MILAN — During Milan Design Week 2023 (April 17-22), mui Lab, the Kyoto-based calm-technology startup, will demonstrate how its minimalistic smart-home interface, “mui Board 2nd Gen,” can inspire calmer living in a curated Fuorisalone exhibition, “Still Life — The Art of Living,” in collaboration with furniture brand Ariake. mui Lab’s signature wooden interface, “mui Board,” is designed to keep technology out of users’ consciousness, helping them focus on present moments without digital distractions. The 2nd Gen version connects interoperable Matter devices seamlessly to create an even more soul-nourishing living environment that can foster users’ wellbeing and their familial relationships.  
 
Set in an authentic private residence in Porta Venezia, and curated by Ariake’s creative designer Gabriel Tan, “Still Life — The Art of Living” presents works of craftsmanship that enable more enjoyable and harmonious ways of living — a fitting theme for mui’s calm technology approach.  
 
“We created ‘mui Board 2nd Gen’ to enable people to savor more simple joys of life — the kind of joy you relish when talking with your loved ones, feeling the morning light on your face, seeing the leaves dance in the wind, or looking at furniture and remembering a family story behind that particular piece,” mui Lab Creative Director, Nobu Hirobe said. “We are proud to be one of the brands hand-selected for Mr. Tan’s curation for Milan Design Week. We look forward to showcasing how ‘mui Board 2nd Gen’ can provide an oasis for visitors away from the clamor of the main Salone fair.”  

‘mui Board 2nd Gen’: 
mui Board is a smart-home interface made with wood. A digital display appears from within the wood when prompted with the swipe of a hand, enabling you to send/receive messages, check the weather, control Matter-enabled smart home devices (lighting, thermostats, etc.), and more. When not in use, the display disappears, leaving you with a beautifully crafted wooden board that blends into your home’s scenery.

What to demonstrate:

At the Living Room

• Music control
• Weather check

At the Kitchen

• Timer that can be set with hand-drawing, with multiple calm display options that include a “Candle Clock” visual timer.

At the Bedroom

• Timer that can be connected to lights—enabling lights to dim over the time as the hand-drawing line disappears. 

‘mui Board 2nd Gen’ Exhibit  

@‘Still Life — The Art of Living’ 

April 17-22 

Via Alessandro Tadino 2, second floor, 2320124 Milano 

Exhibition 18th to 22nd April 10:00 – 19:00

Press Preview 17th April 14:00 – 17:30

Opening Cocktail 17th April 18:30 – 21:00

Design Conversations 17th April Moderated by Hanna Nova Beatrice 17:30 – 18:30

Design Conversations 19th April Moderated by Tony Chambers 14:30 – 15:30

 
About Ariake: 
Ariake is a global furniture brand founded by Legnatec and Hirata Chair, two factories from the furniture producing town of Morodomi in Saga prefecture, Japan. Ariake’s furniture collection, created by a team of designers, art directors, photographers and craftsmen from around the globe, utilizes the best of hand- and machine-made, inspired by the spirituality of Japanese culture and urban living contexts. For more info: https://www.ariakecollection.com