Govy Vajilla de Cerámica by Kayoko Nishii

Govy Vajilla de Cerámica by Kayoko Nishii is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2026 A' Design Award de Bronce in Diseño de Menaje de Cocina Competition Category.

BronceMenaje de Cocina· 2026

Govy Vajilla de Cerámica

by Kayoko Nishii

A' Design Award de Bronce Winner in Menaje de Cocina Category

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Verified Award Winner

Verify Award Status for #180643

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Colors

The Design

About Govy Vajilla de Cerámica

Govy es una colección de vajilla cerámica elaborada mediante una construcción de arcilla en capas. Se laminan y comprimen finas placas de arcilla, de modo que los patrones de veta de madera emergen desde el interior del material en lugar de aplicarse como decoración superficial. La veta forma parte del cuerpo cerámico, por lo que la estructura estratificada continúa a lo largo de la superficie, el reverso, los bordes y las secciones transversales de cada pieza. Se ensayaron más de cincuenta pastas cerámicas para evaluar la armonía cromática y la contracción durante la cocción. La colección incluye tazas, cuencos y platos en cuatro tonalidades de madera.

The Recognition

About the A' Design Award de Bronce

Govy Vajilla de Cerámica ha ganado el A' Design Award de Bronce, un reconocimiento sumamente prestigioso concedido a diseños sobresalientes que se distinguen por su creatividad, ingenio y astucia. Los ganadores de Bronce son artefactos ampliamente hábiles y sorprendentemente creativos que acreditan la vasta experiencia, imaginación e ingeniosidad de sus diseñadores. Se espera que Govy Vajilla de Cerámica sea un objeto muy apreciado, admirado y querido, notablemente profesional e innovador. Este diseño ganador del A' Design Award de Bronce incorpora las mejores prácticas del arte, la ciencia, el diseño y la tecnología, y es excelente por su atención al detalle. Govy Vajilla de Cerámica satisface espléndidamente las necesidades, toca los deseos, encanta los sentimientos y atrae la curiosidad.

Behind the Design

Press Kit

Credits, team members and technical details provided by the designer.

Unique Properties: Govy is a ceramic tableware collection formed through structurally layered clay. Different clay bodies are stacked and compressed to generate wood-grain patterns that emerge from within the material rather than being applied. Circular knot-like patterns are intentionally designed through controlled layer composition. The layered structure appears consistently across the entire piece—including the surface, underside, edges, and cross-sections—unifying visual expression and internal structure. More than fifty clay bodies were tested to achieve color harmony and compatible shrinkage during firing.
Dimensions & Packaging: Mugs (Diameter x Height): Small 6.5 x 6.5 cm, Medium 8 x 8 cm, Large 9 x 9 cm.
Bowls (Owan): Small 13 x 5 cm, Medium 17 x 7 cm.
Deep Plates: 20 x 4 cm.
Plates: 13 x 2 cm, 19 x 2 cm, 24 x 2 cm, 27 x 3 cm, 33 x 3.5 cm.
Available colors: Whitewood, Oak, Cherrywood, Walnut.
Production takes approximately three weeks from mold creation, or one week when molds and clay preparation are completed.
Tags: Modular Design, Layered Clay, Ceramic Tableware, Material Structure, Nerikomi
Production Technology: Govy is produced through layered clay construction derived from traditional nerikomi techniques. More than fifty clay bodies were tested to evaluate color harmony and shrinkage compatibility. Thin clay slabs are laminated, compressed, and reformed to create stable layered structures that generate wood-like grain patterns. Mold forming enables consistent forms while preserving the natural variation inherent to the stratified clay structure.
Design Challenge: The central challenge was translating the visual richness of wooden vessels into ceramic while maintaining durability and usability. Over fifty clay bodies were tested to determine compatible color combinations and shrinkage behavior. Through layered construction, compression forming, and mold-based prototyping, stable grain structures were achieved. Nearly forty form prototypes were evaluated with professional chefs, leading to the final selection of forms and four wood-tone color options.
Research: This project investigates how layered clay techniques, including nerikomi, can generate wood-grain structures directly within ceramic tableware. Instead of surface decoration, different clay bodies are laminated and compressed so the grain becomes part of the material itself. More than fifty clay bodies were tested to examine color harmony and shrinkage behavior, while over forty plate forms were developed to study proportion, usability, and food presentation. Final selections were evaluated with professional chefs to determine effective color tones and plate proportions.
Inspiration: Govy is inspired by the structural logic of wood, where growth is recorded through layered formation. The project translates this natural process into ceramics through layered clay construction. Layers are intentionally composed and compressed so wood-like grain structures emerge from within the material rather than being applied as surface decoration. As a result, the structural depth of wood is realized in ceramic form, where visual expression and material structure are unified, creating a natural warmth that enhances the presence of food while remaining versatile across different dining contexts.
Project Duration: The project began in 2016 in the United States, with early works exhibited in a gallery context. Development continued intermittently, resumed in 2023, and was completed in November 2025.
Operation Flow: Govy functions as a flexible tableware system that adapts to different dining environments. Users can select individual pieces or combine multiple forms and sizes to create varied table settings. Four wood-tone color options allow visual pairing with different foods and personal preferences while maintaining a coherent material identity. The lightweight construction improves everyday usability, and the thickness can be adjusted during production to suit both domestic use and professional kitchens.
Image Credits: Photography　Christopher Brown