BASF (Ludwigshafen / Germany; www.basf.com) has launched its second "designfabrik" worldwide in Tokyo / Japan. The facility will offer product and industrial designers and engineers consultancy work and material solutions using BASF’s portfolio, with a specific focus on automotive applications. It will focus on supporting the development of different materials for vehicle interiors and exteriors, aimed at improving efficiency, comfort and safety while at the same time providing entirely new design possibilities, BASF said.

The reason for locating this facility in Japan is the fact that “the Japanese market is and has always been a source of cutting-edge design and innovation in various industries,” said Guiscard Glück, vice president of New Markets and Products. The designfabrik is headed by vice director Toshifumi Tanakai.

BASF established the first designfabrik at its group headquarters in 2007. Since then the facility has turned out a number of successful projects, from the “Myto chair” to the “Winkel lamp”. In 2012 it held a global car seat design competition that inspired new designs for future car seats, while in 2013 the German designfabrik developed the “Concept 1865” bicycle.