Memorial Capsule Pangunahing Gamit: Urn para sa Alagang Hayop by Paul Heredia and Hiromi Komiyama is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2026 A' Design Award na Bronse in Disenyo ng Ideya at Konsepto Competition Category.
BronseIdeya· 2026
Memorial Capsule Pangunahing Gamit: Urn para sa Alagang Hayop
by Paul Heredia and Hiromi Komiyama
Client: Dainichido Inc.
A' Design Award na Bronse Winner in Ideya Category
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The Design
About Memorial Capsule Pangunahing Gamit: Urn para sa Alagang Hayop
Teksto ng Aklat: Ang biodegradable na urn na ito para sa alagang hayop ay dinisenyo upang magbigay ng banayad at tuloy-tuloy na pamamaalam. Hinango mula sa mga tradisyong Hapon ng pag-alaala sa tahanan at natural na paglilibing, nag-aalok ito ng napapanatiling paraan upang parangalan ang buhay. Ang dalawang-bahaging istruktura na may talukap na may tornilyo ay nagsi-seguro sa abo para sa pagtatanghal o paglilibing, habang isang maliit na palamuti ang nananatili sa may-ari bilang alaala. Ginawa mula sa bioplastic na may pinulbos na kabibi ng talaba, ang urn ay natural na nagbabalik sa lupa. Ang mala-mattong tapos nito at malalambot na kurba ay nag-aanyaya sa paghawak, na naghahandog ng ginhawa at ritwal sa panahon ng pagdadalamhati.
The Recognition
About the A' Design Award na Bronse
Ang Memorial Capsule Pangunahing Gamit: Urn para sa Alagang Hayop ay nagwagi ng A' Design Award na Bronse, isang lubhang prestihiyosong pagkilalang iginagawad sa mga natatanging disenyong nakikilala sa pagkamalikhain, katalinuhan at talas ng isip. Ang mga nagwagi ng Bronse ay mga likhang lubhang mahusay at kapansin-pansing malikhain na nagpapatunay sa malawak na karanasan, imahinasyon at pagkamaparaan ng kanilang mga tagapagdisenyo. Inaasahang ang Memorial Capsule Pangunahing Gamit: Urn para sa Alagang Hayop ay isang lubos na pinahahalagahan, hinahangaan at minamahal na bagay na kapansin-pansing propesyonal at makabago. Ang disenyong ito na nagwagi ng A' Design Award na Bronse ay nagsasama ng pinakamahuhusay na kasanayan sa sining, agham, disenyo at teknolohiya, at mahusay dahil sa pansin nito sa detalye. Ang Memorial Capsule Pangunahing Gamit: Urn para sa Alagang Hayop ay kahanga-hangang tumutugon sa mga pangangailangan, humahaplos sa mga hangarin, bumibighani sa damdamin at umaakit sa pag-uusisa.
Behind the Design
Press Kit
Credits, team members and technical details provided by the designer.
- Unique Properties
- This product is a biodegradable urn supporting grieving pet owners through a gentle, continuous farewell. Inspired by Japanese home memorials and natural burials, it offers an intimate, sustainable way to honor life. A two-part structure with threaded lid keeps ashes secure while allowing burial with the urn; a small charm stays with the owner. Made from bioplastic with powdered oyster shells, it naturally biodegrades. Warm matte texture and soft contours invite touch, easing grief.
- Dimensions & Packaging
- Urn dimensions Diameter 120 x H195 mm, capacity approximately 950 cc. Total weight (urn and charm) approximately 420 g. Charm size varies by design. Made from ECOSHELL (bioplastic with powdered oyster shells), charm crafted in silver, copper, and gold alloy. Two-part body with threaded lid ensures stability and prevents accidental spillage. Matte finish and soft contours enhance tactile comfort. Packaging for urn: W170 x H246 x D140 mm, for charm: W80 x H80 x D35 mm.
- Tags
- pet urn, pet memorial, biodegradable urn, grief care, eco-friendly design, sustainable product, natural burial, oyster shell bioplastic, home memorial, tactile design
- Production Technology
- This urn is made from ECOSHELL, a biodegradable material created by blending finely crushed oyster shells into a biomass-based resin. Its lid and base are joined with a precisely engineered screw thread, ensuring the contents remain secure even if the urn is tipped over, an advantage over conventional urns. A small charm, crafted from an alloy of silver, copper, and gold, remains with the owner as a keepsake. The urn itself has a warm matte texture and soft contours, inviting touch, fostering new rituals, and easing the pain of loss.
- Design Challenge
- The main challenge was designing an urn that fosters emotional healing while redefining traditional perceptions of memorialization. We overcame difficulties in translating intangible emotions into tangible design features, integrating Japanese home memorial traditions with natural burial practices. External limits included sourcing and molding a biodegradable yet durable material, and ensuring a secure screw-top structure without sacrificing warmth and tactility.
- Research
- This qualitative design research identified a lack of meaningful mourning rituals for bereaved pet owners. Through literature review, cultural analysis, and interviews, we examined emotional changes, recovery processes, and posthumous communication with pets. Insights informed the form, structure, and materials, designing not only a physical urn but also a process that naturally supports emotional healing through use.
- Inspiration
- The design was inspired by the emotional gap many pet owners face after loss: the absence of meaningful mourning rituals. Drawing on Japanese customs of keeping ashes at home and the emerging practice of natural burials, it enables a continuous, personal farewell from collection to burial. Insights from grief care research and dialogues with bereaved owners shaped the structure, materials, and tactile qualities, offering a nature-connected and emotionally supportive alternative to traditional urns.
- Project Duration
- The project commenced in October 2022 in Hiroshima, Japan, where planning and development took place, and the design was completed in June 2023. Released in March 2025, it continues to be available.
- Operation Flow
- After cremation, the pet’s ashes are placed into the urn and taken home. It can be kept nearby for home memorialization, with the charm attached as a daily reminder. Owners can hold, stroke, or speak to it as they would in life, offering comfort and time for grieving. When ready, the ashes and urn can be buried to return to nature, while the charm is removed and kept close as a lasting keepsake.
- Patents
- Pending Patent Application No. 2024-125606, DAINICHIDO Inc., Japan
Trademark (2024) DAINICHIDO Inc., Japan - Team Members
- Designer : Paul Heredia
Designer : Hiromi Komiyama - Image Credits
- Image #1: Photographer Tatsuya Tabii, 2024.
Image #2: Photographer Tatsuya Tabii, 2024.
Image #3: Photographer Tatsuya Tabii, 2024.
Image #4: Photographer Tatsuya Tabii, 2024.
Image #5: Photographer Tatsuya Tabii, 2024.
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