Keio University Graduate School of Media Design
PROJECTS 2026
TAIKA (耐火)
FINALIST PROJECT
Silver Medal Recognition for Concept and Reflection
Moe Pwint Eain, Sai Yee Tip, Jakob Nygard
TAIKA (耐火), meaning “fire resistance,” is a bio-based fire-retardant coating designed to protect Japan’s vulnerable wooden neighborhoods (Mokumitsu) from rapidly spreading post-earthquake fires. Developed in response to risks such as the Nankai Trough Megaquake, it addresses both disaster resilience and material waste. The coating is made from chitosan and silica derived from mushroom waste and spent substrate, forming a protective barrier that slows flame spread. TAIKA can be applied to existing structures, preserving communities and improving sustainability.
Instructors 2026
Matthew Waldman is best known as the founder of NOOKA – the lifestyle design brand brought the revolution of interface design to physical products and created unique timepieces that reinterpreted how time was told. Before NOOKA, Matthew gained recognition as a pioneer in digital interactive and UX design, founding New York Zoom in 1997, building an award winning global team at Reuters in 2002, and with his interactive design studios creates narrative driven design for brands. At KMD, Professor Waldman turns his focus to circular design with a focus on expanding the designer toolkit towards material science and bio-design.