MINIM+AID Emergency Kit from Nendo

Throughout history, Japan has faced numerous natural disasters. Nendo designed the MINIM + AID kit in response to the devastating earthquake that hit Japan in March 2011, which left about 4.4 million households in the north-east of the country without electricity and 1.5 million without water. " Rather than traditional emergency preparedness kits that all tend to look alike, people are now looking for a more versatile solution that is appropriate for a variety of situations," the designers said.

The designers have developed an emergency kit that includes the minimum resources needed for people to survive in an earthquake or other disaster. The kit includes a whistle, a radio, a raincoat, a lantern, drinking water and a plastic case, all packaged inside a 5 cm wide tube that is both waterproof and able to float. The emergency whistle is inserted into a rubber insert in the cover of the waterproof case. The radio is equipped with manual charging functionality, which can also be used to charge smartphones, lanterns or other devices via USB. The lantern is equipped with rechargeable battery and LED light source with plastic accordion diffuser. An aluminum envelope inside another of the pipes contains drinking water. The tube can also be used as a drinking vessel if necessary. A simple wind jacket with hood is contained inside one of the longer tubes, while a small plastic zipper case can be used to hold medicines, first aid supplies, sanitary products, batteries or any other object that the user deems necessary. Despite its compact design, the kit offers a rich set of features.

More streamlined and compact than conventional emergency kits, it is easy to carry and can also be worn over the shoulder using the strap supplied. The design makes it easy to keep it close to the entrance and ready to be used at any time.