The hair dryer stylist Since its launch, the Plus Minus Zero brand, well-known for its series of minimalist electric fans, has been expanding its lineup, adding new items in new product categories. The Hair Dryer is an extra notch on its belt for its ...

Ready for the summer buzz There’s one summer discomfort that has yet to kick in: the dreaded mosquito attacks. To help us win the battle over insects, household goods brand Vitantonio has teamed up with Kincho, an insect-repellent manufacturer, to create the Mosquito Buster. ...

Nendo taps into nature’s secrets Since the start of this column more than five years ago, we’ve been strong supporters of Oki Sato — better known as Nendo — and have closely followed his development as a creator into the design superstar he is ...

Time to head out into the sunshine Though the sakura (cherry blossom) festivities have just passed, spring is still in the air, and as the weather warms up we can expect brighter skies. With that comes lots of sunshine, which means for those of ...

The design world lends its artistic hand As Japan struggles with the consequences of the Kanto-Tohoku earthquake, this month’s column takes a different format to highlight some of the ways the design community has come together to provide relief and support. Architect Shigeru Ban ...

For kids branching out to art Last year, Kana Nakanishi caught our attention with Koke-a, an unusual piece of furniture with a mosslike surface of tufted wool on which to relax — her graduate project for Finland’s Alto University of Art and Design. Now ...

Tidy brand squeezes out another good design For big-city dwellers, the word “squeegee” might bring to mind those kids who, annoyingly, pop out of nowhere, clean your car windscreen and ask for money. Manufacturer Teramoto’s design-conscious Tidy brand, however, could change that less-than-favorable image. ...

Tokyo celebrates good design It’s that time of year again when Tokyo hosts its biggest design festival. From Oct. 29 to Nov. 3, the streets of Aoyama and nearby areas will be offering the public a taste of what’s new in household goods, furniture, ...

Summing up stylish bookends There’s a reason why there’s a plus sign at the end of Ideaco’s Bookend+: They have a little something extra added. Aimed at households or offices with cramped desk spaces, the Bookend+ doubles as a tape dispenser or a letter ...

Working across the grain Award-winning designer Mikiya Kobayashi is the director behind Kime, a new line of beautiful wooden household accessories for Hokkaido-based manufacturer Dreamy Person. Named after the Japanese term for wood grain, all of Kobayashi’s designs emphasize the natural beauty of his ...