Grade B Shelf: A Conceptual Masterpiece by Kairo Kusamoto

Transforming Defective Glass Marbles into a Unique Furniture Piece

The Grade B Shelf is a testament to Kusamoto's innovative approach to design. Inspired by the importance of understanding the value that objects hold, Kusamoto sought to go beyond simple expressions of value such as monetary worth or functionality. Instead, he aimed to explore the deeper elements that contribute to an object's value, thereby shrinking the sense of distance to objects and enabling a deeper understanding of their other side.

What sets the Grade B Shelf apart is its unique material - a type of glass marble known as B DAMA in Japan, typically considered defective. Kusamoto has ingeniously repurposed these marbles, traditionally used for furniture decoration, to create a unique and meaningful piece of furniture. The shelf is partially treated to remove the glass marbles on the surface, incorporating their context and meaning into the object itself.

Handcrafted with acrylic for structure and layered with glass marbles, the Grade B Shelf is a labor of love. Measuring 850mm in width, 350mm in depth, and 1000mm in height, it serves as both an interior object and a piece of furniture. More than just a tool or decoration, it embodies the strength of time-consuming handcraft, a quality not found in mass-produced items.

The creation of the Grade B Shelf was a meticulous process that spanned from April to October 2016 in Tokyo. Kusamoto faced the challenge of aligning small round marbles, a task that took several months to complete. Despite the time and effort required, the result is a delicate object that carries a heavy context - a reflection of the designer's commitment to his craft until his death.

Kusamoto's work is deeply influenced by Roland Barthes' semiotics and the concept of time in Heidegger's books. He found value in the hierarchy and stratification of the meaning of one symbol and object, and assembled the concept from there. In the concept of time, the act of laborious acts or the act of taking time mean that the producer uses the time until his death for production. In other words, production acts can be said to the gorgeous act of time using until the death of the author. So he created a delicate object by glass, but at the same time it contains a heavy context of death of the producer.

With its unique concept and meticulous craftsmanship, the Grade B Shelf is a true testament to Kusamoto's innovative approach to design. It not only transforms the perception of defective materials but also highlights the value of time-consuming handcraft. This unique piece of furniture is a worthy recipient of the prestigious Golden A' Design Award, a recognition granted to marvelous, outstanding, and trendsetting creations that advance art, science, design, and technology.