📌 How Plates That Clean With Water Alone Were Born: Design Thinking from WHY

Innovation is often seen as the domain of a few highly talented or experienced individuals. However, even “ordinary” people and companies can create breakthroughs with the right approach. DG TAKANO, a Tokyo-based design firm, demonstrates this with their meliordesign tableware, which cleans effortlessly with just water.

🖼️ A Revolutionary Plate

The plate developed by DG TAKANO uses surface modification technology introduced in 2023. Even dishes with oily food residues can be rinsed with water only, then dried and reused. This product has been adopted by 80% of major restaurants in Japan, reflecting its practical innovation.

💡 From Faucet Nozzles to Plates

DG TAKANO’s founder, Masaki Takano, first gained experience with innovation by developing Bubble90, a faucet nozzle that reduced water use by up to 95% while maintaining cleaning power. Building on this success, Takano shifted perspective from faucets to everyday tableware, asking “WHY do we still need detergents?”

📍 The Power of “WHY”

Starting from WHY instead of HOW broadens the solution space. Takano considered global water scarcity issues and realized that the focus could move from water providers (faucets) to water users (plates). By challenging the assumption that washing requires detergent, the team unlocked a truly innovative approach.

🛠️ From Idea to Reality

Next came WHAT: developing a plate that cleans without any detergent. Finally, HOW was explored through collaborations with over 10 companies, ultimately using surface modification technology. The product took five years from concept to launch.

🎨 Design Thinking at Work

DG TAKANO applied design thinking, a method popularized by IDEO and Stanford’s d.school. The process emphasizes five modes: empathy, defining the problem, ideation, prototyping, and testing—not necessarily in sequence but applied flexibly. Understanding design thinking allows anyone to take the first step toward innovation.

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Original article: Nikkei

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