Govy Ibikoresho byo ku Meza bikozwe mu Ibumba by Kayoko Nishii

Govy Ibikoresho byo ku Meza bikozwe mu Ibumba by Kayoko Nishii is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2026 Igihembo cya A' Design Award cya Buronze in Ibikoresho by'Igikoni Competition Category.

BuronzeIbikoresho by'Igikoni· 2026

Govy Ibikoresho byo ku Meza bikozwe mu Ibumba

by Kayoko Nishii

Igihembo cya A' Design Award cya Buronze Winner in Ibikoresho by'Igikoni Category

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Colors

The Design

About Govy Ibikoresho byo ku Meza bikozwe mu Ibumba

Govy ni ikusanyirizo ry'ibikoresho byo ku meza bikozwe mu ibumba binyuze mu buhanga bwo gukoresha ibumba mu bice byegeranye. Uduce twoya tw'ibumba dushyirwa hamwe kandi tugakandamizwa ku buryo imirongo isa n'iy'ibiti igaragara ivuye imbere mu bikoresho aho kuba imitako ishyirwa hejuru gusa. Iyo mirongo iba igize umubiri w'ibumba ubwawo, bityo imiterere y'ibice byegeranye ikomeza kugaragara hejuru, munsi, ku mpande no mu bice by'imbere by'igikoresho cyose. Ubwoko bw'ibumba burenga mirongo itanu bwageragejwe kugira ngo hamenywe uko amabara ahuza n'uko byigabanya mu gihe cyo gutwikwa. Iri kusanyirizo ririmo ibikombe, amabakuri n'amasahani mu mabara ane asa n'ay'ibiti.

The Recognition

About the Igihembo cya A' Design Award cya Buronze

Govy Ibikoresho byo ku Meza bikozwe mu Ibumba ni uwegukanye Igihembo cya A' Design Award cya Buronze, ishimwe ry'agaciro gakomeye ritangwa ku bishushanyo by'indashyikirwa birangwa no guhanga, ubwenge n'ubushishozi. Abegukanye Buronze ni ibihangano bifite ubuhanga bwinshi kandi bihanga cyane, bishimangira uburambe, ubwenge n'ubushobozi bw'ababihanze. Govy Ibikoresho byo ku Meza bikozwe mu Ibumba biteganyijwe ko izaba ikintu cyubahwa, gishimwa kandi gikundwa, gifite ubunyamwuga n'udushya. Iki gishushanyo cyegukanye Buronze gikoresha uburyo bwiza mu buhanzi, ubumenyi, ubushushanyo n'ikoranabuhanga kandi kirarenze mu gutaha ku tuntu duto. Govy Ibikoresho byo ku Meza bikozwe mu Ibumba ishimisha ibyo dukeneye, ikora ku byifuzo byacu, itwara amarangamutima yacu kandi ikurura amatsiko yacu.

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