CD-Player thumbnail 1
Image of Gallery in South Kensington
On display at V&A South Kensington
Design 1900 to Now, Room 74

This object consists of 8 parts, some of which may be located elsewhere.

CD-Player

1999 (designed)
Artist/Maker

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.

While 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.

Fukasawa 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”.

This 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.
This 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.


Object details

Categories
Object type
Parts
This object consists of 8 parts.

  • CD-Player
  • Packaging
  • Instructions
  • AC Adaptor
  • Remote Control Unit
  • Wall Fixing Plate
  • Screw Cover
  • Display Stand
Materials and techniques
Plastic, metals
Brief description
CD-Player, second version, designed by Naoto Fukusawa, manufactured by Muji, 2015
Physical description
A square CD player made from cream coloured plastic with curved corners and a pull string.
Dimensions
  • Height: 17.1cm
  • Width: 17.1cm
  • Depth: 3.8cm
Gallery label
  • Compact space-savers As 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. Stackable glass containers Kubus, about 1938 Designed by Wilhelm Wagenfeld Manufactured by Vereinigte Lausitzer Glaswerke, Germany Press-moulded glass Museum no. C.154&A, B, D to J, L, N, O P-1980 Flexible storage trolley Boby, 1970 Designed by Joe Colombo Manufactured by Bieffeplast, Italy Injection-moulded ABS plastic Given by Valerie Mendes Museum no. W.5:1 to 4-1992 Small sink for the Barbican Estate, London 1966 Designed by L Michael Hohmann and Chamberlin, Powell and Bon Manufactured by Twyfords, UK ‘Ceramant’ vitreous ceramic Museum no. CIRC.395-1967 Wall-mounted CD player with pull-string switch 1999 Designed by Naoto Fukasawa Manufactured by Muji, Japan ABS plastic and electronic components Museum no. CD.80:1, 6-2016 The object sits in the 'Housing and Living' section of the Design 1900-Now gallery opened in June 2021. (2021)
  • Muji Wall-Mounted CD Player Naoto Fukasawa Japan, 1999 In 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.
Object history
This Muji CD-player was included in ‘Values of Design’ at the V&A Gallery, Design Society in Shenzhen, China in 2017.
Summary
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.

While 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.

Fukasawa 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”.

This 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.
This 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.
Collection
Accession number
CD.80:1 to 8-2016

About this object record

Explore the Collections contains over a million catalogue records, and over half a million images. It is a working database that includes information compiled over the life of the museum. Some of our records may contain offensive and discriminatory language, or reflect outdated ideas, practice and analysis. We are committed to addressing these issues, and to review and update our records accordingly.

You can write to us to suggest improvements to the record.

Suggest feedback

Record createdJanuary 14, 2016
Record URL
Download as: JSON