Japanese design firm Nendo has unveiled a new football designed to be hand made and make a positive impact in disadvantaged and remote communities worldwide.
With the notion that traditional leather and synthetic leather footballs can sometimes be hard to find, need pumping and suffer from damaged air bladders over time.
With clever design, Nendo developed a new ball that doesn’t require pumping, can be put together by hand, and has the same feeling as kicking a regular football.
Inspired by the structure of a traditional Japanese bamboo woven ball, the football has three types of components with fifty-four pieces in total. Each piece is made of soft recycled polypropylene and elastomeric synthetic resin, and this ensures that the ball is unlikely to develop sharp edges, won’t hurt a barefoot and is ultimately safe to play with.
Should a component come loose during play, the structure will retain its integrity, and won’t disassemble. Parts can be replaced if needed, ensuring a ball can last for a very long time. Components can be shipped disassembled, with the potential to reduce shipping costs.
Designed with children in mind, the pieces come in multiple colours, this means children can put together the ball in a colour scheme that suits. The instructions for assembly come in the form of a picture book, with easily understood illustrations. There is no text so children of all languages can understand and follow.
Nendo says the newly designed football has the potential for firms or charities to print their own logo on the ball, or produce brand-specific colours. A packaging sack in the form of a knapsack was also designed either to carry the assembled ball or to be used as a standalone bag.
