy—”Idea of providing products that are truly excellent in quality at lower prices by avoiding the waste typical of existing products, such as unneccessary functionality, over-embellishment, and excessive paskaging.”—
Hi Linyou:
Thanks for the input! I agree with you… and Kok too. I know that he was commenting on my designs with regard to MUJI’s philosphy. I don’t consider POSTIE to be a waste of materials, however, because it uses just enough material to serve its function and its simple form helps clean up clutter on a desk. I guess I still don’t truly understand MUJI. For example, you stated that MUJI’s philosophy is to provide products that do not waste materials typical of existing products. If this is true, just to help my understanding, how do you explain the apparent waste of material and complexity of the winner of MUJI-1, the spirit plug thing? Clearly, adding a plastic “spirit” plug to a normal functional plug makes the otherwise simple plug product more complex and uses more materials and steps to make. It even causes potential problems in use since the user may accidentally plug in the spirit plug, leaving a room in darkness (spirits don’t power lights very well). Also, does MUJI care about the needs of everyone, or just the needs of the Japanese? The reason I ask this is because the winner of MUJI-1 raised a lot of eyebrows in the US. I’m asking these questions just for discussion and to better my understanding.
Also, just for discussion, regarding the salt-cubes entry that won in 2007, I would be concerned that the consumer may end up using MORE salt because the cubes are easily grabbed by the user’s hand than just using a salt-shaker. Also, with cubes, the user must now contact the salt to break them up and when they do, the spread of the salt will not be as even and light as it is currently by using a simple salt-shaker available today. It seems like the MUJI winner has taken a very simple thing and made it more complex, harder to manufacture and more difficult to use. Am I the only one thinking this way? Any thoughts here?
I agree with your example regarding the camera. There always seems to be a drive for consumers to own the latest even if they don’t really need it. I hear that the Japanese always want the latest and will often through-out on the street one year old products just because there’s a newer one available. I guess we all do this.
Did you enter MUJI and would like to share your entry here? Kok, did you enter MUJI-1 in 2006?
Thanks
Sorry folks, I meant “throw out”, not “through-out” -
S
Hi Scott,
Yes I did enter for the MUJI 01 - this was my entry:
http://sunboar.files.wordpress.com/2008/01/kk-muji-torch.jpg
It was a torch that you can stick onto the refrigerator. The switch itself is a piece of magnet - you can find it easily in case of blackout.
Hi Kok:
I like your magnet flashlight (torch) idea - I think this has great utility because people should always be able to find the fridge, even in the dark. It just makes sense! If I understand your idea, the magnet switch will encourage people to keep the flashlight attached to the fridge. The magnet switch feature just may be the “WOW” to make it popular with the masses and make it a success. I certainly like this flashlight more than a spirit plug, but maybe that’s just me
It’s me again - I apologize for writing so much here… but here I go again.
In my response above, I did not give enough credit to the safety plug winner of 2006 MUJI. According to the designer, the plug serves three functions:
#1. to save energy,
#2. to prevent dust or waste from penetrating an outlet.
#3. to maintain a connection between an outlet plug and an outlet.
Regarding # 1, this device does not save energy! Perhaps the act of turning off a device, or pulling out the plug may, but a plastic plug in itself will not.
Regarding # 2, this may be true, but dust collection in an outlet is really not much of a pressing concern. This would be like designing a cover for a car exhaust pipe to prevent dust from collecting in it. A better point would be perhaps to say that it provides some sort of child safety, but sadly, as a father of two kids, the MUJI plug would actually have increased play-value since now there is a cool clear plastic thing dangling from the outlet.
Regarding # 3, I’ll give the Japanese and this designer the benefit of much doubt here - perhaps I’m not spiritual enough, but who is to say that connecting a plastic dummy plug into an outlet is sufficient to keep the spirit world connected to the real world, as the designer claims?
I’m not trying to rag on this entry, but just to continue with my theme here. To this end, I conducted a quick patent search (less than 20 minutes) and noticed that the US Patent Office actually has a whole subclass dedicated to such plugs (called “dummy plugs”
- class 439, “electrical connectors”, subclass 148, “dummy connectors”. The 135 or so patents within this subclass are designed to prevent a child from sticking something into the outlet and do not have much to do with dust-collection prevention or other spiritual connections.
Here’s a link to US patent No. 4,662,697 of Paul Moses, issued in 1987:
http://www.google.com/patents?id=ymY6AAAAEBAJ&printsec=abstract&zoom=4&dq=4662697
If you look at Figs. 1 and 3, you can see that Paul Moses came up with the concept of providing a plastic dummy plug that connects to the “real” cord of another device and plugs into an outlet. Although there are some differences, the structure of Moses’ device is basically the same as the MUJI one, although the MUJI one looks much prettier. Does the less spiritual Paul get any credit for his inventive work that pre-dates MUJI by over 20 years? Nope, the MUJI winner takes all - both the pretty design and the basic concept.
“Traditional Japanese people called an existing thing in this world ‘Utsusemi’.” If this is true, then some of MUJI’s products I’ve seen should be called this, because they seem to have already existed in this world.
Scott
Hi Scott,
Yup you got my intention for the torch light spot on - the magnet switch indeed is a feature to help people place it in the most obvious and easily found location. (Hey it’s a fridge magnet too! :))
As for the MUJI 01 plug idea, I think we can probably guess that it was awarded primarily not for its function, but perhaps the spirit behind. As I’ve discussed with you, I don’t quite understand the plug either (neither do a few of the other Japanese participants). Perhaps I should’ve asked the jury…
Hi Scott,
Yes i did enter this year’s MUJI’s competition and my entries can be found in this link http://coroflot.com/public/individual_details.asp?job_seeker_id=108454
–the winner of MUJI-1 raised a lot of eyebrows in the US–
Yes i think many will agree with you about the choice of the plug as first MUJI winner. If you read the judges comments, you will realise that even some judges disagreed with that choice. I guess it’s the first competition and they probably did not have a good judging guide. I personally like MUJI products for it’s “efficiency” meaning lack of unneccessary features, styling, fuctions etc. But i know some view naoto’s CD player as an icon to MUJI’s brand. To me it’s a bit too “designer” but you can see it’s questioning of “need” in it. Do you need 2 speakers when speakers of micro hi-fi are placed so near? Do you need a player cover if it’s placed vertical? Can we make use of this ugly wire?
–”some of MUJI’s products I’ve seen should be called this, because they seem to have already existed in this world.”–
Yes i totally agree with you on this. (Sometimes i wonder why companies like ikea and muji does tt and nobody seems to care. But when china do that then they get slam real hard. I’m definitely not condoning copying but you you look at a different perspective, they really are providing things at more affordable rates as well)If i’m not wrong, MUJI really started out as a provider of affordable yet good quality product in an period where european design simply cost too much. That explains why they have products that looks exactly like what’s outside–I actually got this thermal flask from MUJI that is totally(other than the colour ha) alike to another brand but cost probably 20% less. But like the way you gave credits to apple’s click wheel, i believe MUJI does make small sensible changes to such products.
Yo Linyou,
Wow I like your umbrella idea very much - that was a very clever way to enable umbrellas to be hung. I’m not sure how many people would immediately feel the need to hang the umbrella that way, but in my house I always have to try and somehow fit it onto my tower rail in my room.
As for the comment about MUJI’s product already exist in this world - I’d say I agree too (for most products anyway). MUJI doesn’t promise to sell novel products - quite on the other hand its brand promise is to have the most normal, simple and no-frills - in some ways supernormal. In this world of differentiation and having that extra-something against competitors, we suddenly realized that it’s not so easy to find ‘just a plain old thing’ that is well-designed anymore. And that’s where MUJI comes in.
This is their philosophy for their line of products - as to whether they should apply an additional “functional-novelty” filter for competition (as opposed to general merchandise), I’d say - it should be fresh (of course and also well-designed). Fresh can come in many forms - in spirit, in design, in a particular layout, or in functional novelty. Utility patents are rightly focused on functional innovation - I think the world has much more capacity and dimension than that.
~my 2cents
yo KK,
I’m glad u like it as well. So what do u think of the envelope? Ha i guess that benefit is not tt obvious. Have u seen something like tt envelope b4? although i dunno if my solution is the best, but i really hope to find one that opens easily.
Yo Linyou,
For the envelope - I think the benefit is certainly very clear, and these sort of solution should have been a standard across. I suppose it’s a matter of cost (secondary processing?). When we were doing another project we had the -exact- same idea for the envelope. So I’d say, it’s a good solution to a good problem, though it lacked the ‘WOW’ factor that comes from ‘why-didn’t-I-think-of-that’.
Hey Linyou:
Thanks for sharing your ideas. You are very creative and present your ideas very well. I like your umbrella idea, but I’m wondering (just trying to understand MUJI better), would your version to hang an umbrella be considered to be more complicated than the traditional hook handle common on umbrellas today? Both allow the umbrella to hang. Does MUJI always like the simpler approach to design? Also, would the user holding your umbrella consider the slot to be uncomfortably sharp? Could you have included some sort of insert piece that is attached to the cord that would fill-in the space so that the handle would remain comfortable?
Regarding the envelope, these are in regular use in the US since about the late 1980s. This type of envelope is common to sent automated checks and rebates. Usually, the envelope includes at least two perforated edges that are torn away to reveal the check inside. I have never seen the use of a single perforated edge, however, and I have never seen this feature offered in more common everyday type envelopes.