How can Japanese industry be direction and always revolutionary?
How could japan do it all after failing in world war 2?
You ever feel like living in Japan is easy and good because all the stuff in there is easy to use? It’s as if everything that was made there was treated as thoroughly as possible to their user or customer. Creative, simple revolutionary.
Japan came to this stage with hard struggle and disciplined perseverance. All human societies share a common understanding and thinking over the past few centuries, and so how did japan become a revolutionary nation in terms of design products?
Japanese product design
Until recently product design was a difficult problem to solve. many products with designs that did not fit into the marketplace or even into their own segments. Have you ever seen “Made in Switzerland” Made in USA Made in China” behind a product? Now directly, you can tell what has these negative connotations, but most products — particularly technology — actually have a very subjective creation story in between
Let’s see how the Japanese can improve their product design, get us back to World War II
World War II
Before Japan lost the war, the size of the priorities shifted to 3 at the time
- The lowest level, Japanese consumer goods exported to other countries. This has also made japan known as a substandard producing country
- Mid-level, Hardware and their war tools. So, the military had the best engineers and the materials and their quality that could eventually compete with other nations. By this time the japanese were forced to yield to the allies during World War II
- Highest level, Crafts and handmade items from ancient Japan (16th century). This was first seen by dutch and portuguese explorers upon arriving in japan. They found handicrafts such as beams, wood, paper and varnish prints. These products obviously are far superior to anything known in Europe.
When Japan lost the war, it was clear that they had done something wrong, and they were looking for change. In 1954, the Japan Federation of Economic Organizations was held, and two Americans were invited.
After World War II
After the world war ended, the United States helped restore the Japanese economy by providing technical assistance and training to Japanese industry. One of the people appointed to provide training was Edwards Deming. Edwards Deming is a statistician and engineer known for quality management in his field.
Apart from Deming, Joseph Juran was also invited by Japan in 1954 to provide quality management training. Juran’s emphasis is on the overarching quality management concept, namely improving processes and reducing costs through quality control.
Edwards Demong and Joseph Juran along with 140 chief executives of Japanese manufacturers attended the meeting in Japan. The two launched two ideas that would change the way Japanese people think about creating and presenting their products:
- Quality management. This involves managing the quality through design and examining the flaw before it reaches consumer hands.
- Analyze and monitor the manufacturing process. This solution allows the product to be viewed while it is being made to find a source of defects, fix them, which in turn creates almost defective-free products from scratch
Of those two values, japan continues to hone the birth of their quality revolution. During Duran’s time in Japan, he also advised to train their employees on quality improvement and control and eventually each direct action led to sustainable quality
What makes japanese products still ‘convenient’ to use until now?
More than just an aesthetic — harmony, quality, consideration, and functionality
The design coming from Japan is more than just aesthetics — it’s a rooted philosophy and it’s still used by the Japanese community today.
There are three main principles, support aesthetics and elevate them to an integral part of everyday life, not just a way of thinking
The principles were wabi, sabi and yugen.
- Wabi: This principle describes beauty that is simple, natural, and imperfect. Wabi emphasizes simplicity and purity, and is often associated with solitude and serenity.
- Sabi: This principle expresses beauty that comes from age and long use, and emphasizes imperfection and uniqueness. Sabi is often associated with loneliness, peace and a quiet life.
- Yugen: This principle describes a beauty that is vague, mysterious, and inexplicable. Yugen expresses beauty that comes from inner experience, and is often associated with depth, uncertainty, and timelessness.
These principles are often used in various traditional Japanese arts such as garden arts, martial arts, painting, and crafts. In addition, these principles have also been the inspiration for many modern architectural and product designs in Japan.
There are 7 principles derived from wabi, sabi, and yugen in Japanese design, including:
- Shibui: The principle of simplicity, moderation of beauty, and continuous harmony.
- Iki: The principle of elegance, a simple but elegant lifestyle.
- Jo-ha-kyu: Principles of rhythm and change, namely the concept of gradual, rapid, and intense movement.
- Kanso: The principle of clarity and serenity, which describes harmony in simple nothingness.
- Ma: Principles of space and silence, creating a sense of calm and balance in design with effective use of empty space.
- Fukinsei: The principle of disorder and balance, describing beauty in imperfections and awkwardness arranged in such a way as to create harmony.
- Datsuzoku: The principle of freedom and separation from convention, describes the opportunity to break boundaries and produce something new and creative.
At this time
Today’s Japanese designers adhere to the product design principles highly valued in Japan, which consist of simplicity, minimalism, functionality, quality, harmony and innovation. In creating products, Japanese designers consider practicality and comfort in use, quality and durability, as well as visual harmony and a sense of unity in product design. In addition, they also encourage innovation and creativity in creating new solutions to meet user needs. Adhering to these principles, Japanese designers can create products that are not only aesthetically pleasing and functional, but also innovative and fully meet the needs of users.
1. Simplicity
One of the main principles in product design in Japan is simplicity. This principle is an emphasis on eliminating unnecessary elements, simplifying forms, and using minimal color to create products that are easy to understand and use. Designers in Japan believe that simplicity is the key to creating beautiful, elegant and practical products. These products have a minimalistic appearance, with a focus on function and practicality, and are easy to integrate into everyday life.
Muji Kettle has a very simple and minimalist design, with a plain white color and a geometric shape. Despite its very simple design, the Muji Kettle has advanced features such as temperature control and automatic safety, and is easy to use and clean. With a simple design, the Muji Kettle can suit various styles of home décor.
Another example of simplicity in design. Packaging for SHISEIDO MEN
Shiseido Facial Cleanser has a simple design with plain white color and minimalistic font. This product also has advanced features such as a gentle formula that can clean the skin thoroughly. With a simple design, Shiseido Facial Cleanser makes it easy for consumers to choose the right skin care products.
2. Minimalism
The principle of minimalism in product design in Japan emphasizes eliminating unnecessary elements and simplifying forms. This is done to create products that are easy to understand and use, and give a clean and elegant impression. In this principle, designers prioritize functionality and avoid excessive decoration. Products designed with minimalism in mind often have simple shapes and neutral colors, such as white, black, or gray. These products have a minimalist shape but still function properly and are easy to use.
Muji Toaster is a household electronic product that is designed very simply. With its plain white color and geometric shape, this toaster can match any style of home decor. This product has basic features such as setting the temperature and baking time, and is easy to use.
3. Functionality
The principle of functionality in product design in Japan emphasizes optimal product performance and functionality. Good product design must be able to meet the needs and functional goals of the product. In this principle, designers tend to place user needs and functions as top priority in design, rather than just thinking about aesthetics. For example, technology products such as smartphones or computers in Japan usually have a simple yet easy-to-use interface and have useful features for users. With the principle of functionality, product design can help facilitate life and meet user needs effectively.
Zojirushi Rice Cooker is a kitchen appliance product that adheres to the principle of functionality. This Rice Cooker is designed to cook rice with perfect and satisfying results. This product is equipped with advanced technology such as an accurate temperature and time setting system so that users can easily produce cooked and delicious rice.
4. Quality
Quality is an important factor in all aspects of Japanese life, including product design. In product design, quality is defined as the ability of a product to function optimally, be durable, and easy to maintain. Products made with good quality are considered a long-term investment and are valued by the Japanese people. Therefore, product designers in Japan often focus on using high-quality materials, careful manufacturing techniques, and detailed attention to every product element. By maintaining high product quality, it is hoped that the product will last a long time and provide more value for users.
The Shun Premier Chef’s Knife is a kitchen knife made to very high quality standards. The knife is made from high-quality materials such as VG-MAX coating steel, which makes the knife durable and easy to sharpen. The ergonomic design also makes this knife comfortable to use and provides precise cutting results.
5. Harmony
The Japanese principle of harmony in product design, known as “wa,” refers to the harmony between the various elements in a product that creates a sense of calm and visually balanced. This can be applied to the use of color, proportion and shape, as well as the materials used in the product. Japanese designers often emphasize simplicity in their designs and try to avoid redundant or unnecessary elements. By prioritizing harmony and balance in product design, the principle of harmony creates a calming and harmonious experience for users.
Muji Aroma Diffuser is an aromatherapy tool designed with the principle of harmony in mind. This product has a minimalist and elegant design, and uses environmentally friendly materials. The Muji Aroma Diffuser can help relieve stress and give users a sense of calm by diffusing a soothing fragrance.
6. Inovation
The principle of innovation in product design in Japan is about constantly creating new and better solutions for consumer needs. This is where the important role of market research and user research is to understand consumer needs and find new ways to fulfill them through innovative products. Product designers in Japan tend to dare to try new things and integrate more advanced technology into their products. However, innovation does not always mean coming up with a complicated or redundant product. Designers in Japan still adhere to the principles of simplicity and clarity in product design, but combine these with new features and creative solutions to better meet consumer needs.
Sony Aibo Robotic Dog is a robotics product that adheres to the principle of innovation. These products incorporate the latest technologies in robotics, artificial intelligence and human happiness. Aibo can move, recognize faces, and react to its surroundings in interesting and interactive ways.
It’s always interesting for me to learn something about Japan, especially this related to product design. Can’t wait for these principles to create a very useful product in the future. With this article, I hope that product designers from other countries understand enough how and why Japan can progress rapidly even though it lost in World War 2. Thank you for reading this 🌻🌻🌻
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Source:
Deming, W. Edwards. “Out of the Crisis.” MIT Press, 1986.
Juran, Joseph M. “Quality Control Handbook.” McGraw-Hill Education, 1988.
