【Event Report】 Celebrating equalto’s 10th Anniversary
Our mission is to empower people with disabilities through the art of design. With this vision in mind, ‘equalto’ was founded 10 years ago, and to celebrate this milestone, we hosted a special anniversary event in August 2024.
At the 10th anniversary event, we hosted an exhibition and talk show to showcase the worldview of equalto, along with workshops where participants could experience the joy of craftsmanship. The event drew approximately 900 attendees over its duration. Here’s a report on this highly successful celebration.
10th anniversary event venue
On August 21, the 12-day event kicked off at GOOD DESIGN Marunouchi, a design hub in Tokyo’s Marunouchi district, under a pleasant summer sky, though the heat still lingered.
At the venue, we exhibited the 10-year history of equalto, an introduction of products, and the manufacturing process, expressing the brand’s worldview.
▲Braille paper used for the Braille Message Card was hung on the glass surface of the venue to accentuate the design.
A large panel, symbolizing the 10th anniversary event, warmly greets visitors as they enter on the right-hand side of the venue.
Inside the venue, visitors were greeted by a display of ‘Patchpatch,’ one of the brand’s most popular items representing the equalto brand. On the wall, we introduced the process to make Patchpatch.
“The map showcased the Type B Work Continuation Support facilities in Tokyo and surrounding areas, which serve as bases for equalto’s manufacturing. The number of these facilities is roughly 1.5 times that of public junior high schools in Tokyo.*
*According to the Tokyo Metropolitan Board of Education, Number of Public Schools in Tokyo (as of April 1, 2024).”
Visitors to the exhibition were surprised, saying, ‘I had no idea there were so many Type B Work Continuation Support facilities nearby!’ It served as a reminder to many that these facilities are an integral and close part of our everyday lives.
equalto’s 10-year history
One of the highlights of the event was a large timeline table on the wall at the back of the venue, showing the 10-year history of equalto.
Starting with ‘Nuinui,’ which won the grand prize at the Art Craft Design Award in 2013 and sparked the birth of the brand, the timeline showcases a total of 31 items, ranging from discontinued products to those still central to the brand. Many visitors paused to take a closer look at this 10-year journey.
Current equalto products are displayed
In addition, all of the current products of equalto were displayed at the venue. Visitors could appreciate the intricate craftsmanship by touching and experiencing the products firsthand.
▲Fruit soaps are also popular as gifts.
▲Keychain with a playful spirit: I’m home
▲Chikuchiku T-shirts are popular among our staff, and the new item will be available in autumn/winter 2024!
Event Posting Period will be held at GOOD DESIGN STORE TOKYO by NOHARA during the event.
During the 10th anniversary event, GOOD DESIGN STORE TOKYO by NOHARA store had all of equalto available for sale. Not only the products that are usually sold in the store, but also a new lineup of products for this event was displayed.
▲The new products, which were released in July 2024, were also on display.
▲Teruteru has a wide range of color variations!
Many customers actually held the products in their hands while at the store.
Talk shows and workshops were also held.
During the event, a total of six talk sessions were held to discuss the story of the equalto project, craftsmanship by people with disabilities, and enterprises’s approach to social issues from a variety of perspectives. The discussions explored a wide range of perspectives on social issues and design.
▲Many design professionals participated in the talk session with Mr. Shinji Yajima, Executive Director of Japan Institute of Design Promotion, and Mr. Hidemi Nagoya, the CEO of h concept co., ltd.
Over the weekend, a workshop was held to create two of equalto’s popular items. The workshop was led by the production staff who actually craft these products, and participants enjoyed the hands-on experience of making them.
▲In the “Patchpatch” workshop, participants were able to combine facial parts and create names and personalities.
▲Felt ball-making experience for the aroma diffuser ‘My Diffuser’. Some participants said, “It was more difficult than I had imagined to make a beautiful shape!
A wide range of participants, from children to adults, took part in the event.
equalto’s products are the result of a unique fusion of design and craftsmanship. This event provided a wonderful opportunity for participants to appreciate the intricate handiwork through hands-on experiences.
Thank you very much for your participation.
After the 10th anniversary event
Many people visited to experience the world of equalto during the 12-day event. This occasion gave us the opportunity to deeply reflect on the values that have always shaped our brand and those we aim to uphold moving forward.
We were delighted to read the many warm words of support shared in the audience questionnaires.
We would like to extend our heartfelt gratitude to all those who supported us in celebrating our 10th anniversary.
We appreciate everyone who came to the show and to everyone who has supported us so far.
As we look ahead to the next 10 years, we are excited to continue embracing new challenges. We sincerely hope for your continued support.
We look forward to welcoming you at future events!
