stu is the winner of the "iF DESIGN AWARD 2024," for its AQUA⁺ TANK project
Tokyo (March 28, 2024) –
stu has been awarded this year’s iF DESIGN AWARD, following careful evaluation by a jury composed of 132 international experts.
The iF DESIGN AWARD is an internationally recognized product design award sponsored by iF International Forum Design in Germany. It is called one of the world’s three major design awards, along with the IDEA Award (US) and the Red Dot Design Award (Germany). In 2024, there were over 10,000 entries from 72 countries worldwide.
The award-winning work: AQUA⁺ TANK
The Kurita Innovation Hub is a research and water purification facility of Kurita Water Industries.. Sterile, isolated, and closed off are some of the words that come to mind when thinking of a research lab. stu devised and produced an interactive installation in order to make this perception more positive.
A “Magic” Tank Connecting Corporation to Community
AQUA⁺ TANK makes the lab’s windows a conduit for communication, bridging the gap between the corporation, its customers, and the local community. The tank’s design emerged from numerous simulations and demonstrations, taking inspiration from traditional water tanks.
To challenge the austere image of labs, dynamic lighting was implemented into the training center corridor and its glass facade, creating a light show involving tanks, pipes, and the staff. The circular LED-covered tank blends seamlessly with its surroundings. Its visuals sync with ambient lighting, turning the 70-meter space into an aquarium or a stage
Design as a Communication Tool
We believe the true value of tools emerges when they’re used. To that end, we’ve ensured the tank serves as a practical, accessible tool. The LED display is provided with a user-friendly, comprehensive system which allows the user to explore its various applications.
This project’s distinctiveness stems from the LED tank’s purpose as a communication aid between the corporation and society, departing from conventional urban advertising. The content is sourced through events such as company-wide contests, fostering community interaction. The design harmoniously marries functionality with the aesthetic appeal of blending into its surroundings, reminding of the unique purpose of the water purification facility. The result is a one-of-a-kind “haute couture” creation which is perfectly fitting for a unique company.
Nohiro Yamazaki (Kurita Industries) says “This project was unprecedented in terms of staging for the actual water treatment plant, with various constraints and many stakeholders. In that context, stu provided us with proposals that were precise, vibrant, and surprising, backed by high-precision feasibility studies and intense discussions. And it was realized exactly as proposed, even more wonderful than the presentation itself. We are filled with surprise and gratitude.”
Our mission at stu is to “reinvent entertainment.” With an entertainment-oriented mindset, we will continue to design experiences that not only create visually appealing content but also inspire action and emotions in people who see it.
■About stu
stu is a pioneering company dedicated to “reinventing entertainment,” driven by a creative team fostering boundary-breaking ideas. By integrating cutting-edge technologies in 5G, XR, and the metaverse with innovative content development practices like writers’ rooms and previsualization, stu is shaping a new frontier in entertainment. This convergence aims to establish global standards in video production workflows, heralding a transformative era in the entertainment industry.
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