iroe2

"Iroe" is a design tool featuring color samples of the pigments used in Saga Prefecture's porcelain. Using these colors and patterns, you can paint pottery in accordance with the manufacturing process. "Iroe" was developed as part of the "Ceramic Color Pallet" app development contract with the Saga Ceramics Research Center and released in April 2023. This app is the second in the series.

"Iroe" allows you to easily view color samples of actual underglaze and overglaze pigments, select the shape of the vessel, use line and smear brushes, and design using pattern stamps, allowing you to experience the craftsmanship of the region on your smartphone. The pattern stamps use patterns from the collection of the Kyushu Ceramic Museum, Saga Prefecture, allowing you to enjoy the pattern designs of our ancestors.

In addition, completed designs can be saved as an archive and enjoyed as your own original pottery designs. People of all ages can easily experience the charm of traditional crafts digitally.

With "iroe 2," donors can now create designs freely on the app as a return gift for Saga Prefecture's hometown tax donation program. Each piece is hand-painted by a skilled traditional Imari or Arita porcelain artisan, creating a one-of-a-kind piece.

This is the first time in Japan that users can design designs on the app, have them recreated by a traditional artisan, and offer them as a product. The goal is to allow people to experience the charm of porcelain's colors and culture up close. It was created with the hope that people of all ages, from children to adults, will enjoy painting and discover the fascinating color combinations that make them appreciate the art.

*Awards

2024 Good Design Award Winner: "Production Area Support Project: A Communication Tool to Communicate the Craftsmanship of the Imari and Arita Porcelain Production Areas"

https://www.g-mark.org/gallery/winners/23414

Experience various features of iroe.

1. Painting Experience

Relive the entire pottery production process, from choosing the shape of the vessel to using a line brush or a daub brush, and even the pre-firing process, all in one app. Easily create designs without specialized knowledge. Completed designs can be archived for convenient viewing and enjoyment as "your own" piece of pottery.

With "iroe2," you can freely design a design on the app and have it hand-painted by a skilled traditional craftsman of Imari or Arita ware, creating a one-of-a-kind piece. To apply, you must be a donor to a designated Saga Prefecture hometown tax return gift program.

2. Color Samples

The Saga Ceramics Research Center has created a database of 363 lead-free overglaze colors used in painting Arita ware and other ceramics, and released it as "Overglaze Color Sample Data 2020."

Based on this experience, the app includes color samples for both underglaze and overglaze.

Press Release: https://www.scrl.gr.jp/site_files/file/kenkyuu_kaihatsu/pressrelease/20200325_colorsample.pdf

3. Pattern Samples

You can view the digital archive of patterns housed at the Kyushu Ceramic Museum, a museum dedicated to the Imari and Arita porcelain production areas.

Kyushu Ceramic Museum: https://saga-museum.jp/ceramic/

4. Reading Materials

Read columns on paints and porcelain. (Link: Saga Ceramic Research Center)

5. For those interested in the Hizen ceramics industry

View information on ceramics training and seminars.

(Link: Saga Ceramic Research Center Training Program: https://www.scrl.gr.jp/main/47.html)

6. Saga Prefecture Ceramics Industry Cooperative Association

This association is composed of companies involved in ceramics manufacturing and related businesses, contributing to the development of the ceramics industry.

You can see how the production of "Iroe-iroe2" supports the ceramics industry.

(Link: Saga Prefecture Ceramics Industry Cooperative Association https://www.aritayaki.or.jp/)

7. Announcements from Iroe

You can view announcements about this app on the "Iroe Official Website."

(Link: Iroe Official Website https://saga-iroe.jp/)