2015.12.15

Report on Packaging Tohoku Products – Deliciously Delightful 2014

To communicate charms of the Tohoku region through power of design, Tohoku Bureau of Economy, Trade and Industry and JAGDA called for package design proposals for 10 products from the region among designers across Japan to coordinate outstanding proposals for practical use.
Its goal is to support the sales promotion and branding of processed food of the region, and to help managers of SMEs, who did not have opportunities to work with designers, recognize the value of design. In the course of commercialise the awarded designs, SMEs and designers receive advice from IP experts and are encouraged to exchange written contracts on attributes of rights and condition of use of designs such as design fee.
Thus we hope the products with renewed packages will contribute actual sales of the products as a way of reconstruction assistance.
The exhibition of selected works, held in Sendai and Tokyko, were favourable reviewed by visitors and introduced an array of media such as newspapers, magazines, radio and so on.

●Commercialization of awarded designs
The following seven items have adopted the awarded designs, and the other one item is currently under development.

- “Michinoku-shiokara” (salted fish guts) released in March 2015 by Hachiyo Suisan Co.Ltd., Miyagi
- ”apprimo” (sparkling apple juice) released in April 2015 by Tamura Farm, Aomori
- ”Yuhi-no-koi-monogatari (a love story in the sunset)” (tomato & plum wine jelly) released in April 2015 by Iwaki, Akita
- “Ishikawa-gyu beef stew” released in July 2015 by Ishikawa Region Agriculture Promotion Council (JA Abukuma Ishikawa), Fukushima
- “Ougonkansyo” (dried sweet potato) released in December 2015 by Mukae Agriland, Iwate
- “Saba-dashi ramen” (ramen with mackerel soup) released in December 2015 by Yamatoku Hiratsuka Suisan, Miyagi
- “Edamame Chocolat” (chocolate-coated edamame) released in December 2015 by Global Eye Inc., Yamagata


●Catalogue
Size: 210mm x 210mm / 76 pages / color
Contents: Selected and awarded works (270 pieces), Outline of participating companies and products, Designers’ statements on awarded works and Jury’s comments
Published by Tohoku Bureau of Economy, Trade and Industry
Edited by JAGDA and FMS Laboratory Inc.
Design: Osamu Fukushima and Yosuke Furukawa
Cover Visual: Ayato Suzuki
Price: not for sale

Download PDF


●Travelling Exhibition in Tokyo
After launched in Sendai in 2014, the exhibition travelled to Tokyo in 2015. The 270 selected and awarded proposals were showcased with characteristics of products, requests from manufacturers, and design concepts by designers, to let visitors better understand design and feel its power and role. A talk and drinks reception was held as well.

Title: Tokyo Midtown Design Hub 50th Exhibition: Packaging Tohoku Products – Deliciously Delightful, Tokyo 2015
Dates: Friday 6 March –Sunday 29 March 2015, 11am–7pm
Venue: Tokyo Midtown Design Hub (Midtown Tower 5F)
Open daily / Admission Free
Organised by Tokyo Midtown Design Hub
Produced by Tohoku Bureau of Economy, Trade and Industry; Japan Graphic Designers Association Inc. (JAGDA)
Details: Tokyo Midtown Design Hub

[Opening Talk] “Current Situation of Design in Tohoku”
Date: Friday 6 March 2015, 6pm–7:30pm *Drinks reception from 7:45pm–8:30pm
Venue: International Design Liaison Center (Design Hub)
Speakers: Jun Kimura (Tohoku Bureau of Economy, Trade and Industry), Hiorko Miwa (FMS Laboratory), Hitomi Sago (Hitomi Sago Design Office)
Moderator: Osamu Fukushima (Fukushima Design)
Details and Reservation: Tokyo Midtown Design Hub


●Packaging Tohoku Products – Deliciously Delightful 2014

The Tohoku region boasts both regional assets brought by rich climate, history and culture, and products of high-level technology and reliable quality. However, in many cases such charms are not effectively communicated. To communicate charms of the region through power of design, Tohoku Bureau of Economy, Trade and Industry and JAGDA called for package design proposals for 10 products from the region among designers across Japan to coordinate outstanding proposals for practical use.
The 270 selected and awarded proposals will be showcased with characteristics of products, requests from manufacturers, and design concepts by designers, to let visitors better understand design and feel its power and role. Meet a variety of package designs that uncover the charms and values of Tohoku products.

Dates: Friday 28 November –Monday 1 December 2014, 10am–7pm
Venue: Tokyo Electron Hall Miyagi, 5F Exhibition Room
Open daily / Admission Free
Organised by Tohoku Bureau of Economy, Trade and Industry
Co-organised by Japan Graphic Designers Association Inc. (JAGDA)

→Exhibition flyer
→List of winners
→Awarded works
→Grand Prix
→Outline of judging result
→Jury’s session
→Juries
→Call for entries
→Press release by Tohoku Bureau of Economy, Trade and Industry

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