Golden A' Design Award in Bicycle Design Goes to Moccle Wooden Bicycle by Masateru Yasuda

Masateru Yasuda recognized for bicycle design by the international grand jury of the 2022 - 2023 A' Design Award & Competition

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

COMO, Italy, April 20, 2023 /DesignNewswire/ A' Design Award & Competition has announced that Moccle Wooden Bicycle by Masateru Yasuda, designed for Atelier Kinopio, has been granted the Golden A' Design Award in the Bicycle Design category. The result belongs to the 2022 - 2023 A' Design Award & Competition and was reached through blind peer review by an international grand jury panel of established academics, design professionals and press members, who evaluated anonymized entries against predetermined criteria.

The Golden A' Design Award Explained

The Gold A' Design Award is granted to designs that demonstrate a high level of innovation and a significant impact on their intended audience. Recognized as a major achievement by the A' Design Awards, these designs are characterized by their visionary approach and the exceptional skill of their creators. Winners of the Gold A' Design Award are noted for their ability to push the envelope in art, science, design, and technology, delivering solutions that not only meet but exceed expectations. These designs serve as benchmarks for excellence, encouraging further innovation and inspiring future generations of designers.

More About Moccle Wooden Bicycle

Moccle is focused on the earthquake resistance of traditional Japanese wooden houses and used wood as the main material. A hybrid material combining wood and carbon fibre is used to balance flexibility and strength. By minimising functions and developing comfort and fun rather than speed, Moccle is not only a tool for mobility, but also a part of the interior that can be displayed in the living room.

About Masateru Yasuda

Designer, Bicycle frame builder and Painter Born in Osaka in 1973. After Osaka University of Arts, started making a wooden bicycle while teaching at the university in 1999. Moved to Italy for learning traditional manufacturing. And made competition bicycles for Tour de France at Sanpatrignano, worked at ZULLO Tiziano bike studio in Veneto and design work for other bicycle companies. Returned to Japan in 2012 and set up an atelier in Nagano. Responsible for design and painting requested by domestic and foreign bicycle manufacturers and customers. 2019 invited builder for North America Handmade Bike Show.

Award Record

This recognition makes Masateru Yasuda a winner of 1 A' Design Award.

About the A' Bicycle Design Award

The A' Bicycle Design Award is an international bicycle design competition recognizing good bicycle designs by leading brands and designers worldwide. It is organized within the A' Design Award & Competition and is open to bicycle designers, industrial designers, vehicle designers and bicycle brands from all countries. Typical entries include mountain bikes, road bikes, hybrid bikes, cruiser bikes, folding bikes and electric bikes. The awarded bicycle designs are published at https://desingers.org/design-category/bicycle

About A' Design Award & Competition

Organized annually since 2008, A' Design Award & Competition is an international, juried design accolade. The competition is open to entries from all countries. The philanthropic mission of the A' Design Award is to advance society through good design, by recognizing and promoting superior products, projects and services that benefit society, and by creating a global awareness and appreciation for good design practices and principles. Nominations are peer reviewed and evaluated anonymously by an international grand jury panel of established academics, design professionals and press members against predetermined criteria such as functionality, ergonomics, engineering, presentation, innovation, usability, sustainability and technology, with score normalization applied to remove biases. Awards are conferred at Platinum, Gold, Silver, Bronze and Iron levels. Eligible laureates receive the A' Design Prize, which includes the award trophy, the certificate of design excellence, the hardcover yearbook, a lifetime license to use the A' Design Award winner logo, exhibition of awarded works, an invitation to the gala night and award ceremony in Italy, inclusion in the World Design Rankings and Designer Rankings, and public relations and publicity services. Registration, uploading a work and receiving a preliminary score are free of charge, and Professional and Digital Edition laureates are not contractually obliged to pay further fees to claim the A' Design Prize. More information is available at https://competition.adesignaward.com

Press Resources

Winner Page: https://desingers.org/149337
A' Design Award Page: https://competition.adesignaward.com/149337
Media Showcase: https://www.designnewsroom.com/!149337
Laureate Profile: https://desingers.org/d/342894
Further Information from the Laureate: http://www.kinopio.com/products/MOCCLE.html

Media Contact

Giulia Ferrari, Press Office
Designers.Org
Via Leone Leoni 32, 22100 Como, Italy
press@designers.org
+39 031 4491953

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Fact Sheet

The Work

Project: Moccle Wooden Bicycle
Function: Wooden Bicycle
Category: Bicycle Design
Discipline: Industrial Design
Industry: Automotive and Sports
Colors: Light Gray, Dark Gray, Gainsboro, Ghost White and Gray
Images: 5
Client: Atelier Kinopio

The Recognition

Laureate: Masateru Yasuda
Country: Japan
Recognition: Golden A' Design Award
Edition: 2022 - 2023
Design ID: #149337

Design Details

Unique Properties: While most high-quality bicycles are developed with speed as the main focus, we made full use of that technology to create a fun bicycle. Focusing on wood, which is a carbon fiber derived from nature, we aimed to develop a comfortable bicycle that takes advantage of its vibration damping and flexibility. High quality and simple functions for everyone, we designed a bicycle that can be displayed in the living room.
Inspiration: Traditional Japanese wooden buildings that take advantage of the flexibility of wood are strong against earthquakes. And the flexibility of wood and uneven fibers also provide excellent vibration absorption. I wondered if I could make a bicycle that takes advantage of the characteristics of this wood.
Research: A bicycle is a tool that uses human power as a propulsive force. Vibration makes power loss, frame strength transmits driving force. The frame was designed to balance the two contradicting flexibility and strength. For reduce the vibration from the road surface, we examined the route of the vibration and challenged to create a mechanism never before. In general frames are fixed the seat tube to upper members, we invented a free joint using a sliding-bush to the part. Vibration generated from the wheel is not transmitted upward.
Challenge: The wisdom of our predecessors is packed into manufacturing. When you study traditional methods, you will find that necessity and coincidence are mixed. That they have been selected according to the times and have reached the present. Bicycles are the easiest and most energy efficient means of transportation that mankind has ever owned. What can we do by using modern technology into traditional manufacturing methods? 1.Traditional Italian bicycle manufacturing + approach of Toyota car manufacturing 2.Composite materials using wood + carbon fiber 3.Traditional metal casting + 3D printing, etc Think Old+New Hybrid possibilities
Realization and Technology: In order to make use of the flexibility of wood, the structure of the frame was designed with a large two-piece structure to avoid cutting of the wood fibers as much as possible. Furthermore, eliminating large changes in the cross-sectional area shape, a smooth and beautiful shape was derived. Wood sheets with carbon fiber is laminated to control shrinkage and cracking due to aging of the wood and improve safety. In addition, it makes balance of flexibility and strength.
Operation and Interaction: Moccle is a bicycle that you can easily ride in casual clothes. A simple design that anyone can ride without a complicated transmission. Just pedaling with your usual sneakers, you can spend a relax time at your favorite cafe. When get home, Moccle's storage space is not a back of a garage with a big flip-up door. By a special display stand, the storage space can be expanded to a living room, and the Moccle becomes a part of your interior.
Project Duration and Location: The project started in 1999 and the 1st wooden bicycle was made in Osaka, Japan. The 2nd model was made in Nagano and named Moccle in 2012. The 3rd model wooden bicycle started production in 2019, and was exhibited in NAHBS in CA,USA in March, Wood Collection Show in Tokyo in January 2023.
Specifications: Width 1740mm x Depth 530mm x Height 970mm
Keywords: wooden bicycle, moccle, atelier kinopio