During DESIGNART TOKYO 2025, Ryosuke Fukusada designed Chataku, a unique coaster as part of the project +STORIES.
+STORIES is a collaborative project between Original Kolor Design by OK-KASEI and four product designers. Together, the group explores new possibilities for plastics in response to the escalating environmental challenges of our time, seeking to redefine the material’s role within contemporary design.
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Under the condition of creating a product that could be moulded using a commercially available desktop mould and made suitable for production, a coaster was selected as the design subject. Its modest scale and everyday familiarity provided an ideal foundation for exploring the material and modern manufacturing.
The form of the Chataku coaster draws on elements of Japanese craftsmanship, specifically the kagome-ami, a distinctive bamboo weaving pattern reinterpreted through a contemporary lens. The traditional motif was transformed into a threedimensional form, then refined into a smooth, mouldable surface suited to modern production. When paired with a vessel, the coaster can also function as a small flower stand, allowing for delicate floral arrangements.
The selected material is a bio-elastomer, chosen for its soft, non-slip qualities that make it well suited to the function of a coaster. Composed of renewable organic resources, it represents an environmentally conscious alternative that balances performance with sustainability.
Of course, a handwoven bamboo coaster would have an even lower environmental impact, but the demands of modern everyday life cannot be sustained by this alone. This design embraces the use of plastics with a sense of responsibility, aiming to reduce its environmental burden and promote a more sustainable way of living.
The colour concept was developed through interior research, selecting four traditional Japanese tones that feel fresh within contemporary interiors: Terigaki, Kuwacha, Mushikuri, and Haizakura.
Terigaki is a deep, reddish orange reminiscent of the skin of a ripe persimmon. Derived from the word kakiiro, used since the Heian period of Japan, it became a defining shade of warm orange during the Edo era.
Kuwacha evokes the colour of mulberry leaf tea, a warm ochre with a subtle red undertone. As a traditional hue, it relates to kuwazome, a yellow-brown dye made from mulberry leaves.
Mushikuri refers to a pale, slightly greentinted yellow, similar to the colour of steamed chestnut flesh once the shell is removed.
Haizakura is a delicate and muted cherry blossom pink with a touch of grey, brighter than beige yet more subdued than pure pink, known as a graceful colour once favoured by noblewomen.
Formed with bio-elastomer, the Chatakucoaster in these four colours, Terigaki, Kuwacha, Mushikuri, and Haizakura, bridge tradition and modern living, adding soft warmth and refinement to your tabletops.
Photos by Ariyoshi Matsuo