WINDOW

2015-2016 | Industrial design | Concept | w/ Tomoki Asakusa

Incorporate eco-cycle into urban living

Household waste is often overlooked, ending up in landfills or incineration and contributing to emissions. WINDOW introduces a small urban eco-cycle, converting raw garbage into fertilizer and supporting home gardening, fostering sustainability and a stronger connection to daily ecological practices.

The project balanced mechanical design, a pedal-stir composter and self-watering planters, with user experience and interaction, creating a minimal, approachable product that makes waste management intuitive, and engaging.

The project won the Konica Minolta Social Design Award 2016.

Experience

After throwing garbage into the lower composter, step on a pedal once a day to stir compost. Aerobic microbes turn raw garbage into natural fertilizer while heating up to 50°C and eliminating odor. Fertilizer can be used to grow plants on the bottom watering planters which supply water for several days.

Product design

The product design aimed at a consistent design language that combines a minimal profile and friendly details. These appear on clean details of the handle of the entry opening and ventilation, and the warm surfaces of the planter handle and pedal.

Design process

The clean profile was inspired from “window” which allow light and wind to pass through and does not block view. A cylindrical bottom comes from the stirring structure of composter. A unique opening mechanism was designed to enhance an experience of throwing garbage into the composter.