Spiral of Life Fitaovana Fisakafoanana Vera by Keiji Ishikawa

Spiral of Life Fitaovana Fisakafoanana Vera by Keiji Ishikawa is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2026 A' Design Award Volamena in Famolavolana Fitaovana Fanendasana, Latabatra, Fisotroana ary Fahandro Competition Category.

VolamenaFitaovan-dakozia· 2026

Spiral of Life Fitaovana Fisakafoanana Vera

by Keiji Ishikawa

Client: KJ studio

A' Design Award Volamena Winner in Fitaovan-dakozia Category

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Colors

The Design

About Spiral of Life Fitaovana Fisakafoanana Vera

Ao anatin'ny fifangaroan'ny rafitra matematika sy ny zavakanto mihetsika, ny tetikasa Spiral of Life dia manolotra lalana vaovao ho an'ny vera Kiriko. Ity asa ity dia mahasarika ny fihovan'ny voajanahary voajanahary ao anatin'ny akora vera. Ny fivoarana dia niandoha avy amin'ny fiaraha-miasan'ny mpamorona sy Ree, mpandihy loko. Amin'ny fandikana ny filaharan'i Fibonacci ho fihetsika, dia i Ree no nanome ny rafitra fototra ho an'ny famolavolana. Amin'ny alalan'ny fifandanjan'ny spiral 8 ka hatramin'ny 13 sy 13 ka hatramin'ny 21, ny mpanao asa tanana dia mampifandray ny asa tanana nentim-paharazana amin'ny biomatematika. Ny firindrana vokatr'izany dia manolotra traikefa gadona mampiseho ny fitepon'ny voajanahary eran'izao tontolo izao.

The Recognition

About the A' Design Award Volamena

Nandresy ny A' Design Award Volamena ny famolavolana Spiral of Life Fitaovana Fisakafoanana Vera, fankasitrahana malaza indrindra tsy refesi-mandidy omena ny famolavolana kilasy voalohany, mahagaga ary miavaka. Ny mpandresy Volamena dia famoronana vaovao indrindra, mahay mijery lavitra ary mamirapiratra mahafinaritra izay maneho ny fahamoramoran-tsaina, ny fahendrena ary ny fahaizan'ny mpamolavola azy. Andrasana ho fikarohana mahazo ankasitrahana indrindra, mitarika ny fironana ary tsangambato ny famolavolana Spiral of Life Fitaovana Fisakafoanana Vera izay mamatsy sanda tsy mbola nisy toy izany. Ity famolavolana nandresy ny A' Design Award Volamena ity dia tetikasa mahavariana sy hajaina izay mahasoa be ary mampandroso ny sisintanin'ny zavakanto, ny siansa, ny famolavolana ary ny teknolojia. Ny famolavolana Spiral of Life Fitaovana Fisakafoanana Vera dia mamorona fihetseham-po mafy momba ny faniriana, mamelona ny ahiahy, mamporisika ny fahaiza-mamorona ary mahasarika antsika.

Behind the Design

Press Kit

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

Unique Properties: Fibonacci spirals follow strict mathematical laws yet appear organic and asymmetrical, resisting simple geometric repetition. Traditional Kiriko requires precise vertical and horizontal guidelines before cutting; however, standard grids cannot capture this natural fluctuation while ensuring reproducibility. To solve this, I developed a hybrid approach: maintaining the Fibonacci count with guidelines while manually adjusting each cut to ensure a smooth, living trajectory.
Dimensions & Packaging: The product dimensions are as follows: The rock glass is 77mm in diameter and 92mm in height, as shown in the main image. In optional image #1, the wine glass is 58mm in diameter and 150mm in height. In optional image #2, the soba cups are 81mm in diameter and 62mm in height. In optional image #3, the sake cup is 60mm in diameter and 60mm in height. Finally, the top views of the sake cup and soba cup filled with water are shown in optional image #4.
Tags: kiriko, cutglass, japaneseglassware, glassart
Production Technology: The double-layered glassware is carefully ground and polished by hand using Japanese Kiriko cut glass technology.
Design Challenge: Through rigorous prototyping, I established a specialized system. Smaller vessels like sake cups use an 8 to 13 spiral ratio, while larger items like wine and rock glasses employ a 13 to 21 ratio to maintain proportion. For vessels with decorative bases, such as a soba cup, I meticulously integrated an 8 to 13 spiral on the bottom to enhance aesthetic coherence. This precise scaling was essential to capturing the Spiral of Life across the entire collection.
Research: A true Fibonacci spiral requires clockwise and counterclockwise counts to be adjacent numbers in the sequence. To ensure visual balance and mathematical integrity, I conducted extensive research to determine the optimal pairings, such as 8 to 13 or 13 to 21, based on specific glass diameters and curvatures. This study ensured that the mathematical beauty remains consistent.
Inspiration: I initially struggled to translate the relationship between the sun and the sunflower into glass. The breakthrough came via my daughter Ree, an artist and paint dancer, who shared my fascination with the sunflower Fibonacci spiral. This pattern blends mathematical law with organic asymmetry. Ree physicalized this sequence by synchronizing her leg drawn spiral counts with Fibonacci numbers. Witnessing this kinetic manifestation inspired me to transpose these complex spirals onto Kiriko glass.
Project Duration: The project started in December 2025 in Tokushima, Japan, and finished in February 2026.
Operation Flow: The streamline motifs are executed with wide-angle V cuts. When viewed from the side, patterns on the far surface refract through the front, creating complex layered intersections that evoke the mystery of life. From a top-down perspective, the precise Fibonacci sequence achieves a profound, harmonious balance. The design invokes a rhythmic and engaging experience, mimicking a living pulse. This interaction between light and geometry brings dynamic vitality to the glassware.
Patents: The design is being applied for design registration and will receive copyright protection for registered designs in December 2026 in Japan.
Image Credits: Video Credits:
To demonstrate the rhythmic harmony and life-like pulse of the design, the video showcases the glassware in rotation. This highlights how the patterns shift and intersect dynamically as the perspective changes, illustrating the Spiral of Life concept through the interaction of light, shadow, and the intricate Kiriko hand cuts.