PROJECT
GRAVITY PEARL
Magnetic jewelry transforms freely—artificial pearls become rings, necklaces, brooches through innovative reconfigurable design.
WHY
Connecting artificial pearl productions to the future.
In Izumi City of Osaka, artificial pearls have been actively produced alongside the glass industry since ancient times. It is now an important local industry, with a national market share of over 80%. With advanced technology, artificial pearls are manufactured constructed of glass beads, plastic, or the same shell cores as cultured pearls. Izumi City’s artificial pearls are being exported to many countries, including Europe and the United States. Although highly appreciated, like other traditional industries, there has recently been a decline in sales and a shortage of human resources. Under such circumstances, we questioned what kind of design was needed to connect the artificial pearl industry to the future, at the same time, contribute to local revitalization?
HOW
Artificial pearls modified by magnetic force.
In response to a request from the Japanese Artificial Pearl Glass Coin Industrial Association, we developed a new product, “Gravity Pearl,” utilizing the technology of artificial pearl craftsmen of Izumi City. “Gravity Pearl” is an artificial pearl with a neodymium magnet at its core. They attract each other, magnetically gathering like bubbles, freely transformed into necklaces, rings, brooches, earrings, and so on. The initial request was for the launch of a new jewelry brand. However, we returned to the origin of the materials and proposed to innovate the actual material itself. By designing the pearls to change to accessories of various shapes that resemble the natural beauty of modeling, we were able to put these into products that can handle both BtoB and BtoC.
WILL
Updated sales records at a design event in Tokyo.
Gravity Pearl was pre-sold at the design event “DESIGN TIDE,” which had attracted the most attention in Tokyo, recording its highest sales. Subsequently, there was a high expectation for future development. We received consultations on large-scale transactions. However, due to various in-house circumstances, this project was abandoned at mid-term. We nevertheless believe that the innovations achieved in this project can open up new possibilities for the Japanese artificial pearl industry and in the accessory components industry.
INFORMATION
- What
- Gravity Pearl
- When
- 2019
- Where
- Tokyo, Japan
- Client
- Japan Imitation Pearl & Glass Article’s Association
- Scope
- Branding / Logo / Packaging / Product Design / Concept Development / Photograph
- SDGs
CREDIT
- Art Direction
- Eisuke Tachikawa
- Inventor
- Eisuke Tachikawa
- Product Design
- Eisuke Tachikawa
- Graphic Design
- Eisuke Tachikawa