dentsu’s jack-o’-lantern trash bags win g-mark japan GOOD DESIGN award

designboom attended the g-mark japan GOOD DESIGN award ceremony held during tokyo design week 2016 where dentsu’s jack-o’-lantern trash bags were awarded the ‘awareness improvement for individuals and public’ prize.  

halloween in tokyo — especially in the shibuya and shinjuku neighborhoods — has become a not-to-be-missed attraction for people all over the world. but its popularity and high attendance rates has brought with it a litter problem once the celebrations are over. in order to help tokyo’s garbage problem after halloween,dentsu.inc designers tsudou honda, emika minaga, toshichi kaono and hiro misaegusa have designed the jack-o’-lantern trash bag to keep the city clean after the celebrations.

the jack-o’-lantern trash bag has been designed to keep the city clean after the halloween celebrations in tokyo

the ‘trash bag of jack-o’ lantern’ aims to make people want to pick up the rubbish. different volunteer organizations handed out the bags at the main train stations, encouraging people to use it and then toss it at designated collection points. once filled, the bags collected and filled with trash decorated the streets with pumpkin motives. 550 people volunteered resulting in an activity that became festive and courteous; and that gave both the helpers and the people who saw them a big smile on their faces.

the bags collected and filled with trash decorated the streets with pumpkin motives

the designers proudly showcasing their design
image © designboom

the trash bag exhibited at the good design award in japan
image © designboom

close-up of the pumpkin-faced trash bag
image © designboom

the GOOD DESIGN award was founded in 1957 by the japanese ministry of international trade and industry and is hosted by the japan institute for design promotion. the ‘g mark’ emblem reflects comprehensive design values and principles that aim to enrich lives, industries and society.