Niko Kouraku 16 is a family of tableware created in partnership with Kouraku Kiln, a 160-year-old porcelain manufacturer in Arita, Japan. This collection is designed for both a shōjin ryōri-inspired luncheon event curated by MIRO Design at Space 27, led by Alan Chan Design Co., and the Hong Kong Department Store exhibition co-curated by MIRO and Alan in 2016.

The collection celebrates the long-standing craftsmanship of porcelain making in Arita, employing inventive ceramic techniques and drawing inspiration from the forms and colors Niko discovers around the factory site. This results in refreshing palettes that enhance the dining table and serve as a beautiful backdrop for food.

The project takes its cues from Roland Barthes’ Empire of Signs, in which he explores the nature of signs and meanings, particularly in relation to Japanese culture and aesthetics. In one chapter, he writes: "Here everything is the ornament of another ornament: first of all because, on the table, on the tray, food is never anything but a collection of fragments."

The dining experience transforms into an orchestra of elements. Unlike traditional Chinese and Western tableware, which typically features uniform silhouettes, colors, and decorations, this collection consists of eight porcelain pieces that adopt diverse form languages and glazes. When arranged together, the table-scape shifts from a still image to a workboard, inviting interaction without a prescribed sequence.