Hasta La Gadget!

The winning designs from the Japan Package Design Awards 2011 have been on display to the public in the upmarket Matsuya department store in Ginza. Ranging from minimal and clean, to retro and functional, the display showcased the best of Japan’s designers. Running since 1985 the contest judges around 1,000 entries for the competition, with the judges evaluating design based on core topics of; aesthetics, manufacturing, physical distribution and environmental impact.

Looking straight out of the 60s the retro, classic design of the yoghurt from Meiji above, won a Gold Award, aimed at appealing to children and evoking a wholesome Japanese family brand. Whilst we loved the simple beauty of the Japanese confectionary packaging below which picked up a Judges Favorite.

Packaging is an extension of the product in Japan and focus has always been as heavily placed on the design of what the item is contained in as the product itself. Often with numerous layers encasing small items it can come across as unnecessary when we look at them from today’s attitude’s towards waste. However the intricacies and beauty of the packaging greatly enhance the brand as they can be as visually pleasing as they are often practical in their design. From complicated folding patterns that open in a certain way reveling an encased sweet, to form that reflects the contents of the package itself, Japanese packaging has what designer Kenji Ekuan has termed “furoshikibility“. A Japanese design principle, this means, “inventing various modifications of a simple tool or technique in order to adapt it for as many different forms of usage as possible – complexity created by simplicity or ‘complex simpleness.’”

Another retro theme the chocolate packaging below was awarded a Bronze Award, and the “Soysh” sparkling soy drink, although not sounding particularly delicious in description, is a beautiful example of clean, smooth lines making an appealing product and was a Judge’s Favorite. The other product below from Gatsby is a hairwax and was awarded the Golden Award, with clear functionality and playful colors in a modern design.

The portable dispenser from Ajinomoto which was awarded the Gold Award is designed to be attached to a mobile phone or keychain and with the panda image really is a particularly Japanese designed product! Whilst Elecom’s headphones picked up a Silver Award with the packages playful colors.

In the drinks section there were more old school designs with this Ultraman designed soda can picking up the Bronze Award, and the classic bottle of cider awarded a Judges Favorite. The Silver Award to the colorful, yet subtle bottle of Sake with a very traditionally designed bag.

Shiseido picked up a SIlver Award with an intricately designed rose motif compact mirror in a wooden case, reflecting the brand’s more luxurious side. The bars of soap from Pola, designed around a modern, traditional Japan with warm colors and origami like folds along the packaging, were awarded a Golden Award.

The Grand Prix prize however was awarded to “Zenkashoin”, a pastry store in Kyoto shown below. A fantastic example of the “complex simplicity” the designs capture the essence of the brand and its traditional roots.

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Facebook Japan today announced the launch of their Facebook Deals service with an event in the heart of Shibuya. The launch was held infront of the iconic Shibuya 109 building, a popular meeting spot amongst Japanese youngsters. According to the “friendly” staff (who kept pestering us about taking photos) Facebook launched the service today in Japan called “Facebook Check-in Coupon”, after similar services being offered in the US, UK and a number of other countries.

It is interesting how Facebook Japan differentiated the service from the original US application. With Japan’s frequent usage of coupons at supermarkets, restaurants, and the many convenience stores throughout the country, it was directed more towards the already mobile and coupon savvy consumer. A large target being the younger demographic, who already have plenty of experience using mobile phones to receive discounts and deals direct to their handsets. McDonalds, for example, have been running their “Kazasu Coupon” (Contactless Coupon) service for a while now, offering downloadable mobile coupons. The “Deals” service therefore stands to be particularly successful in Japan as Facebook gains a foothold along with smartphones enabling location based services and deals.

Facebook Japan invited two well known mixed celebrities, model and TV personality Shelly and actor and model Yuji, as a clear statement of Facebook being an international SNS as opposed to the likes of Mixi, the Japanese domestic counterpart, whilst at the same time appealing to the young crowd gathered at the launch. The enthusiastic spokespeople mentioned how more than 20 of the top restaurant, clothing, and convenience store chains have entered into the service and are releasing coupons starting from tomorrow. It can be accessed through any smart phone or PDA and simply checking in to a place displays information on the newest deals and discounts that companies have to offer.

Facebook is certainly trying to gain a larger market share to compete with Japan’s social networking sites such as Mixi and Gree. With smartphones rapidly taking the place of Japan’s domestic mobiles, more services which make full use of the technology on offer, and especially tying in SNS, will start to compete in this market. Brands will be looking to use these location based shopping services in an attempt to grab the consumers attention in new and interactive ways.

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We recently blogged about the Panasonic solar powered inductive charging table which was on show at this year’s Retail Expo. Following on from this NTT docomo displayed their own version at Wireless Japan, the “Okudake Charger” literally meaning “just place it”.

Combined with Panasonic’s Eneloop battery, Docomo have already announced that one of their new smartphones, to be launched this sumer, will be powered by the wireless charging compatible battery. The technology uses similar electromagnetic induction coil charging, the position of the coil being automatically adjusted to achieve the most efficient charging system. The battery itself, rather than the phone, contains the component and begins charging automatically when placed on the pad.

With the technology going into full production and featured in this years phone models, Docomo have already announced partnerships with ANA Airways, Toho Cinemas and the Pronto coffee shop chain. The system has been developed to comply with the international Wireless Power Consortium (WPC) Qi standard and will be able to be used with any device that uses the Qi batteries including cameras, mobile games consoles or video cameras. A consortium of Asia, European and American companies, WPC, means that we could also start to see products that can be charged in any country regardless of the ampage. Getting rid of the need to buy cumbersome socket adapters would be a welcome bonus to those who frequently travel internationally across different continents.

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With only the best interests of its younger customers at heart, Microsoft has a new back-to-school promotion: starting May 22, college students buying a new Windows 7 PC can also get a free Xbox 360 4GB console. That’s right, free — as long as your new computer cost at least $699 and came from Redmond or one of its partners, including HP and Dell. Online ordering will require a .edu email address, which even attendees of the School of Life know how to procure; if you’d rather shop at Best Buy or a Microsoft Store, you’ll need an actual student ID. This isn’t about convincing students they need more than a tablet computer, of course. It’s about about giving them the opportunity to be popular. “Get ready to be the coolest kid on your dorm floor with a killer new Windows 7 PC and an Xbox 360 — all you really need for college,” the company says. Yes, being the coolest kid on your dorm floor: pretty much the definition of Higher Education.

Microsoft offers free Xbox 360 with back-to-school PC, professors shake their gray, uncool heads originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 19 May 2011 18:01:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Man, Best Buy really wants you to step foot in its stores. The company just announced a deal with Nintendo whereby 3DS owners will get free WiFi access in more than 1,000 of the company’s stores starting on June 7th — not quite Sam’s Club-style, but it’s a start. And with that connection, dubbed SpotPass, people will have access to special, downloadable content such as gaming extras and movie trailers. So come June, get ready to drive down to your local Best Buy — no pressure to buy anything once you’re inside, of course. Don’t have a 3DS? You can pick one up for a suggested retail price of $249.99. Don’t like purchasing things? Well, you’re no fun at all.

Continue reading Nintendo 3DS to get free WiFi access in Best Buy stores, Best Buy hopes you’ll buy stuff

Nintendo 3DS to get free WiFi access in Best Buy stores, Best Buy hopes you’ll buy stuff originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 17 May 2011 18:28:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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