NEST is a partyware collection that was originally launched in 2006. It has since been redesigned for kids and babies. KINTO’s product development team and product designer Fumie Shibata share their stories about the product renewal.
＜Interview with KINTO Product Development Team>
How did the NEST renewal project come about?
NEST was launched in 2006 as a tableware collection for home parties. The concept was to move away from the idea that parties require a formal table setting. As such, NEST featured a total of 13 items, ranging from small oven pans to large plates that could be multipurpose to serve various foods.
How did the NEST renewal project come about?
NEST was launched in 2006 as a tableware collection for home parties. The concept was to move away from the idea that parties require a formal table setting. As such, NEST featured a total of 13 items, ranging from small oven pans to large plates that could be multipurpose to serve various foods.
I still use the original NEST items every day, putting sauces and ketchup in the bowls, or using the oval plates as serving plates. I have been using them for almost 20 years, but they still look as good as new because they are so easy to clean. A few years ago when my child was starting on solids, I would use the small plates to serve tiny bites, and from there I gradually increased the portions, mixing and matching different plates to match his appetite. I found that the handle was convenient when spoon-feeding, and later when he tried to hold the bowls himself, I felt safe letting him try because they are porcelain, which is fired at high temperatures and doesn’t break easily. From this personal experience, we proceeded to redesign bowls and plates to make them more suitable for kids and babies’ foods. The renewed NEST also includes cutlery. We made the handles with a soft silicone, while the parts that touch the mouth are coated with a smooth enamel to minimize the cold impression of metal. I hope the new NEST items will be part of the family table for a long time.
What was your initial impression when this project started, and were there any images that came to mind?
When I designed the original NEST collection, I envisioned family and friends enjoying a meal together and focused on giving the pieces a relaxed and easy-to-use form. I thought the idea to reconstruct this collection for kids matched the original concept and visual impression perfectly. Not everything has to be made from scratch, and I believe that re-imagining existing products based on experience, as we did this time, is a valuable approach that adds depth to products and concepts.
What were your main considerations during the design process, and did you encounter any challenges?
I aimed to maintain the original's relaxed shape while adjusting thickness to ensure it wouldn't be too heavy for smaller children. I also paid special attention to the overall shape and details such as the shape of the cross-section so the design would be simple but still have an innocent charm. To determine the size of each piece, we received real insight from the product developer who is currently raising her own kids, and we created and tested multiple 3D models based on her comments.
I aimed to maintain the original's relaxed shape while adjusting thickness to ensure it wouldn't be too heavy for smaller children. I also paid special attention to the overall shape and details such as the shape of the cross-section so the design would be simple but still have an innocent charm. To determine the size of each piece, we received real insight from the product developer who is currently raising her own kids, and we created and tested multiple 3D models based on her comments.
How would you like users to enjoy this product?
Although this tableware is designed for kids, I think their simple form and texture makes them timeless. I hope that one day, they will become everyday plates that anyone in the family can use. It would make me very happy if the NEST collection inspires new and exciting ideas in your everyday life.
Although this tableware is designed for kids, I think their simple form and texture makes them timeless. I hope that one day, they will become everyday plates that anyone in the family can use. It would make me very happy if the NEST collection inspires new and exciting ideas in your everyday life.
[DESIGNER PROFILE]
Fumie Shibata
Product Designer / Representative of Design Studio S
Fumie Shibata works across a wide range of fields, from electronics and daily goods to medical devices and hotel direction, with industrial design at the core of her practice. Notable works include Muji’s "Body-Fitting Sofa," Omron’s "Kenon-kun," the capsule hotel "9h (Nine Hours)," JR East Water Business's "Next-Generation Vending Machine," Tadafusa Knives, and the wooden toy "buchi." She is also a professor at Tama Art University and the author of "Another Form Inside a Form" (ADP).
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