OXO, Remade in Japan
The housewares maker made its name using Universal Design principlesbut it found some of those didn't travel well when it looked East
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It was 2003, and Alex Lee knew he had an issue on his hands. On the surface, OXO, the 13-year-old housewares company he had helmed for nearly 10 years, seemed to be doing just fine. Its iconic "Good Grips" line of ergonomically designed kitchen tools had solidified the company's identity as a design pioneer.
And its mantra of Universal Design, promoting products designed to be usable by the largest number of people, from children to senior citizens, was widely acclaimed and supported by robust sales. Design magazines and organizations loved the brand, bestowing positive press and awards left, right, and center.