New Blog
Please visit macfunamizu.com. This blog will be redirected to the new one. Thanks!
Infographic Movie for National Institute of Informatics
I made the concept and designed all the elements in this fun infographic movie for NII (National Institute of Informatics) a while ago. Really enjoyed the whole process of making this.
Checkie! – Image-based carrying list app
Hi. It’s been a long time since I posted last here.
The app I just released has been featured on the top page of App Store as “New App We Love”.
Product design of the ‘smartest’ smart lock robot
The newest smart lock is finally released. I’m honored to have a chance again to design such great products of Photosynth Inc. This time I designed not only the smart lock itself and the door censor, but the brand new NFC reader, which allows your ID card compatible with the NFC to replace your physical door key.
My app wins Platinum Award & featured on App Store!
SUM! just received the Muse Creative Awards – Platinum Award!
It’s such an honor to receive the highest rank of an international design award. All the characters are just so surprised as well.
Enfani keeps creating quality and fun products that make people happy.
http://museaward.com/winners/3/77/406
SUM! – iPhone Math Game App
Math with Lovable Numbers!
Characters from 1 to 10 want cute names associated with the meaning of each number. Download the app and write a review with your ideas!
SUM Team
Takaharu Matsumoto: Character Design
Goichi Hirakawa: Programming
Shintaro Tanaka: Music
SUM! Soundtrack!
https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/sum!-original-soundtrack-single/id1032625101?l=en
Related Info
http://enfani.jp/en/original/
New Company in 2016
Hi guys. How did you like 2015? This year was a preparation period for me to do a business I’m thinking of for a while. It’s almost ready and I guess it’s a good chance to let you know.
I’ll start a company to officially launch a new product, which will lead to a large framework in a later stage. The company’s mission is to create framework where creative ideas & inspirations are used for other people to increase the level of human intellect. Actually the new product to be launched soon is a brand-new version of the app I released in 2015 but this time it’s completely designed to work in the business scheme I’m planning.
The first app will be released soon. This time adults, not only kids can very much enjoy playing I’m sure. I’ll let you all know when it’s ready for download.
Hope you all have a great year in 2016! Talk to you soon!
Got Good Design Award 2015!
I got the Good Design Award!
Good Design Award is the Japanese comprehensive design evaluation and commendation system, operated by the Japan Institute of Design Promotion.
“Akerun” a smart lock robot I designed for Photosynth Inc. has received the Good Design Award 2015. I really appreciate the people of the company for the opportunity to embody such a great concept into a product. The value of this product, I believe, is not composed only of the superficial design, but of the great combination of the beautiful UX/UI designs of the app that realize a high degree of usability and comfort, polite and friendly customer support, etc. all for the purpose of “the most smooth experience at a door without keys”.
For Akerun, I made the product design of the smart lock as well as the brochures, packages, pamphlets etc. and worked on its branding. Together with the company, we’ll be creating great stuff for many years to come! Also I’m personally thinking of making sooooo exciting stuff (IoT).
http://www.g-mark.org/award/describe/42540?token=rLteXHGgoC&locale=en
グッドデザイン賞獲りました！
この度、私がデザインした株式会社フォトシンス（Photosynth Inc.）のスマートロックロボット「Akerun」がグッドデザイン賞2015を受賞いたしました。受賞にあたっては、筐体デザインの機会を与えていただいた同社の皆様のご協力に非常に感謝しております。このプロダクトの価値は、『鍵を意識しない、最高の開閉体験』を実現すべく社員の方々が結集して作り上げられたものであり、使いやすさや心地よさを実現している素晴らしいアプリのUX/UIデザインや熱心で親切なサポートなどがあってのものだと信じています。
Akerunに関しては筐体だけではなくパッケージ、パンフレットのデザインやブランドを担当させていただきました。今後もプロダクトを中心にいいモノを作り出していきますので、応援お願い致します！ 個人的にも超ワクワクするモノ創りを考えています。
Will Start a Company!
I really thank all the companies and people (mainly startups CEOs) who have talked to me about very interesting projects. Currently I’m working freelance as a designer, but I decided to start a company focusing on design. Also, utilizing the skills and experiences I’ve acquired while helping several startups, I’ll do my own business (starting from small).
As types of work I take on project basis (same as before)
- Product designs– Concepts, Products, Digital Signage, etc.
- Solutions– Brand, Graphic/web/app design UI/UX, motion
The company title “Enfani” comes from French words “enfant (child)” and “infini (infinite)”. It aims to ultimately increase the level of human intellect by sharing buried (mainly, but not limited to kids’) talents, touching words and discoveries. Humanity’s best part must lie in pure minds.
The strength of my designs is that I bring out your inner playfulness through my designs, which enthral not only children but also adults. I aim to produce things that bring as much shock and pleasure to adults, as children.
As for my own business, I’m also involved in developing our original products, like the iPad app that was just released yesterday. But the products are planned to offer much more than enjoyment from play in later stages, which I’ll elaborate soon. First of all , here’s the app.
Available on iPad
Plus? Minus? Equal? Just feel them before going math!
When teaching someone to calculate for the first time, numbers can often be represented by a shape, like a circle. Use of shapes allows for a visual understanding of the concept, since the quantity of shapes increases when added, and reduces when subtracted. SUM! is an app that teaches the concept of addition and subtraction in a similar manner through play. Moreover, it is fun as a simple game. In the app, the nature of the numbers is represented as the personality of the characters. Just as each child has a unique individuality, each number has a unique face and personality. It’s an app for not just kids, but everyone, to enjoy adding and subtracting to build familiarity with numbers.
Available on iPad
As I mentioned, this app is just a first product and not the goal.
Akerun– Smart Lock Robot Now on Sale
The smart lock robot I introduced on my previous post is finally ready. First time the product I designed is on sale!
I made the product design of the smart lock, brochure, package, pamphlet, infographics and worked on its branding.
Akerun – Smart Lock Robot
Akerun is a smart lock system that enables you to unlock the door when you get close to it (with your smartphone with you) and share the key ‘digitally’ with specific people. Installation is simple; no need to detach the thumb turn.
I made the concept design of Akerun pretty quickly (and the websites, too).
http://akerun.com
https://anytimes.co.jp/smart-lock
WeOn Glasses Concept Designs Updates
WeON Glasses are the first-ever glasses — optical or sunglasses — which interact with your smartphone or tablet. They offer you several functions, such as notifications, remote control, alerts in case of loss and customization.
As I mentioned in my previous post, I started concept designs for the second version of WeOn Glasses (the name has been changed from ion glasses). WeOn Glasses were on display on the Mobile World Congress 2014 in Barcelona and my designs have also been featured on TV. Here are some concept designs I worked on so far.
http://reviews.cnet.com/cell-phones/weon-glasses/4505-6454_7-35835322.html
Aussie Beef Japan Infographic Animation
Created this fun animation clip to help understand the Australian beef.
Storyboarding, designing, total design direction.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T1tnNZ4mH_c
To Design Next Version of ION Glasses
I’m very happy to announce that I’ll be designing the next version of ION Glasses, the first optical and sun smartglasses that interact with your devices! (The photos below are the current version.)
I’ll update the new design here when it’s ready to publish.
ION Glasses Project is receiving funds now until November 16, 2013.
http://www.indiegogo.com/projects/ion-glasses-first-optical-and-sun-smartglasses-that-interact-with-your-devices
Won reddot design award: best of the best!
I won the red dot award: design concept 2013 and this time it’s ‘best of the best’ prize! The concept itself is the one I posted on this blog a few years ago, but I revised it based on some positive feedback from the readers for more practical use. I really appreciate everyone who helped this to happen. It’s now live on the red dot’s website.
Infographic Coins are a set of coins whose values are easily recognized by anyone. By utilizing shapes of pie graphs, which are widely used around the world by a variety of ages of people, one can instantly figure out how much these infographic coins are worth. One more important aspect of this concept is that by making the empty space in a pie chart, it saves the usage of materials, which is environmentally friendly.
If I have a chance, I want to mention the reason why I chose this kind of non-digital, old fashioned concept this time somewhere.
http://www.red-dot.sg/en/online-exhibition/concept/?code=808&y=2013&c=24&a=2
My previous work that won the red dot concept award in 2009Norinchukin Bank Infographic Animation
I helped with this fancy movie for Norinchukin Bank. It’s a short clip that explains Norinchukin Bank’s history and services with clean infographics. Again I’m glad to be a part of the team to make this kind of unique challenge happen.
New Career as Director
I started working for Japan Advertising Inc. as director from April 2013.
As matter of fact, I used to work for them before, but this time I decided to join them again because
- Japan AD has a new company policy, challenging to push the boundary of technology forward, which completely fits my freelance direction
- I’ve been feeling pretty limited when working on large projects as one freelance designer (I now have my own design teams), but I can have people to work on them
- What I’ve been doing as a freelance designer can be continued (I’m already working on one big project that I’ve been involved in as a freelancer)
- My craziness and out-of-the-box design direction have already been gotten an official go-ahead by them 🙂
So, here are what I can deal with now;
- Web design / strategies
- Smartphone / Tablet UX / UI design, planning, development
- Branding / rebranding
- Graphic, motion, digital signage, AR, display design
- Design consulting
- Future design concepts (futuristic gadgets, computer interface, etc.)
- Fantasy User Interfaces (FUI) for concept movies/films
- Industrial design concepts (mobile devices, etc.)
I’m very happy to be able to broaden and deepen my design career.
You might already know that I’ve been helping some start-ups and know their ‘stuff’ very much, so I’m thinking of working with them in order to get very interesting synergy effects for such as campaigns for big companies.
Please feel free to talk to me at my email address as before, when you want to wow the world!
Japan Advertising Inc. is near Shinjuku, Tokyo.
http://jpn-ad.co.jp/
Desktop Wallpaper for April 2013
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With Calendar
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iPhone 5 (w/o calendar) | iPhone 4/4S (w/o calendar)
So from this time I add designs with calendars, responding to the requests from some readers.
Also following the advise from I’ve added my stamp to identify my wallpapers.
iPhone App Design – KiDDY
KiDDY is an easy kids photo diary app for parents raising children.
-Instant photo diary of your kids
-Photo calendar view to easily check out your child’s growth
-Keep your photos shared with only your family members
-Your kids’ photos will be sent on KiDDY Card with a beautiful layout every month (paid service) to your loved ones.
Visit the website.
I worked on the branding, UX, UI of the app, website on PC/mobile, concept movie (plan, script, design), graphic design, character design and everything you can see and touch. I also did the Android version and it’s on the way.
<iPhone App UI/UX>
<Web Design>
<Character Design>
<Graphic Design>
<Motion Design, Planning, Script>
Desktop Wallpaper for February 2013 #2
My quote this time (wow)!
Yeah it’s not the end/beginning of a month, but I just wanted to make another one.
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iPhone 5Desktop Wallpaper for February 2013
Dreams are today’s answers to tomorrow’s questions.
Edgar Cayce
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iPhone 5This time I tried Japanese calligraphy by myself (so I’m a bit shy). “叶” is one of my favorite characters that means ‘realize’. It must look different from the original character because I did it completely my way.
I’ve long wanted to collaborate with a calligrapher for my wallpaper art, but I couldn’t find any so I decided to do it myself. Bought a stylus, used the ‘Zen Brush‘ app and tried to awkwardly draw on my iPad 100 times. I was thinking of making a more artistic wallpaper with a Chinese character, but it didn’t turn out so. I’ll try at least a few more times to make it more like the way I want it to be.
Akamon Desk
I’m very excited to have a chance to work with MONO-LAB Japan, where I helped refine their desk called Akamon Desk.
The idea was there and they already had prototypes when they called me. So what I did was to rethink the whole concept, make it simple and elegant and add some features based on the concept, which are all introduced on this page.
Marco – Cleverest Digital Pet (Concept) That Loves You
Among so many gadgets that know you, which one of them loves you?
Knows stuff around you
Smartens non-smart items
Ever wished you could do the ‘Search” for your lost item in the real world? Marco sees you and your room, remembers the locations of your belongings where Marco last saw them. Let Marco ‘sniff’ your car key to get him to memorize and trace it. When you lose it, ask him where it is. Marco takes you to the location and lets you know with his laser pointer. Nobody wants to plug everything to the internet. With Marco, you won’t need to.
Make the item you want Marco to memorize close enough for him to ‘sniff’ it.
Marco points out the location of the item with his laser pointer.
Motion User Interface
Does more than words
Marco loves you. He does more than just ‘shows’ or ‘says’ that he does, but he moves his body to express his feelings. Also with his cute movements, Marco lets you know alerts and notifications. The movements of Marco depend on the types and importance of the alerts and notifications. Getting an email from your girlfriend with many angry exclamation marks, having a squall in 5 minutes, forgetting your meeting appointment, you notice it with Marco trying to tell you are having a situation.
Marco also recognizes your simple gestures and voice commands.
With its self-balancing system, Marco makes smooth and cute movements for 360 degrees.
When you get home after a long absense, Marco will frantically welcome you.
Monitor Your House
When you are away
Yes, you can see your room through Marco with your smartphone when you are away. But, Marco is not just a moving monitor. He is clever enough to answer your verbal questions, such as “Did I turn off the heater?” Of course he makes a phone call for you right after you leave home, “you forgot to lock the door!”.
You can watch and talk with your kids at home when you are away. How about enjoying chasing your kid by remote-controlling Marco?
Marco not just waits for you alone at home. See things at home when you are away with his eyes, moving around with his foot.
Can’t wait to see your little baby at home? You can not only see her, but also play with her.
Behaves Like a Pet & More
Apps for characters & skills
Customize the settings to make Marco behave the way you like it, but if you want it to do more tricks, download apps! Hip hop dance, little puppy tricks, snake movements, etc. You can also make settings on how he responds to certain gestures. Based on your choice, Marco will even hide and makes a surprise appearance on your birthday!
Download apps to enjoy AR games. See your Marco through your smartphone and have fun with games both in the digital and physical worlds!
Have more fun by letting Marco move along with your gestures.
The personality of Marco is up to your choice.
petitinvention 
