Well prepared: Nendo designs sleek emergency kit MINIM+AID

Nendo designs sleek emergency kit MINIM+AID
Nendo has designed the MNIM +AID emergency preparedness kit inspired by the tragedy of natural disasters that have occurred in Japan over the years
(Image credit: Kenichi Sonehara)

There are a dozen reasons as to why Nendo’s founder Oki Sato has received the crown for Maison & Objet’s designer of the Year: his massive retrospective of his work in Milan earlier this year and his ability to design 100 products per year are just two. The new MNIM +AID emergency preparedness kit is yet another.

Inspired by the tragedy of natural disasters that have occurred in his home country of Japan over the years, he has taken to create a compact kit that is extremely useful yet sophisticatedly designed with the Nendo-minimalist touch. Sticking to the bare necessities that are required during an earthquake, the set is made up of five pieces, all packed together in a 5cm wide tube.

Included in the collection is a radio which doubles as a charger, a raincoat, a lantern (that can be charged with the radio), drinking water and a plastic case that you can fill as you like – recommendations are a first aid kit and medicine. All of the items are neatly lined up in the sleek silver, white or black tube that can be carried like a backpack and masqueraded as an everyday object that you would never imagine could carry a life saving kit.

All the pieces exist in smart mini black tubes themselves, simply numbered 1-4 in large type, another clever touch for an emergency. Ultimately, Nendo has gone back to survival basics, but combined this with truly intelligent and hi-tech design-savviness.

Nendo designs sleek emergency kit MINIM+AID

The set is made up of five bare necessities, all packed together in a 5cm wide tube that can be carried like a backpack

(Image credit: Kenichi Sonehara)

Nendo designs sleek emergency kit MINIM+AID

The collection of items exist in smart mini black tubes, simply numbered in large 1-4 type, a clever touch for rapid access to the piece you require

(Image credit: Kenichi Sonehara)

Nendo designs sleek emergency kit MINIM+AID

Included in the set is a radio, which doubles as a charger for your smartphone and other USB connected devises

(Image credit: Kenichi Sonehara)

Nendo designs sleek emergency kit MINIM+AID

A pullout raincoat is contained in second tube

(Image credit: Kenichi Sonehara)

Nendo designs sleek emergency kit MINIM+AID

An elongated lantern exists in the third case that can be charged by the radio in the first tube

(Image credit: Kenichi Sonehara)

Nendo designs sleek emergency kit MINIM+AID

A water pouch fills the fourth container and can be poured out into the tube so it doubles as a vessel to drink from

(Image credit: Kenichi Sonehara)

Nendo designs sleek emergency kit MINIM+AID

The fifth container is left to fill with other essentials you made need, but the reccomended materials are first aid items and medicine

(Image credit: Kenichi Sonehara)

INFORMATION

Photography: Kenichi Sonehara

Sujata Burman is a writer and editor based in London, specialising in design and culture. She was Digital Design Editor at Wallpaper* before moving to her current role of Head of Content at London Design Festival and London Design Biennale where she is expanding the content offering of the showcases. Over the past decade, Sujata has written for global design and culture publications, and has been a speaker, moderator and judge for institutions and brands including RIBA, D&AD, Design Museum and Design Miami/. In 2019, she co-authored her first book, An Opinionated Guide to London Architecture, published by Hoxton Mini Press, which was driven by her aim to make the fields of design and architecture accessible to wider audiences.