We are pleased to announce that the SiO2 CLOCK, a wall clock designed by Yuichi Nara and produced by TAKATA Lemnos Inc., has won the Good Design Award 2024 (hosted by the Japan Institute of Design Promotion).

The SiO2 CLOCK has received high praise for its design, which harmonizes with modern spaces by leveraging the unique properties of the material and applying traditional plastering techniques used in architecture to everyday products.
This award marks a significant milestone for Lemnos, as we aim to expand the sales of the SiO2 CLOCK, while actively promoting the use of design in manufacturing and striving to enhance our brand image.

2024 GOOD DESIGN AWARD
Wall Clock / SiO2 CLOCK

SiO2 CLOCK [ Washed finish ]
SiO2 CLOCK [ Scraping ]
SiO2 CLOCK

The Noto Peninsula is rich in diatomaceous earth, a geological layer formed by the accumulation of plant plankton on the seabed. Historically, this earth has been used in bricks and stoves in the region’s industries. However, the significant waste produced during its manufacturing process has become a pressing issue.
Additionally, Kanazawa, a city in the same prefecture as the peninsula, is home to many traditional townhouses, where plastering techniques for earthen walls have long been cultivated. However, in recent years, opportunities to use these techniques have diminished, thus leading to a decline in craftsmen and raising concerns about the preservation of these skills.

By combining diatomaceous earth with plastering techniques, we explored new possibilities to use this material in clocks, while also creating opportunities to preserve these traditional skills. We believe that applying the plastering technique, which yields a beautiful surface finish, could lead to a new product that fits modern spaces in an unprecedented way.
The reuse of materials that would otherwise be discarded, combined with the shaping process using plastering techniques that do not require heat energy, make this an environmentally friendly manufacturing method.

Yuichi Nara

【Evaluation Comments】
The design elegantly addresses two distinct challenges: (1) the issue of diatomaceous earth waste, and (2) concerns about the preservation of traditional plastering techniques.
Rather than focusing on the often-highlighted “functionality” of diatomaceous earth, the design emphasizes the “expression” of the material and showcases its characteristics to their fullest potential, thus resulting in a highly unique design. It’s also intriguing to see the variations created using plastering techniques such as “scraping” and “exposing the aggregate.” This design solves problems in a comfortable, unobtrusive way.

GOOD DESIGN AWARD
This award is sponsored by the Japan Institute of Design Promotion and is awarded once a year for items featuring excellent design. The award has its origins in the “Good Design Selection System” (known as the “G-Mark System”) instituted by the Ministry of International Trade and Industry of Japan in 1957. Its current name was adopted in 1988 following a privatization. It is the only comprehensive design evaluation and commendation system in Japan. A wide range of genres, from industrial products to business models, event activities, and so on, are eligible for the award. “G-mark” has played a role as an index of “good design” for more than half a century since its establishment.

GOOD DESIGN AWARD / en
https://www.g-mark.org/en