Revolutionizing Measurements: MiLLi SECOND by Hidebumi Yamaguchi

Award-Winning Design Transforms the Mundane Measure Tape into a Stylish Accessory

Yamaguchi's inspiration for the MiLLi SECOND stemmed from a desire to disrupt the market's current focus on low-cost, low-quality measure tapes. The design team, in collaboration with Takeda metal processing, aimed to introduce a valuable, high-quality item that would offer users an attractive alternative to the existing products.

The MiLLi SECOND's unique properties lie in its manufacturing process and design. The measure tape's body is milled from aluminum ingots with exceptional precision, resulting in a two-sided body with shell-like indentations that provide a comfortable grip. The frame features two oblong holes and one round hole, allowing users to customize the product according to their preferences and usage methods.

The realization of this design involved milling an aluminum ingot with high precision and treating the milled aluminum surface with anodizing to enhance its corrosion and abrasion resistance. The bowl-shaped depressions on both sides of the body were meticulously designed to fit the user's fingers comfortably.

The MiLLi SECOND, born in Tsubame, Japan—a hub of metalworking—has already won five design awards in Japan and Germany. The design process involved extensive research and numerous trials to achieve the perfect milling quality and attractive appearance. The design team overcame creative and technical challenges to offer various usage suggestions, such as wearing the measure tape around the neck or as a keychain.

Yamaguchi's MiLLi SECOND is not just a measure tape—it's a statement piece that challenges the status quo and transforms an everyday tool into a stylish accessory. This innovative design is a testament to the power of creativity and the potential of design to revolutionize mundane objects.