CANUCH

BRAND DIRECTION AND PRODUCT DESIGN

This project started with a review of the meaning and role of existing products. I participated as a rebranding design director to reconsider the values that ADAL should convey and what kind of products we should present to the world as a Japanese company. The Japanese perspective on creating space is characterized by how they relate to nature. They place importance on harmony with the environment and are focused on relationships that enhance the environment. The lateral thinking of looking at the four seasons, the ingenuity in how materials are used and how they are finished are also unique cultural expressions that convey the difficulty and awe of coexisting with nature. While relearning Japan's unique culture, I realized that sustainable thinking has been rooted in Japan since ancient times. This view of nature is something we can be proud of in the world, and we have set the axis of product expression to spread it. Based on the words "Look into Nature," we presented the concept of "harmonious landscapes" that resonate with the environment and make one's own actions part of the landscape. Based on this concept, we have used the waving lines that make use of the characteristics of rush grass as a common detail for our products. HAORI is based on the motif of a kimono jacket and is designed to look like it is draped over a chair, creating a feeling of envelopment and gentleness. The gaps create space inside. MONN, on the other hand, is a table item that incorporates the "mitate" (metaphor) of Japanese gardens and blurs the boundaries between interior and exterior with a stone-like design. It also shows a new direction in sustainability, using reusable materials.

Collection: Haori, Monn

MICHAEL GELDMACHER

PRODUCT DESIGN

When I first encountered LIN in Milan in 2019, I was immediately captivated by the beauty of the Igusa material and LIN's innovative approach to revitalizing this traditional Japanese craft. Igusa is a truly unique material, with properties that are simply extraordinary. It boasts a velvet-like touch, a subtle softness, and a distinctive swishing sound when your hand glides over it.For a designer, it’s the material of dreams. The craftsmanship, tradition, and rich history behind Igusa further inspired us to create furniture pieces that truly stand out.With this collection, we aimed to highlight the material, showcasing it as prominently as possible, making it the central focus and key element of each piece.It is both a great pleasure and an honor to contribute our designs to the LIN collection. We truly enjoy collaborating with the LIN team, whose deep understanding of quality andunwavering focus on detail make this partnership so special.This journey has been incredibly rewarding, and we are committed to helping promote Igusa and the craftsmanship behind it, with the hope of preserving it for future generations.

Collection: Sakyu, Kaze, Nagi, Kozue

STONE DESIGNS

PRODUCT DESIGN

We came across Look Into Nature through its exhibition at the Fuori Salone in Milan. We were impressed by the delicacy, the peace, the minimalism brought to an unparalleled elegance that Look Into Nature conveyed. For us, the connection with its values of sustainability, love for nature, craftsmanship and tradition, was something that deeply moved us. From that moment on, we wanted to work with the brand, developing collections for them. Our first collaboration materialized with the Boku collection. A way of decontextualizing the traditional Igusa, but giving it a new meaning. An element that cleanly and elegantly embraced an entire armchair, to share its interior with the warmth and color of the textiles. In the case of the NAGARE collection, we did something similar, trying to create an element in which we brought a piece of that nature to the walls. In this way we feel that the title of Look Into Nature is even more present, since we can observe it on the wall sitting in our chair, contemplating its sinuous and suggestive forms and how they dress and give life toi the walls. For us, the collaboration with Look Into Nature is something much more spiritual than merely a design exercise. It connects us with nature, with our roots as human beings producing solutions in harmony with the nature that surrounds us.

Collection: BOKU, NAGARE