I was quite surprised by the winning entries, as they didn’t really seem to capture the true MUJI spirit of minimal design that is reduced to it’s purest functionality.
It’s interesting to read the juror’s comments and to see how divided the opinions were on the winning selections. I’m sure this will spark an interesting debate here as well.
Go on have a look and comment:
wow, no comments at all. seems like everyone’s in agreement with the judges or just reeling from turkey stuffing.
I agree that the first prize was way too poetic for Muji, though it is very unique and memorable… My girlfriend had an interesting take on why this won first prize, to quote her “The title ‘utsusemi’ must have won Japanese judges’ hearts, since it refers to ‘the tale of Genji’ (it’s like Japanese Shakespeare, and it’s rare to see it being referred to by contemporary designers or artists.)” (she is Japanese).
I am also curious why all the winning entries (minus 1) were Japanese designers, although they received 4700+ entries from 52 countries. I am not calling BS, but I am curious why this is. I would have expected at least one or two Europeans to place as Japanese and European design language are built on similar minimalist ground (yes I know this is a gross generalization).
I’m really puzzled that this entry won the hearts of quite a few judges. Perhaps I don’t understand the context of the product well - in my part of the world, wall sockets come with switches naturally, and there is no need to physically unplug an appliance when not in use.
I find myself agreeing most with Morrison’s take on this. If a harmonious interior is seeked, having an extra, dangling (as much as it is transparent) fake plug on the power cord seem the greatest disturbance when the plug is in use. This is almsot in direct contravention of MUJI’s spirit of simplicity. If cables lying around on the floor is the problem, why not solve that directly?
I am puzzled by the logic of the choice.
I had always admired the elegance and simplicity of Muji products. Obviously the need to make a design statement had exceeded the sober and sublime principles that have guided great Japanese designs.
But I am also wondering if we are unfamiliar with the Japanese sense of kinkiness which we are ready to applaud when it comes from familiar and celebrated sources.
I have to agree I don’t actually understand the logic of the judging, and agree that the winner is indeed over-poetic in terms of what I view Muji to be.
To be honest, I also think Sam Hecht should have somehow been involved with the judging seing as he is the creative director for Muji Europe, it would have opened some interesting alternative views.
Some nice work, some questionable work.
Funny, I just made a bootleg version of the 3rd silver prize winners idea. Just put the surge protector in a box with all of the cords coming out of a slot to keep the kids from messing with the plugs on the family computer. Guess it was just the right time in the world for that product.
Not to bellyache-- I entered and did not place-- but I was suprised to see ZERO European or American designers in the winner’s circle. I was suprised by the winning entry-- either something was lost in the cultural translation or it’s a winner that’s very off-brand from Muji. I was suprised at the low level of quality in many of the visualizations. I was also suprised at Jasper Morrison’s comments! When one of the two rock-star judges publically says he does not agree with the winning choice, something is a little off. This whole competition ended on a wierd note for me, and has me confused as to exactly what Muji was trying to do with the entire competition…
Can someone explain the winning deisgn to me? Because I read it a few times and I still don’t understand what it is or what it does.
I still don’t understand what it is or what it does.
Most people are in the same situation most of the time but are ashamed to accept that they do not understand, so they take the prize winning designs as granted and emulate it to win even more prizes!
The whole thing looks a bit weird in a foreign context, but it happens all the time. Have a look at some design magazines.
Can someone explain the winning deisgn to me? Because I read it a few times and I still don’t understand what it is or what it does.
First, you have to get your head around the concept of personification; the representation of an abstraction, or thing, as being human. Having attained that enlightenment, what it (the winning design) is, is a fulfillment of the empty electical outlets “longing” to have something plugged into it.
My grandmother (b:1896 - d:1962) would have seen the logic in the winning design; it was her firm belief that electricity leaks out of wall outlets when there is not an appliance plugged into them.
Judging from my last utility bill, I’m beginning to think she may have been right.
So it doesn’t do anything then. Just making sure I wasn’t missing something. I’m really surprised they chose that, given that Muji’s general philosophy is (or was?) purely utilitarian. This is just more useless plastic crap. How poetic is sucking more oil out of the ground just to make a pointless bauble? After reading the judges’ comments, I think Jasper Morrison was spot on.
Don’t forget that it keeps dust out of the outlet cavities…
So it doesn’t do anything then. … This is just more useless plastic crap.
Actually, I view it more as a solution looking for a problem, while
sucking more oil out of the ground just to make a pointless bauble
The real irony is/was that Japan essentially started it’s end of WWII because it didn’t have any native oil reserves.
what it (the winning design) is, is a fulfillment of the empty electical outlets “longing” to have something plugged into it.
hmmmm … I wonder if the plug has the same longing? Which leads one to wonder, futher, if the utsusemi longs to be plugged in when the appliance cord is connected… . maybe it longs for a utsusemi-outlet.
I’m getting a headache . …
anyone knows here i can see the results? the link in the first post and everylink pointing to MUJI AWARD 04 is being redirected to the main page.
Are they posted in another site or in a blog?