I felt this year’s entries were higher in quality. The reason was that the award aimed at commoditization. We apparently had many entries from professional designers as well. While novel and unprecedented ideas are valued in general design competitions, the Muji Award honors more natural living products or simple works. This may be unusual as a design competition, but products that are peculiar to Muji cannot be born unless you change your sense of value toward creation.

Gold Prize
The Gold Prize towel was highly praised by Muji members. They sure have an intimate knowledge of the production process of towels; a washcloth for example is made from a large piece of towel by dividing it into smaller pieces. Therefore, this idea fits easily into the production process. Muji products value efficiency in the production process, so this idea is superior to many other entries, which represented excellent ideas but were difficult to produce.

Stackable Hanger
Stackable Hangers can be used as one hanger by layering more than one hanger. This is very efficient. It’s also marvelous because they don’t take up much space when not in use. The materials used are thin, but structural strength is achieved by the stericically designed shape. Its only defect is that the hooks are not designed as layerable as well.

• Kazuko Koike
• Takashi Sugimoto
• Kenya Hara
• Naoto Fukasawa
• Jasper Morrison