Alternative Artefacts Danto – ‘Tray’ and ‘Flat’
Winner
Excellent Product Design
Building and Elements
Details
‘Tray’ and ‘Flat’ are tile series designed by Teruhiro Yanagihara Studio for Alternative Artefacts Danto, redefining the tile as a versatile object. Produced at Danto’s 140-year-old Awaji Island factory, they combine the tactile richness of Minpei-yaki with contemporary ceramic innovation. The Flat series comes in two finishes — unglazed and transparent glazed — expressing the clay’s raw character in five sizes and 39 colors. Tray also avoids glaze, using light, shadow, and texture for sculptural effect. Conceived as wall tiles, both series can serve as trays, pedestals, or display objects, dissolving the boundary between function and design.
The Jury‘s Statement
The subtle materiality and the distinctive, unglazed surface give »Tray« and »Flat« a captivating presence. The combination of traditional Minpei-yaki aesthetics with contemporary design creates a harmonious tension. The versatility of these objects is especially impressive: not only wall tiles, but also trays, pedestals or display pieces. A charismatic project that unites timeless elegance and functional versatility in an outstanding way.
