Introduction

Japanese design firm nendo has made a name for itself with its minimalist and functional designs for furniture, interiors, lighting and products both domestically and abroad. Now, the famous Japanese stationery and furniture company Kokuyo has teamed up with nendo to create GLOO, "a project to unify a variety of adhesive products such as glues and tapes which have been produced under different brands." (nendo website) With matte white bodies, small logo and information in small font, along with simple color accents to unobtrusively yet clearly communicate each product's functions, GLOO products are aesthetically pleasing and easy to use.

Moreover, they also feature many improvements on existing adhesive products. For example, their glue stick, in contrast with the conventional round shape, present a square glue surface which makes it ideal for evenly applying glue up to the corner of a page, and that's only the beginning.

It all looks great on Kokuyo's website, but as with any product, the real test is trying it out for yourself.

Fortunately, we had an opportunity to do just that when we were invited to Kokuyo's media event earlier this month, which included a gift of GLOO products on the way out.

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The sample was arranged within a handsomely packaged limited edition collection called GLOO BOX.

GLOO BOX

GLOO BOX includes the following:

• 1 Glue Stick (TA-G301)
• 1 Instant Glue (TA-G500)
• 1 Roller Tape Glue (TA-GM400-08)
• 1 Tape Dispenser (T-GM500W)
• 1 Tape roll (T-SE15N)
• 1 papercraft mobile object parts (paper, brass weight and wire)

Available while supplies last for 3,240 JPY (tax included) at KOKUYO's online store here

Presentation

Open up the box to reveal a sheet of robin's egg blue paper inserted into an inside sleeve on the left and instructions on how to make the bird-shaped papercraft mobile object printed on the right.

As it turns out, the mobile needs to be assembled using the four GLOO adhesive products which just happen to be contained within the box. Thus, the bird-shaped mobile is not just one more item within the GLOO BOX, it's also a clever way of giving users an excuse to try each product right off the bat.

Speaking of which, lifting up the instruction flap reveals the contents of the box:

Designed by nendo...

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We'll work on the mobile later, but now, let's take a look at each product individually, beginning with the glue stick.

Glue Stick

As you can see, the square body allows it stays put when lying horizontally on the table, and it would still remain in position even if the surface were slightly elevated, as may be the case when it is resting on a large folder or perhaps a cluttered desk with many documents and files creating uneven surfaces. You can also appreciate the minimalist elegance of the design and the matte white finish.

The cap is designed so it can be easily flipped open with your thumb while holding it with one hand.

The square glue surface is colorless, as opposed to the fading color type (not included in GLOO BOX) which is colored (blue) to show you where you are gluing but then becomes transparent. Moreover, the round cavity in the cap prevents spilled glue from hardening between the rim and the body, which makes the cap difficult to open.

Continuing the color-coding, the turnable square knob is colored grey, to provide instant notification of the glue type. (The resealable type has a blue cap).

We tried it on an envelope and we could apply the glue smoothly and cover the surface well.

Envelope sealed and ready to deliver.

In addition to the small sized version included in GLOO BOX (10 grams), a medium (22 grams) and large size (40 grams) is also available.

Instant Glue

The instant glue series is instantly recognizable from the depressed rectangular panel on both sides of its body where you squeeze to push out the glue. The grey color indicates it is a liquid type, suited for hard plastic, metalic and synthetic rubber surfaces but there is also a gel type which is suited for ceramic and wooden surfaces.

Just like with the stick type, the cap can easily be removed (twisted off) with one hand. It can also be affixed to the bottom of the base and stood upright, thus preventing any glue from leaking. Inside, the cap is coated black to prevent it from drying out.

Let's give it a try...

Both liquid and gel types are colored so you can clearly see how far the glue has reached within the clear nozzle. Moreover, since the nozzle tip is cut diagonally, you can either apply it in a straight and broad line, or for small surfaces and pinpoint applications, turn it over to apply it in dots. Finally, the color in the glue allows you to see where your are gluing and it fades away once it has been applied.

Roller Tape Glue Dispenser

While this roller tape glue dispenser follows the familiar conical shape of many other tape dispensers in this category, its internal structure and functionality distinguishes it from other products.

To begin with, the the dispenser housing is nested within a protective case. This allows the roller tape surface to remain free of dust and prevents it from drying out. One side of the case displays the GLOO logo...

...and the other side displays the Kokuyo logo and minimal instructions indicating where to position your finger to slide the dispenser out of its sheath ("OPEN"), and two numbers corresponding to positions 1 and 2 (see below).

Angling the dispenser housing in position 1, you can grip the case with your hand and rest your index finger on the back of the applicator tip for extra support.

In position 2, you can hold the case with your whole hand.

In practice, it looks like this:

By giving users a choice of two positions, the tape dispenser offers a more customized experience that suits individual preferences and comfort levels.

In addition to the grey roller cap version which sticks firmly and permanently, there is a yellow roller cap version which can be sealed and resealed multiple times and a blue roller cap version which hardens after 1 minute so you can make a few changes first before deciding on a fixed position.

Tape Dispenser

The aesthetically pleasing design of this tape dispenser with the perfect circle of the tape casing resting on an angular base creates an interesting accent on your desk. Lying it flat on the table reveals a suction disc made of silicon resin under the base.

In a clever application of vacuum mechanics, a hidden air vent allows the disc to attach the dispenser to the surface.

The air is released when you pull the tape casing up to lift the dispenser off the surface, thus releasing the suction and allowing it to move freely. All of these function together allowing the user to operate the tape dispenser with one hand.

The complete set

Hands-On Craft Activity: Clip Stand Bird

Having tried out each product, it was a cinch to put the bird-shaped papercraft mobile together!

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When you're no longer using them, you can put the GLOO products back in the box and store them conveniently in one place

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Where to buy

Visit the GLOO page Kokuyo's official online shop here. (You may need to use a third party service to send products outside of Japan)

Some GLOO products are also currently available on Amazon.co.jp, with more going on sale from January 24, 2019.

Links

• Kokuyo
• Kokuyo Online Shop
• nendo: GLOO (English)