In the end, he found a shortcut. While tinkering with the inner circuits of various radios on the market, Kartono discovered that Panasonic —a major consumer electronics producer in Indonesia — had the most compatible mechanical parts for Magno. He purchased a Panasonic radio from a local electronics shop, took it home, disassembled it, and integrated its components into his Magno radio. As Kartono expected, the mashup worked perfectly.
As fate would have it, Panasonic Indonesia’s owner, Rachmat Gobel, later took interest in the Magno radio, and worked out ways for the company to supply customised electrical parts. The rest is history, as Magno became a well-loved product in Europe, the US and Japan. During its peak years, Kartono and 40 local makers produced about 300 radios each month, mostly sold overseas.
Even during Magno’s popularity, Kartono was conscious about producing just enough — but not too much. “As a product designer, I need to do something about overconsumption. I have to build something that looks good, functions well, and lasts a long time from the resources that are available around Temanggung.”
Magno was positioned as a premium object, priced at IDR 2 million (S$194) and above in the local market, and around €260 (S$364) overseas. It bore a relatively modest price tag considering the radio has received several international accolades. In 2008, the Magno wooden radio won the Japan Good Design Award for its innovative and experimental design. A year later, it won best product in the Brit Insurance Design Awards. The jury was impressed to see the “clear respect for the material it uses and its sensibility to details”.
