My Choice 2023

My Choice" is an annual project in which each member of the Good Design Award jury takes a break from judging to select and introduce their personal favorites and award-winning designs that caught their attention.

In conjunction with the exhibition at GOOD DESIGN Marunouchi, we will introduce items available for purchase from those announced with the 2023 awards, along with comments from the jury members.

<Available for purchase at the online store and Marunouchi store>.

Soap case "mu

Yu Yamada｜Buyer

When I go to the sea, mountains, rivers, or forests, I usually find branches (sticks), nuts, stones, shells, or even flotsam that I find with my eyes and pick them up. For such a person like me, I genuinely like this soap case shaped like a colonized stone, which was upcycled from marine plastic trash from Ojika Island in the northern part of the Goto Archipelago.

Mosquito Coil Holder MIKADZUKI MINI

Interior Designer

I instantly knew I wanted to use it because of the matching crescent shape with the swirls of mosquito coils. It is such an adorable way to accentuate an indispensable part of our summer outdoor life. It is a rather extravagant item, but the beauty of the aluminum color, the high precision, and the interesting mechanism make it a fun item for outdoor enthusiasts who are willing to go that far.

Tongs

Shizuka Tatsuno｜Creative Director / Designer

Despite their extremely simple shape, these versatile tongs can easily handle everything from small food items in a jar to large chunks of meat and even pasta. They are stronger than they look, making them the perfect tool for daily use. I was also impressed by the workmanship of the manufacturer and designer, as I realized that this meticulous design was the result of their persistent and repeated prototyping.

Shorewood Project

Hitoshi Kuramoto｜Product Designer

Trees that have given green enrichment to our lives, such as roadside trees and park trees, will one day come to an end. Through cross-industrial collaboration, the trees were reborn as products, and their power filled the air, and their unique grain patterns seemed to reflect people's memories.

Shuko Yanaginuma｜Buyer

I had never heard of the term "shibaraki" until I came across this product. When I heard about the entire project and caught a glimpse of the determination, mission, and hard work of the people involved, I was moved. Buying this product is an act of casting a vote for the spirit of everyone involved. I hope that these efforts, which are only possible in the region of production, will serve as a model for other regions and spread in abundance.

Architect, Creative Director

In urban areas, there is no end to the number of trees that are cut down or pruned too hard because of the difficulty of cleaning up fallen leaves. I am always against such actions that easily damage trees that have grown over time solely for the convenience of humans, but I often have no choice but to give up. In the process of creating these products, we feel that these works are an atonement for the time and memories that we have unavoidably lost.

<Sold only at the Marunouchi store

Stockpile Food Brand "Gift & Stock

Planning Director

There are two kinds of "extraordinary events. There are two kinds of "extraordinary": the dangerous and sad, such as disasters and mourning, and the joyous, such as festivals and celebrations.
There are many products that claim to be "emergency food for everyday life," but I think this is the first time I have seen an item that goes beyond the everyday and connects the extraordinary with the extraordinary.
With this item, my extraordinary life will be protected. Who should I give it to first?

A cutting board that can be returned

Yoshiharu Sugawara｜Creative Director

Conventional cutting boards touch the cooktop directly, so the cooktop gets dirty when used upside down. If it is used after washing in water, the cooking table gets wet. It was necessary to wipe it off with kitchen paper or a cloth each time. This cutting board, which saves me such a little trouble and is also hygienic, is perfect for someone like me who loves to cook.

GOOD DESIGN STORE TOKYO by NOHARA Marunouchi is currently exhibiting and selling about 200 of the 2023 award-winning products at the event. Please come and visit us.

＜Event Information

Marunouchi Store

Event: Get your hands on the latest in design - the latest Good Design Award winners for2023

Dates: October 5 (Thu) - December 6 (Wed)

Location: Marunouchi Store

Online Store

Special feature: Get the latest Good Design Award 2023

Period: October 5 (Thu) - December 6 (Wed)

>List of 2023 Awards

*Product lineups and sales periods differ at each store.

GOOD DESIGN Marunouchi: A communication platform that connects design and people, design and society, operated by the Japan Institute of Design Promotion, the organizer of the Good Design Awards.