Careless Habit Artless Design Ash Tray by Okamoto Deguchi Design

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DI: What is the main principle, idea and inspiration behind your design?

ODD : Design often changes the lifestyle to improve the function or the quality. Sometimes, the design could badly restrict the activities. This time, we rethink the attitude of design that the habit helps the design.

DI: What has been your main focus in designing this work? Especially what did you want to achieve?

ODD : Smokers are pushed into the defined smoking space in the CBD area. On the other hand, in the old downtown, people do know look for ash tray and tend to throw the cigarette butt away to the street. We especially consider how we can improve their manner in the district.

DI: What are your future plans for this award winning design?

ODD : We will keep to make design or installation in this districts for the future of this design.

DI: How long did it take you to design this particular concept?

ODD : One month for research, and one month for designing.

DI: Why did you design this particular concept? Was this design commissioned or did you decide to pursuit an inspiration?

ODD : We are living and working in this old downtown. Therefore, we always get some some inspiration from the daily life to improve the life in the district.

DI: Is your design being produced or used by another company, or do you plan to sell or lease the production rights or do you intent to produce your work yourself?

ODD : This is an installation project. We do not intend to sell this design.

DI: What made you design this particular type of work?

ODD : The fact that we are part of the locals who live in this old down town gave us a lot of hints of this design.

DI: Who is the target customer for his design?

ODD : The locals in the old down town, especially smokers.

DI: What sets this design apart from other similar or resembling concepts?

ODD : This is not only functionally ash tray, but also makes people notice the bad habit of smoking.

DI: How did you come up with the name for this design? What does it mean?

ODD : People often behave better in front of the public. However, it is easy to have careless habit. The name derives from this bad smoking habit in the concealed small alley of the old downtown. Instead of design beautiful smoking spots at the corner. We design the artless ash tray according to their habit.

DI: Which design tools did you use when you were working on this project?

ODD : Rhinoceros modeling software.

DI: What is the most unique aspect of your design?

ODD : This design do not influence the locals habit. Sometimes, the design could badly restrict the activities. This time, we rethink the attitude of design that their habit helps the design.

DI: Who did you collaborate with for this design? Did you work with people with technical / specialized skills?

ODD : We collaborated with steel factory to realize the three-dimensional shape which catches people's eyes.

DI: Is your design influenced by data or analytical research in any way? What kind of research did you conduct for making this design?

ODD : Our design is based on site visit research to understand the locals habit and problems.

DI: What are some of the challenges you faced during the design/realization of your concept?

ODD : The biggest challenges is that the drain cover belongs to public facility. We needed to get a lot of permission from different authority to install them.

DI: How did you decide to submit your design to an international design competition?

ODD : We are invited from the competition committee.