{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O1328384"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O1328384/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2017JT9234/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2017JT9234/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"low","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2017JT9234","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2017JT9228","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":null},"record":{"systemNumber":"O1328384","accessionNumber":"CD.80:1 to 8-2016","objectType":"Compact disc player","titles":[],"summaryDescription":"This is an updated 2013 version Of Muji’s wall-mounted CD-player designed by Naoto Fukasawa. It is manufactured by Muji, a Japan-based international retailer of Japanese-designed products which launched in 1980. They are noted for their simplicity of design and their philosophy of creating unbranded objects with a high-quality aesthetic. They have also voiced concern for the environment, and have worked to be sustainable by exercising restraint in the design and manufacturing process, reducing excessive packaging, and using recyclable materials wherever possible.\n\r\nWhile designing the original wall-mounted CD-Player in 1999, Fukasawa noted the resemblance between a CD spinning in a player and the rotating blades of a domestic extractor fan. In his design, he sought to incorporate the intrinsic simplicity of the extractor's operating controls, which is a simple pull-cord to switch the unit on and off. The resulting CD-player is a coverless wall-mounted unit that resembles a kitchen or bathroom extractor with a power cord that drops down from underside of the unit. Most importantly, the cord invites the user intuitively to pull it, triggering the device to begin playing the CD. The speakers are contained within the unit, and the volume and search controls are found on top of the player.\n\r\nFukasawa has stated that he wants to design objects that will trigger an instinctive or unconscious response in their user. He calls his design philosophy 'without thought', arguing that products should not need an instruction manual, but that their functionality should be self-evident. As Fukasawa states, 'without thought' “means being aware of our living nature, a simple element in the larger environment... not anonymous, just natural”.\n\r\nThis updated version of the CD-Player has been re-designed so that it works as an FM radio as well as a CD-Player and can be controlled alternatively by a remote or the original tugging feature of the cord.\r\nThis CD-player was acquired as part of the Shekou Project, an international partnership between the V&A and China Merchant Shekou Holdings (CMSK) to open a new cultural platform called Design Society in Shekou. The CD-player was included in the inaugural exhibition, ‘Values of Design’, in the V&A Gallery at Design Society to exemplify how an object can communicate its own use and functionality through its own design. \r\n","physicalDescription":"A square CD player made from cream coloured plastic with curved corners and a pull string.","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"Fukasawa","id":"AUTH332797"},"association":{"text":"designer","id":"x36960"},"note":""}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[{"name":{"text":"Muji","id":"A37351"},"association":{"text":"manufacturer","id":"x33306"},"note":""}],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"plastic","id":"AAT14570"},{"text":"metal","id":"AAT10900"}],"techniques":[],"materialsAndTechniques":"Plastic, metals","categories":[{"text":"Interiors","id":"THES48933"},{"text":"Household objects","id":"THES48939"},{"text":"Shekou","id":"THES279777"},{"text":"Values of Design","id":"THES279818"},{"text":"Design Society","id":"THES279819"}],"styles":[],"collectionCode":{"text":"DAD","id":"THES260586"},"images":["2017JT9234","2017JT9228"],"imageResolution":"low","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"74","id":"THES49720"},"free":"","case":"6","shelf":"WALL","box":""},{"current":{"text":"003","id":"THES412793"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""},{"current":{"text":"003","id":"THES412793"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""},{"current":{"text":"003","id":"THES412793"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""},{"current":{"text":"003","id":"THES412793"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""},{"current":{"text":"002","id":"THES412831"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""},{"current":{"text":"004","id":"THES412784"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""},{"current":{"text":"003","id":"THES412793"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"compact disc players","id":"THES398714"}],[{"text":"Packaging","id":"AAT55100"}],[{"text":"Instructions","id":"AAT27042"}],[{"text":"adapters","id":"THES398643"}],[{"text":"Remote controls","id":"THES398698"}],[{"text":"anchor plates","id":"AAT51926"}],[{"text":"Screw cover","id":""}],[{"text":"Display stand","id":"x42786"}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"1999","earliest":"1999-01-01","latest":"1999-12-31"},"association":{"text":"designed","id":"x29338"},"note":"Originally designed by Naoto Fukasawa in 1999"}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Height","value":"17.1","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Width","value":"17.1","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Depth","value":"3.8","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[],"objectHistory":"This Muji CD-player was included in ‘Values of Design’ at the V&A Gallery, Design Society in Shenzhen, China in 2017.","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"CD-Player, second version, designed by Naoto Fukusawa, manufactured by Muji, 2015.","bibliographicReferences":[],"production":"","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[{"text":"Compact space-savers\r\n\r\nAs compact living has become more common, designers have created smart, multifunctional and small-scale solutions for furniture, storage and technology. The Kubus glass boxes fit together interchangeably and are heat resistant, making them useful for storing and heating foods. The compact sink and wall-mounted CD player were both designed for smaller homes with less space, while the Boby trolley offers flexible storage on wheels suitable for any room of the house.\r\n\r\nStackable glass containers \r\nKubus, about 1938\r\nDesigned by Wilhelm Wagenfeld \r\nManufactured by Vereinigte Lausitzer Glaswerke, Germany \r\nPress-moulded glass \r\nMuseum no. C.154&A, B, D to J, L, N, O P-1980\r\n\r\nFlexible storage trolley \r\nBoby, 1970\r\nDesigned by Joe Colombo \r\nManufactured by Bieffeplast, Italy \r\nInjection-moulded ABS plastic \r\nGiven by Valerie Mendes \r\nMuseum no. W.5:1 to 4-1992\r\n\r\nSmall sink for the Barbican Estate, London \r\n1966\r\nDesigned by L Michael Hohmann and Chamberlin, Powell and Bon \r\nManufactured by Twyfords, UK \r\n‘Ceramant’ vitreous ceramic \r\nMuseum no. CIRC.395-1967\r\n\r\nWall-mounted CD player with pull-string switch \r\n1999\r\nDesigned by Naoto Fukasawa \r\nManufactured by Muji, Japan \r\nABS plastic and electronic components \r\nMuseum no. CD.80:1, 6-2016\r\n\r\nThe object sits in the 'Housing and Living' section of the Design 1900-Now gallery opened in June 2021.\r\n","date":{"text":"2021","earliest":"2021-01-01","latest":"2021-12-31"}},{"text":"Muji Wall-Mounted CD Player\r\nNaoto Fukasawa\r\nJapan, 1999\r\n\r\nIn this design for a CD player, Naoto Fukusawa aimed to create an object that would trigger an instinctive response in the user. By wall-mounting the player and attaching a pull-cord he mimics the aesthetic of a extractor fan. The cord invites the user to pull it, prompting the device to play.","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null}}],"partNumbers":["CD.80:1-2016","CD.80:2-2016","CD.80:3-2016","CD.80:4-2016","CD.80:5-2016","CD.80:6-2016","CD.80:7-2016","CD.80:8-2016"],"accessionNumberNum":"80","accessionNumberPrefix":"CD","accessionYear":2016,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":[],"recordModificationDate":"2026-03-10","recordCreationDate":"2016-01-14","availableToBook":false}}