Insight on Japanese Design
Japanese culture is something I would love to experience firsthand one day. From their music, fashion, art, and architecture, it just seems like a completely different world all compacted into one island. I imagine when you visit the experience is something you could never get tired of, and no matter how long you stay you’re always going to have something new to do.
Japanese art and design has always been a major interest for me. When I was younger I would decorate my room with tapestries and Asian décor, incense, and paintings. Today I’ve collected quite a bit more Japanese art and have come up with some ideas of my own Japanese themed décor that I would like to create. I’ll enjoy discussing selected works from five creative Japanese designers and illustrators today.
Japanese art, for the most part, has a very modern and minimalistic quality to it, yet at the same time there is much to say about how the designs make you feel. In such an overpopulated area of the world, simplicity and creativity are essential to communicate. If a message can’t be communicated in a short amount of time, it is looked over, and if that short message isn’t creative, it’s forgotten.
- “Voices” by RADIO a.k.a. Yoshi Tajima
First on my list is Japanese artist Yoshi Tajima. He a prime example of an artist who utilizes simplicity and creativity in every piece of art. This design, called “Voices,” is a very elegant yet dramatic design. Black, cyan, and magenta are the main colors used in this image, which is interesting because they are three of the four pure colors used in print design. The symmetry also creates an interesting focus. Take a look at more of Yoshi’s art at RadioGraphics.jp.
- “0″ by Shun Kawakami a.k.a. artless
Shun Kawakami (a.k.a. artless) designed this wonderful piece. I’m an avid lover of typography, so when I first saw this I was very impressed. The Bonsai tree fits in seamlessly on top of the O and the mono-black coloring gives the entire design a nice minimalistic touch. There is so much going on in this illustration, but not enough to make it look busy. You can check out more of Artless’ designs at pingmag.jp.
- Unknown Title by Feebee
Feebee here really knows how to draw Japanese girls! There are so many intricate detailing in her illustrations but yet again there is a very simple yet creative edge to it. Her style is very unique in the world of Japanese illustration, though, as it is a blend between traditional Japanese art, and modern art and technology. Feebee’s official website is in Japanese, but you can visit her MySpace for an English experience or friend request.
- “Hot Spring” by Chiho Aoshima
Chiho Aoshima takes a more busy approach to her designs. She uses vector art to imply a traditional style that has no shading, which is very unique. Chiho has a tendency to mix very warm colors with very cool colors, yet they blend nicely. My favorite part of this design are the little extra details she’s hidden in various parts of the picture – little faces and animals and such. To learn more about Chiho, visit Kaikai Kiki Co, Ltd.
I, for one, look forward to trying a few of these creative approaches to graphic design in future work. I hope to one day be able to employ simplicity in art and still make it look amazing. Japanese art has always been the cutting edge, from painting and printing, to architecture and interior design. If you’d like to study some more Japanese art, I’ve supplied a book list below, all available from Amazon.com. Feel free to leave your input, comments, or thoughts below.
Book List:
Tags: Design, Graphic Design, imagination, Inspiration, japanese art and design, japanese culture, japanese designers, major interest
July 27th, 2009 by Allysia