Skip to content

Press Release

DesignNewswire · COMO, Italy ·

TPH Cypress Tissue Paper Holder by Noriko Otaka Is Granted the Silver A' Design Award in Furniture Design

Noriko Otaka honored for furniture design by the international grand jury of the 2020 - 2021 A' Design Award & Competition

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

COMO, Italy, April 23, 2021 /DesignNewswire/ TPH Cypress Tissue Paper Holder by Noriko Otaka has been granted the Silver A' Design Award in the Furniture Design category, A' Design Award & Competition has announced. The result belongs to the 2020 - 2021 A' Design Award & Competition and was decided through blind peer review by an international grand jury panel of established academics, design professionals and press members, who scored anonymized entries against predetermined criteria.

What the Silver A' Design Award Means

The Silver A' Design Award celebrates top-tier designs that embody excellence and innovation. This award acknowledges creations that are not only aesthetically pleasing but also highly functional, reflecting the designer's deep understanding and skill. Silver A' Design Award recipients are recognized for their contribution to raising industry standards and advancing the practice of design. Their work often incorporates original innovations and elicits a strong emotional response, making a notable impact on the improvement of everyday life.

More About TPH Cypress Tissue Paper Holder

The TPH Cypress has a simple and minimal shape in which paper is sandwiched between two inverted V-shaped trays and taken out from above. A beautiful paper holder made using the traditional technique Japanese call Hikimage with Kiso cypress. Kiso is famous for producing cypress. A metal fitting is attached to the back side of the upper tray. As a result, the weight is increased and friction is reduced, enabling smooth removal. Kiso cypress is highly antibacterial, has a very beautiful grain, and has a refreshing scent.

About Noriko Otaka

I’ve been working for the design of leather products for 30 years. I am also teaching about product designs at a crafts school in Toyooka-shi where has 70% shares of manufacturing of bags. As a designer, I’ve been working with craftsmen with good relationship. For let people know about the unique and high quality products, we have to entry this AWARD & COMPETITION. Of course, the nominating means a lot for us.

Award Record

Noriko Otaka is a winner of 3 A' Design Awards, including this recognition. The awards were granted between the 2019 - 2020 and the 2020 - 2021 editions of the A' Design Award & Competition.

About the A' Furniture Design Award

The A' Furniture Design Award is an international furniture competition recognizing good furniture designs by best furniture designers worldwide. It is organized within the A' Design Award & Competition and is open to furniture designers, product designers, industrial design studios and furniture brands from all countries. Typical entries include chairs, tables, sofas, beds, cabinets and shelves. The awarded furniture designs are published at https://designers.org/design-category/furniture

About A' Design Award & Competition

Organized annually since 2008, A' Design Award & Competition is an international, juried design accolade. The competition is open to entries from all countries. The philanthropic mission of the A' Design Award is to advance society through good design, by recognizing and promoting superior products, projects and services that benefit society, and by creating a global awareness and appreciation for good design practices and principles. Nominations are peer reviewed and evaluated anonymously by an international grand jury panel of established academics, design professionals and press members against predetermined criteria such as functionality, ergonomics, engineering, presentation, innovation, usability, sustainability and technology, with score normalization applied to remove biases. Awards are conferred at Platinum, Gold, Silver, Bronze and Iron levels. Eligible laureates receive the A' Design Prize, which includes the award trophy, the certificate of design excellence, the hardcover yearbook, a lifetime license to use the A' Design Award winner logo, exhibition of awarded works, an invitation to the gala night and award ceremony in Italy, inclusion in the World Design Rankings and Designer Rankings, and public relations and publicity services. Registration, uploading a work and receiving a preliminary score are free of charge, and Professional and Digital Edition laureates are not contractually obliged to pay further fees to claim the A' Design Prize. More information is available at https://competition.adesignaward.com

Press Resources

Media Contact

Giulia Ferrari, Press Office
Designers.Org
Via Leone Leoni 32, 22100 Como, Italy
press@designers.org
+39 031 4491953

###

Fact Sheet

The Work

Project
TPH Cypress Tissue Paper Holder
Function
Tissue Paper Holder
Category
Furniture Design
Discipline
Industrial Design
Industry
Furniture & Home
Colors
Gray, Rosy Brown, Gainsboro, Light Gray and Tan
Images
5

The Recognition

Laureate
Noriko Otaka
Country
Japan
Recognition
Silver A' Design Award
Edition
2020 - 2021
Design ID
#119436

Credits

Image Credits
Web direction by Kentaro Iizuka from HOWL STREET JAPAN.

Design Details

Unique Properties
TPH CYPRESS has a simple and minimal shape in which paper is sandwiched between two inverted V-shaped trays and taken out from above. A beautiful paper holder made using Kiso cypress material and using the traditional "Hikimage" technique. A metal fitting is attached to the back side of the upper tray. As a result, the weight is increased and friction is reduced, enabling smooth removal. Kiso cypress is highly antibacterial, has a very beautiful grain, and has a refreshing scent.
Inspiration
The skill of Japanese craftsmen is high, and there is a delicate craftsmanship unique to Japanese people. I thought of an item that everyone needs, that is always present in the house, and that does not change shape. Another reason was that I couldn't find the design I wanted to use for the tissue paper holder. After the TPH leather and steel materials that won the award in 2019-2020, I thought of a cypress, modern and beautiful holder that is a traditional Japanese material.
Research
Hikimage is a time consuming technique. Hikimage is used for furniture, etc., but it has been lost due to the advent of inexpensive chemical materials.Hikimage is an environmentally friendly technique that uses natural materials. We adopted this technique, which is also a traditional Japanese technique, as an opportunity to let many people know about it.
Challenge
In order to reproduce the optimum angle with HIKIMAGE, it was very difficult to calculate the number of cuts and the distance considering the thickness of the board. Also there was also the problem that the brightness of the upper tray floated when the tissue paper was taken out. A brass hemisphere was attached to the bottom of the top tray to design a smooth takeout.
Realization and Technology
Japanese craftsmen in Kiso Town, Nagano Prefecture make full use of traditional "Hikimage" techniques. "Hikimage" is a special technique that makes a cut in a tree and bends it. Kiso cypress has high antibacterial properties and can be said to be the best material for tissue paper holders.
Operation and Interaction
Take the tissue paper out of the package and put it in a cypress tray for use. The scent of cypress, which has a healing effect, creates a relaxing space.
Project Duration and Location
The Project started from April 2019 in Kisohirasawa, Nagano. The sample finished to make in October 2019. Announced at the venue of OMOTENASHI selection in December 2019.
Specifications
Japanese Cypress "Hinoki" / W260 × D145 × H80 mm / A box made by Japanese paper / Hikimage technique.
Keywords
TPH cypress, corino2910, TPH HINOKI, Paper holder cypress, Japanese cypress holder

Good Design Deserves Great Recognition

Nominate Your Work for the A' Design Award.

Nominate