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Living Reef Sýningarhönnun by Daisuke Nagatomo and Minnie Jan

Living Reef Sýningarhönnun by Daisuke Nagatomo and Minnie Jan is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2026 A' Design Award í járni in Sjálfbærar vörur, verkefni og græn hönnun Competition Category.


JárnSjálfbær vara· 2026

Living Reef Sýningarhönnun

by Daisuke Nagatomo and Minnie Jan

Client: Misosoupdesign

A' Design Award í járni Winner in Sjálfbær vara Category

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Verified Award Winner

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The Design

About Living Reef Sýningarhönnun

Living Reef er opinber sýning sem kynnir rannsóknir á sjálfbærri hönnun. Sýningin sýnir verk unnin með Direct Ink Writing þrívíddarprentun og hringrásarefnum, þar á meðal endurunninni eðju, kolefnissnauðu sementi og leir. Smáar brenndar leirfrumgerðir og stórir prentaðir íhlutir eru til sýnis á stöplum og í lokuðum skápum. Uppsetningin fylgir skýrri leið, frá hugmyndaþróun og stafrænni líkanagerð til efnisprófana, framleiðslutakmarkana og lokafrumgerða. Markmiðið er að útskýra hvernig hönnunarmenntun getur stutt við hringrásarnotkun efna og endurheimt kóralrifja.

The Recognition

About the A' Design Award í járni

Living Reef Sýningarhönnun vann A' Design Award í járni, virta viðurkenningu sem veitt er góðum hönnunarverkum sem uppfylla þær faglegu og iðnaðarlegu kröfur sem gerðar eru til vel hannaðra sköpunarverka. Sigurvegarar í járni sýna mikla færni, mikla sérhæfingu, sérfræðiskilning og skapandi getu höfunda sinna. Þess er vænst að Living Reef Sýningarhönnun sé mjög metið, dáð og elskað sköpunarverk sem er hagnýtt og nýstárlegt. Þetta hönnunarverk sem vann A' Design Award í járni sameinar bestu starfsvenjur greinarinnar og hefur hæfa tæknilega eiginleika tengda þekkingu og hæfileikum. Living Reef Sýningarhönnun er virt fyrir nákvæmni sína og er hannað til að veita lífsgæðabætur sem hjálpa til við að gera heiminn að betri stað.

Behind the Design

Press Kit

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

Unique Properties
LivingReef Exhibition is a public facing exhibition that documents and displays the outcomes of an international university initiative on sustainable design using Direct Ink Writing DIW 3D printing with circular materials. Instead of presenting only finished objects, the exhibition makes the full research and education workflow visible, from concept development and AI assisted modeling to material trials, fabrication constraints, iteration, and final prototypes.
Dimensions & Packaging
The exhibition includes small scale fired clay prototypes and large scale printed components made with recycled materials. Forms emphasize porosity, modularity, and self supporting geometry. Objects are displayed on museum grade plinths and enclosed cabinets. All components are designed for safe transport, installation, and public viewing within a gallery environment.
Tags
Sustainable Design, Circular Materials, 3D Printing, Design Education, Coral Restoration, Digital Fabrication, University Collaboration
Production Technology
Direct Ink Writing DIW 3D printing, AI assisted 3D modeling, parametric design, digital fabrication, circular materials, recycled C Slurry, low carbon cement, clay based 3D printing, large scale additive manufacturing, sustainable design education
Design Challenge
The challenge was to convert a complex research program into an exhibition that is technically accurate, publicly accessible, and visually coherent. Circular materials behave unpredictably during printing, requiring repeated testing and geometry revision. The project also required integrating outcomes from multiple universities into one clear narrative while presenting both successes and failures as part of sustainable design learning.
Research
LivingReef is an international research and education initiative exploring sustainable design through DIW 3D printing, circular materials, and AI assisted workflows. The exhibition presents physical outcomes and process documentation from cross university workshops, showing how waste derived materials can be transformed into functional prototypes. The project highlights design education as a driver of circular economy practices and environmental awareness.
Inspiration
The exhibition is inspired by two parallel needs. First, coral reef systems are fragile and require new restoration approaches that can be locally adaptable. Second, higher education must respond to decarbonization and digital transformation by teaching designers to work with low waste processes and circular resources. LivingReef translates these needs into a tangible public narrative.
Project Duration
Project duration: 2025
Workshops: Fukuoka Japan and Tainan Taiwan
Exhibition dates: 2025 10 17 to 2025 10 20
Exhibition venue: NTNU Art Museum, Taipei, Taiwan
Operation Flow
The exhibition guides visitors through a clear narrative flow: project background, cross university collaboration, digital modeling, material testing, fabrication challenges, and final outcomes. Interaction is educational and visual, using physical prototypes, process images, and concise labels. Visitors learn how sustainable design evolves through iteration, material limits, and collaboration.
Team Members
Shuenn-Ren Liou
Kazuya Saito

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