Search

Highlights from Design Tokyo 2018: Be a Scent DJ and More

07.13.18 | By
Highlights from Design Tokyo 2018: Be a Scent DJ and More

Design Tokyo has become the one-stop destination for Japanese designers and vendors, and its profile has strengthened over the years ever since Tokyo Design Week was phased out in 2016. Over 90,000 people attended the 3-day event in Tokyo Big Sight last week. Here are the highlights from Design Tokyo:

Moodo is a smart home fragrant diffuser produced by the Israeli company Agan Aroma. Agan Aroma has been concocting scents for 35 years (many of which are likely used in perfumes you owned!) and they’ve created an IoT home system so you can control the scent of your home.

Courtesy of Moodo.

Moodo works with Alexa and Google Assistant. You can create a unique ambiance instantly by using a smartphone app or voice control. The app also comes with preset families of scents that you can purchase. Shuffle through the scent families so that you’ll be introduced to a new scent every half an hour, or at whatever time interval you prefer.

Courtesy of Moodo.

Courtesy of Moodo.

Courtesy of Moodo.

Courtesy of Moodo.

Yori-So Magnetic Chopsticks. Photo courtesy of Yori-So.

Yori-So’s value mission is “for everyone in the world to enjoy their meals.” Their hybrid chopsticks use magnets to draw the two parts together, making it easier to grip.

Yori-So Magnetic Chopsticks. Photo courtesy of Yori-So.

I tried it, and can attest that it is very easy to pick up small items with a pair of Yori-So’s.

Yori-So Magnetic Chopsticks. Photo by Keshia Badalge.

Their hope is that people with disabilities or a weaker grip are able to use these chopsticks and can eat more comfortably. Also, given that a 2014 survey showed that a mere 4 percent of Americans are comfortable with chopsticks, this could be your go-to when you’re preparing Asian meals but want to serve them with chopsticks that are friendly to all.

Photo by Keshia Badalge.

Sc & Sc have created the world’s first carbon pot. The carbon pot retains heat evenly and can be used on the stove and then served as a dish. Mr. Shintaro Katayama, a Michelin-star chef (pictured above), has used the pots for 5 consecutive years to serve his famous dishes. The pot won an award at Design Tokyo this year.

Photo by Keshia Badalge.

Photo by Keshia Badalge.

Peters Pantry has created digital sensing smart measuring cups and scales so you can weigh ingredients with greater accuracy. The front facing digits make it easy for you to pour water, for example, from the top without having to stoop down to see the measurements on the side at eye level like a traditional measuring cup.

This smart measuring cup won the Grand Prix at Design Tokyo this year.

Keshia grew up in Singapore and moved to the U.S. to attend Dartmouth College. When she was living abroad after graduation, a chance enrollment at the Architectural Association Visiting School led to her becoming enamored with door schedules and architectural écriture. She's particularly interested in design for aging, rural architecture, and Asian design heritage.