At a glance
- Company
- Yamaha Motor Co., Ltd. and Yamaha Corporation
- Announcement
- Award
- Location
- Iwata and Hamamatsu
People
- Dr. Mark ChangiziResearch partner
- Shinsuke ShimojoResearch partner; associated with the Shinsuke Shimojo Laboratory at the California Institute of Technology
Products and programs
IWATA and HAMAMATSU, June 25, 2024 -- Yamaha Motor Co., Ltd. and Yamaha Corporation are pleased to announce that their co-created experiential installation (an interactive artwork) called "e-plegona" has won the prestigious international design award "Red Dot Design Award Design Concept 2024." This is the third product in two categories to win the Red Dot Award in 2024, following the product design awards for the MT-09 motorcycle and the XMAX300 scooter.
The "e-plegona" is an installation created by the research department of Yamaha Motor and both design departments in collaboration with research partner Dr. Mark Changizi and the Shinsuke Shimojo Laboratory at the California Institute of Technology, based on their research into Kando* experiences. The installation has two people experience it at the same time, with players repeatedly communicating to each other through non-verbal and intuitive means. Based on the results of our unique research combining science and art together with our research partners, this experimental prototype artificially stirs the emotions with non-verbal, intuitive communication to produce a connected vibe between people like jazz improvisation or the same sense of connection people often feel toward musical instruments or motorcycles in order to simulate experiences of Kando*.
This installation is exhibited at "South by Southwest 2023" (Austin, Texas, USA), one of the Europe's largest innovation festivals "hub.berlin" (Berlin, Germany) and the innovation-themed technology conference "Tech Open Air Festival" (Berlin, Germany).
*Kando is a Japanese word for the simultaneous feelings of deep satisfaction and intense excitement that we experience when we encounter something of exceptional value.
e-plegona
[YouTube]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tIP6ddf9e-A
[Design Award Website]
https://global.yamaha-motor.com/design_technology/design/awards/
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In brief
Yamaha Motor Co., Ltd. and Yamaha Corporation say their jointly developed interactive installation, e-plegona, received the Red Dot Design Award Design Concept 2024. The work was created by Yamaha Motor’s research department and design teams from both companies, with research partners Dr. Mark Changizi and the Shinsuke Shimojo Laboratory at the California Institute of Technology. It is designed for two people to interact through nonverbal cues, with the companies describing it as an experiment in creating a sense of connection and emotional response. The installation draws on research into Kando, a Japanese term for deep satisfaction and excitement when encountering something of exceptional value. The release says e-plegona has been exhibited at South by Southwest 2023, hub.berlin and the Tech Open Air Festival in Berlin.
Key takeaways
- The two Yamaha companies say e-plegona won the Red Dot Design Award Design Concept 2024.
- The interactive installation is designed for two people to communicate through nonverbal interaction.
- Its development involved Yamaha teams and research partners Dr. Mark Changizi and the Shinsuke Shimojo Laboratory.
- The release says the installation has appeared at events in Austin and Berlin.
