nendo unveils non-inflatable soccer ball for impoverished communities of the world

prolific japanese design studio nendo has unveiled a non-inflatable soccer ball created for impoverished communities of the world, hoping to popularize the sport and increase the player numbers. often, the youngest members of these communities find it difficult to obtaining a regular soccer ball and to maintain it. as an answer to this problem, this new non-inflatable soccer ball gives the same sense of kicking as a standard ball with its development inspired by the structure of the traditional japanese woven bamboo ball that allows for easy repair.

images by akihiro yoshida

dubbed my football kit, this non-inflatable soccer ball by nendo can be assembled using three different types of components for a total of 54 parts. instead of relying on internal air pressure, the ball makes use of the resilience of its surface material. the soft, recycled polypropylene and elastomeric synthetic resin components won’t hurt bare feet, and are unlikely even if broken to develop a sharply fractured surface that might cause injuries.

the impeccable modularity of the ball ensures that, if a component comes off during play, the interlocking structure guarantees the ball will not disassemble. to fix it, users just have to restore or replace only the broken components, providing high maintainability and economic efficiency. components may be shipped in disassembled states in compact packages, potentially cutting shipping costs.

the availability of multiple colors for the same components also helps children to strengthen their attachment to the ball through the assembling work in their own color scheme, leading to a greater appreciation of play. the instructions for assembly are therefore designed like a picture book, depicted entirely in easily understood illustrations with no text so children across the globe can handle. a packaging sack was also designed so as to be used to carry around the ball like a knapsack later on.

with potential for printing original logos or developing brand-specific color schemes, the business model anticipates the contributions of companies and organizations to various educational institutions and club teams.