Craft x Tech ties tradition and innovation with Michael Young's ‘Blossom Links’

Craft x Tech is a new initiative to bridge the gap between traditional Japanese craft and contemporary ideas and technologies. Their goal is to explore the beautiful materials and techniques of crafts from both historical and future perspectives and to bring discoveries to traditional crafts with hundreds of years of history. The craft-producing districts for the inaugural edition of Craft x Tech are from the six prefectures of the Tohoku (northeast) region of Japan.

Michael Young was honourably invited by Craft x Tech to participate in the Tohoku Project 2024 in Tokyo, Japan last month. The initiative of the design fair is to unify traditional Japanese craft and contemporary technology. The works will also be displayed at Design Miami.Basel 2024. The other collaborating designers are Sabine Marcelis, Ini Archibong, Yoichi Ochiai, Hideki Yoshimoto, Azusa Murakami and Alexander Groves of Studio SWINE.

The British designer presented his collection titled Blossom Links. The structural system for the product design was developed when Young revisited modularity studies he conducted decades ago, approaching them with fresh eyes and exploring the functional structure within mathematical limitations. The modules are adorned with traditional cherry blossoms and unique modular designs, created with 3D printing technology. Combining identical iron modules through precise calculations creates table designs of various sizes and wall-mounted pieces.