Ikko Tanaka and On Type

I rushed to a last minute visit to the exhibition of a Japanese graphic designer Ikko Tanaka.
You may not know his name but his works are know internationally; he worked with Issey Miyake and he was the first art director for Muji.
His works coincide with the times when Japan was on the rise; full of vivid colors and optimism. His works resembled the paper cut works of Matisse for their colors and simplicity. The use of his colors are indeed very colorful but underlying principle of his work is the notion of subtraction, which led to the concept of Muji.

Above is the screenshot of google image search for Ikko Tanaka.

Not much point promoting the exhibition at the 21_21 Design Sight as it ends tomorrow, but it certainly was a joyful visit.

He designed this typeface Kocho, which was inspired by Tanaka's favorite typeface Bodoni.

It is a beautiful typeface, and it may be my favorite Japanese typeface of all. Even if you don't know how to read Japanese, Bodoni reference is clear; the high contrast of thick and the thins in the strokes. But then again, that is only mainly true for Kanji (Chinese) characters. Hiragana and Katakana are not Bodoni-like at all.
This made me think about how weird Hiragana and Katakana are like. Is it so that Hiragana and Katakana cannot have contrast within the strokes? It's interesting to look at Japanese characters now.


Since we are in the talks of typefaces, I recently came across fonts that Kate Moross sales online. They are rather lovely.

Bellow is her typeface FIN and you can purchase them here.


What else? I'm totally in love with the works of Louise Fili.
I don't want to repeatedly say beautiful but Fili's works are simply gorgeous. Warm but very sophisticated typography and lettering. I adore her logo for herself on her website.
Please visit her website to see more of her beautiful creations: louisefili.com
Her new book, Elegantissima: The Design and Typography of Louise Fili looks so delicious I would love to own a copy.

Last but not least, I'll briefly mention Marion Deuchars. Her works are recognizable for most Londoners as they are literally everywhere in London. Cass Art is the widely known one among many others.
Since people's handwriting has been an interest of mine in past few months and she is an illustrator that embraces the quality of handwriting very well; they seem to tell some personality.
Her website is mariondeuchars.com and you can find more works there.

A REAL UN REAL AGE at SHIBUYA PARCO MUSEUM

Possibly the biggest Japanese fashion talent after the generation of Miyake, Kawakubo, and Yamamoto; I am so in love with the creation by Kunihiko Morinaga of ANREALAGE.
Designers in Tokyo (or designers anywhere else in this matter) in the midst of identity crisis due to the vast globalization, it is hard to find designers that embody the sense of Tokyo. Nevertheless, ANREALAGE uniquely resembles Tokyo. You can smell the fun-ness, craziness, real-ness, fantasy/fake-ness and attention-to-detail sensibilities, all from their clothes.

Visually fun and although conceptually strong, ideas are easy to understand from a glance. Art-like pieces and yet completely wearable. I hope to own a piece, one day, very soon.

You can find more images of the exhibition on superfuture blog.

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「東京もロンドンもあんま変わんないよ」と言いながら、この数ヶ月、過ごしてきたのだけれど、それはロンドンでの生活やら、生き方やら、感性をそのまま使っていただけで、もっと「東京っぽさ」を探すべきなのかもなとようやく気付きつつあります。

渋谷パルコ、パルコミュージアムでのファッションブランド、ANREALAGEの『A REAL UN REAL AGE』展がかなり面白かったです。刊行される本も素敵で、クリスマスプレゼントはこれがいいなー（誰か・・・！）。

このデザイナーも典型的なる根性ある"東京的デザイナー"である。その理由は、『ファッション好き＋コム・デ・ギャルソン凄い＋ストリート＋カワイイ＋オスマシ＋女の子好き＋カッコいいデザイナーになりたい＝東京リ-ミックス』という公式が読めしかも、教養も躾も他のそれなりの輩よりは数段、優れている。所謂、考えることが好きなデザイナーでもある。  

平川武治

展示の壁にあった、上記の平川武治さんの言葉が、そのまま私が個人的にANREALAGEに惹かれる理由だったり、東京に惹かれる理由だったりする気がします。「ミーハー」で「面白いことだいすき」で「今っぽい」のに、「頭もいい」みたいな。

パルコでの展示は１２月２５日（明日！）までですが、もしクリスマスなんもすることないぜ！という方がいましたら、オススメです。

あとどうでもいいのだけれど、展示を見ながら、自分が昔から、東京タワーが大好きな理由は、もしかしたら、「赤い」からという単純な理由かもしれないなと。エッフェル塔みたいな色だったら、東京の街では目立たないから。スカイツリーも、あんなドバイに１０個は建っていそうな外観じゃなくて、色だけでも、ど派手なブルーとかだったら惹かれていたのかも。

Nara Yoshitomo: A Bit Like You And Me...

I went to see Nara Yoshitomo's exhibition A Bit Like You And Me at Yokohama Museum of Art.

The first room consisted of his new bronze sculpture series. It's something new from Nara, as well as it's different from other bronze sculptures I have seen elsewhere. Most of this new sculpture series is massive heads, and they sort of remind one of Buddha heads, which is quite a common bronze sculpture of Asia. Though, what makes Nara's sculpture different from other bronze sculptures is that it has got so much texture and you can clearly see the marks of his hands and struggles. That make these large scale and impressive sculptures very humane, lively and something you can relate too.

His other works displayed in this exhibition are continuation of his familiar works: mostly paintings and drawings of girls and some animals. Nara has openly commented on the influence of 3.11 earthquake on his works through various media, and I was expecting something heavier from the exhibition. Though, the colors used in his paintings were rather positive and the exhibition itself also had friendly feel, nothing heavy or let alone depressing. Just like how the exhibition title suggests, his works were something people can feel closely to, and from observing the audience at the show, the audience seem to be having intimate dialogue with his works.


１週間以上前になりますが、横浜美術館にて、奈良美智さんの『君や　僕に　ちょっと似ている』を観てきました。

最初の部屋（ブロンズ彫刻）がやっぱり一番魅力的でした。その部屋の彫刻用のスケッチなんかも面白かった。彫刻用のスケッチは割とユーモラスでキャラクターっぽくて、ずしんとオーラのある彫刻とはまったく異なる印象。

次の部屋（『２０１１年７月の僕のスタジオから／水戸での展示を経由して２０１２年７月の横浜へ』）は、どの部屋よりも混んでいました。作品密度が高いということもあるのだと思うのですが、あの「手作りっぽい」「パーソナルな」「部屋的な」空間というのは、なんだかんだ人を惹き付ける気がします。いろいろとじっくり観てみたくなってしまう。空間の暖かみに引き寄せられるので、ちょっとずるい。
ちなみに、私は平日の午前中に行ったので、予想していたよりは空いていて、見やすかった。あと、女性の方が圧倒的に多かった。

残りの部屋は、割とあっさりしていて観やすかったです。色使い含め、意外とハッピーな雰囲気でした。震災の話なんかもされていたので、もっと重い展示を想像して行ったのですが、ブロンズ彫刻含め、全体としても意外と疲労感のない展示でした。展示名の通り、親近感の持ちやすい作品ばかりで。

あと、オーディエンスが真剣に作品と向き合っていて、その人たちを観るのが面白かったです。ブロンズ彫刻なんかは、台には乗ってはいるものの、彫刻（頭）の目線が低かったのですが、みんなわざわざかがんでじーっと向き合っていました。作品と対話しているようで、思わずその写真やムービーを撮りたかったくらい。「１０万人来場しました！」と言われても「へーすごいねー」といった感じだけれど、こうやって目の前で真剣に作品を観ている人を目にすると、奈良さんの作品って本当に愛されているんだなーと実感します。
ちなみに、私はアートの展示とかは、割と適当に観ていると思います。雰囲気で判断しちゃうし、直感で結構決めてしまうので、じっくり観ている振りして、あんまりじっくり観ていない。でも、好きな作品の前ではいくらでもいれる！というのはよくわかる心情だし、奈良さんの作品は特にそうさせるような力があると思います。ちなみに私はブロンズ彫刻『樅の子』が一番好きでした。次に『ルーシー』！

★★★★☆

Bauhaus: Art as Life at Barbican Art Gallery

Last few days remaining for Bauhaus exhibition at Barbican Art Gallery, so I rushed to pay it a visit.
I've been to bauhaus-archiv museum in Berlin. That probably was my first encounter with Bauhaus and Ludwig Mies van der Rohe was the most memorable part of that museum, I've always associated Bauhaus with Mies. This time around I learnt that Mies in fact taught there only for about 2 years and Gropius was the one who founded the school...

I'm still puzzled about Bauhaus because the teachers seem to be more famous than the students. People who are associated with Bauhaus (likes of Gropius, Hannes Meyer, Mies van der Rohe, Kandinsky, Mondrian, Max Bill etc) were all lecturer there rather than students. If Bauhaus had progressive teaching then surely students who came out are brilliant artists/designers but to me it seems like the teachers were more progressive than students. Am I getting this wrong?

In any case that certainly seems like quite a fun school to be at. It's got a good mix of functional/rational thinking approach and craft-oriented works.

Followings are the memorable artists/works from the exhibition that I made a note of (and managed to find images online):

Actor's Mask (1924) by Paul Klee 
One of the most compelling pieces at the exhibition. Now that I look back to it, it reminds me of Yoshitomo Nara's work. Perhaps that might be why I liked it.

De Stijl 1 (1922) by Peter Keler
Apparently the influences of De Stijl and Constructivism (1923) were the turning point for the direction of Bauhaus. I prefer Bauhaus after those influences.

Tomb in Three Parts (1923) by Paul Klee
Although he seems to be very famous, Paul Klee is an artist I only found out about from this exhibition. Peter Doig meets constructivism. Me likes.

Projekt für den Umbau des Kaufhauses Borchardt in Dessau (1931) by Eduard Ludwig
It doesn't look like it's a design from 80 years ago. This can very much be any new office that we are still building around the world.


Graphic design such as brochures or typography caught my eyes throughout the exhibition, but I don't think I had any particular favorite. They all looked 'nice' but nothing too striking I guess.

The exhibition finishes on Sunday, so be quick if you still like to see it.


バービカンでのバウハウス展。バウハウスってもっと機能的・合理的なのものかと思っていたけれど、展示作品は、造形的な作品が多かった。

#csmgraphics2012 Industry Private View

Positive press reviews all the way, great feedbacks from industries and friends, happy tweets continues to come in, and most of all we are all satisfied with the outcome and I think we can call the show as a success.
The private view was a great opportunity to thank tutors that I owed a lot from. It was a rare opportunity that people I love gathered together. Thank you all for the special evening.

プレスからの記事でネガティブなものは一切なく、業界関係者、及び友人知人からの評判も良く、ツイッターのコメントの嬉しいものばかりで、そして何より自分たちが満足する卒展となりました。
業界用のオープニングパーティーの際は、一部の子たちが、プレスや業界関係者に必死に自分を売り込むのを横目に、そういうのが苦手な私と私の周りの友達は陰でずっとビールを飲んでいました。自分が思っていたよりも、自分はナイーブで、いきなりビジネスに頭を切り替えることが出来ず、業界の人と話すよりも大好きな友達といたかった。
イギリスで仕事を見つけようとしていたら、もうちょっと違うメンタリティだったのかもしれないけれど、イギリスで就職をしないという選択が逆に功を期した気がします。最初から、自分を売り込むことなんてまったく考えておらず、今までお世話になった方々が集まる貴重な機会として、本当に特別なオープニングパーティーとなりました。

作業中は忙しすぎて、パーティーの際は感傷的になりすぎて、まったく写真を撮らなかったので、この写真はすべて友達のクロエの写真。あまりにもそのときの雰囲気がそのまま撮れていて、みんな大好きで、逆に切ない。

Due to overload of work and sentiment, I took no photos for past few days.  But thanks to Chole True, who has been a diligent photographer, documenting behinds the scenes and making of the show.

Her photographs here capture the spirit of the show as truly as I remember. Here are my loving people making the show we love:

(All photographs by Chole True.)

Degree Show Signage WIP

Signage for the degree show is slowly but surely taking shapes.
Above is sexy Boo promoting Illustration pathway.
Bellow are the initial tests:

While Duarte is mainly responsible for the digital side and Esa for print, I have been in charge of signage for the degree show.
It is a rather slow process. We have already used 1.2km (!) of yarn so far and still counting. This signage idea could not have been executed by myself and is really a collaborative effort of people involved in this show. Thank you everyone who worked on it, I am especially grateful because I know everyone's all so very busy preparing for your own space for the show.
The signage is created by: JT, Alessia, Lillian, Boo, Clare, Kate, Kristina, Matt, Pietro, Duarte, Nathalie, Sara and Renata, Together, we are Cool Calm Collective.

It turned out, this is such a nice collaborative outcome to finish the course with. It involves a lot of people that I've never worked with before.
Still in a process of finishing up, but getting positive feedbacks around, we are pretty excited about it.


実際の空間（メタルのグリッド）とアイデンティティー（プリントとウェブに使われている黒い線）を繋ぐ、標識や看板のシステム。アイディアとしてはとてもエキサイティングなのだけれど、やり始めて自分ひとりでは絶対に終わらせることが出来ないということを悟り、Facebookで助けを求めたら、あまり親しくない友達までも助けてくれて、かなり感動。既に１.２キロメートル（！）もの毛糸を使い切り、ゆっくりではあるものの、卒展までには間に合いそうなので、一安心。

When you work in a pair, one needs to play a chicken in a cage role.

Five Days until the Degree Show

Central Saint Martins graphic design has 180 students this year. With such a large number of students, there are so many different relationships within the course. That variety of relationships is what makes us and the characteristic of our year.

So, we have developed this identity system that looks into the relationships between students. 

セントマ、グラフィックデザイン科は一学年１８０人。それだけの人数がいれば、少人数制の学部ではあり得ない様々な人間関係がある。そういった関係性こそが、うちのグラフィック科の特徴で強み！

と、いうことで、生徒同士の関係性に目をつけた、アイデンティティーでグラフィックデザイン科の卒展のブランディングを展開しています。

Website is in a good state. Lines look supa sexy.

Twitter background looking cool. (It is the official CSM Graphic Design twitter background, as well as some students' twitter accounts including mine)
Which by the way has impressive 6,000+ followers. I bet CSM BAGD is the most followed graphic design course twitter account in the world.

Facebook event page has a nice graphics too.

Cards sent the industry looked amazing. So was the press releases that were sent. Maps have been sent to the printer. Signage taking shape. It's progressing alright! I really am happy the way things are turning out that they have the same visual language, but are adopted in different situations and medium.



In the part of the website where the public cannot see, this is what happening among students. We calculate 'closeness' between students by gathering data on their pathways, choices of briefs, as well as students make their own groups and a little bit of social networking is going on. Using this data, leads the graphic. Genius programming and data visualization by Duarte. He is a genius.

卒展のサイトは、生徒しかアクセス出来ないページがあって、そこで今までにやったプロジェクトや、クラスに関する情報を集めました。生徒同士もみんな勝手にグループを作ったり出来て、ソーシャルネットワーク的なことが背後では行われています。内輪ネタや変なグループを色々作ったり出来て、楽しい。ちょっとした「卒業アルバム（yearbook）」的な役割を果たしていると生徒からの評判も上々。
「線と点」がただの「人と人の繋がりの象徴」ではなくて、ちゃんとどの生徒とどの生徒が近いというデータに基づいた自分たちを描き出しているのは、すごくエキサイティング。こんなことが可能なのは、いつも通りDuarteのおかげで、彼の頭の良さに、未だに日々驚く。

As mentioned before, this BAGD identity project is a collaboration project with Duarte and Esa.
This is a very rare degree show that is completely student led and all this couldn't been possible to be realised by amazing organisation by Kate.

Two Weeks until the Degree Show

Being busy with the work for the degree show. Not at all for my space, but for website and branding of BA Graphic Design.
Working with Esa for the first time, and as always Duarte. Also working closely with Kate and Agostino.

Visit our degree show website, which is currently looking like this:

You can check Facebook event page.

If you are in London, you'd notice massive digital billboards promoting our show. Designed by Kate, Agostino and Krista.



It's nice to be in a year that we feel that people, both our year group and the college, actually do care about the show.

Other parts of the college is looking exciting too. It will be fun!