Thankfully, ARAS celebrated its first anniversary in March 2021. Over the past year, we have had many conversations with customers who actually patronize ARAS, and we have received many requests to learn more about the background of the development and the thoughts behind the product, such as what kind of particularity is put into the shape and color, why the material was used, etc. We are very grateful for your continued support. In order to respond to such requests, ARAS would like to share with you the details of our thoughts and commitment to our products through our journal.
In this first issue of the Journal, we would like to introduce the story behind the development of one of our popular products, ARAS's "Platter Moiré," which was launched in March last year.
What is "Dish Moiré"?
The "moiré" pattern is inspired by the "moiré" pattern that occurs due to interference when multiple regularly repeating patterns are superimposed on top of each other. The surface of the dish has a fine asymmetrical texture, which prevents food from sticking to the dish, allowing the food to be enjoyed beautifully and deliciously until the end. It also features a "naturally rounded contour that is not a perfect circle" when viewed from directly above. We interviewed the developers, Kamimachi and Yanai, representatives of secca inc. about their thoughts behind this moiré.
Background of Moire Development
Humans have a habit of perceiving "natural things" as beautiful. Few people are offended when they see the sun setting over the ocean, cherry blossoms in full bloom in spring, or autumn leaves changing colors in fall. In a similar vein, people find beauty in crafts with "expressions and wavy shapes that are naturally created by natural phenomena of the materials. On the other hand, many resin products created through mass production have inorganic shapes.
However, it is also true that resin products have their own unique functionality and other strengths that glass and ceramics do not have. We decided to develop Moire as one of the products at the launch of ARAS, thinking that if we could realize "natural and organic fluctuation" like craftwork while taking advantage of these strengths, resin products might be viewed from a perspective never seen before.
Why the platter moiré is not a perfect circle. Attention to Shape
The circular shape is not a perfect circle, which is not often seen on ordinary plates. The motif is based on the natural rounded outline created when rounded clay is pressed together. The reason for not making the platter moiré a perfect circle is "to give an organic fluctuation to the scenery at the dining table. This is a consistent product concept for ARAS products, and we take every possible approach for each product, including the uneven expression of the material, the fluctuation of the shape, and the asymmetry of the shape. We have developed our own proposal by comprehensively taking into consideration the following factors: the fact that the dishes will line up with other materials such as ceramics, the fact that multiple identical dishes will line up when used by the whole family, and the fact that the dishes will overlap with the foodstuffs.
On the other hand, the wave is a perfect circle in contrast to the moiré because the concavo-convex shape, derived from the functional aspect, has already given an organic expression to the vessel. If we were to further cut it out with an organic outline, we would end up with a form that has no foundation, and when placed side by side, we would end up with an uncluttered view. Moiré has flattened the top of the vessels in anticipation of a scene in which functional irregularities, such as waves, would be a constraint on the serving surface. The asymmetrical texture of the bowls is fine, but if they were cut out in a perfect circle, they would be too balanced and inorganic, so the outline of the bowls is designed to give an organic impression. The design is also important in that it is centered on the base, giving it a sense of stability even though it is misaligned.
The shape of the platter moiré that blends naturally with meals
The naturally rounded shape gives it an organic look and blends naturally with your meal. The fine texture of the surface prevents food from sticking to the plate, allowing you to enjoy your meal beautifully until the very end. The raised edge also prevents small amounts of liquid, such as dressing, from spilling.
As is the case with all ARAS products, the new resin and glass materials used will not interfere with your meal in terms of smell or mouth feel.
We hope you will find the platter moiré appealing, if only a little. In future issues of the Journal, we will introduce, step by step, our thoughts on other ARAS products and our commitment to materials and colors. Please let us know what you would like to know through the journal and send us your comments and suggestions at ご要望ありましたらいつでもinfo@plakira.comやInstagramのDMよりご連絡ください.
secca Profile
Based in Kanazawa, a city of food and craftsmanship, this creative group continues to explore the possibilities of craftsmanship in the coming age. By reviewing and questioning the wisdom and skills that have been passed down from generation to generation, and by actively combining unique ideas and cutting-edge technology, we give form to enduring values that can only be created by those of us living in the modern age.
Tatsuya Uemachi, Representative of secca inc.
After graduating from Kanazawa College of Art, Uemachi joined Nikon Corporation, where he was mainly in charge of new product planning and design. 3.11 triggered his doubts about the abnormal consumption cycle of the value behind things, and he established secca inc. in 2013, aiming to restore a world where value can be carefully handed over once again. In 2013, he founded secca inc.
He is reexamining the possibility of monozukuri, not based on the number of products, but on the value that each and every product produces. Currently, while promoting secca's original management, he is mainly in charge of concept-making for each product. As a designer, he provides design consulting services to partner companies in their management.
Yuichi Yanai, Creative Leader, secca inc.
Aspiring to become a designer in high school, he studied product design at Kanazawa College of Art. He then joined JVC KENWOOD Corporation, where he was in charge of audio and optical equipment design. In 2012, he studied ceramics at the Tajimi City Ceramic Design Institute and later completed a master's degree at the Utatsuyama Craft Workshop in Kanazawa, Japan.