Nov 29, 2017 for the past decade, mujis preeminent art director kenya hara has been traveling the world to spread his philosophy of emptiness. Youre now its president, and in 2002, became the art director at muji. The use of paper, design and technology is the underlying theme of the takeo paper show, held annually since 1965 by takeo co. Emptinessnot minimalismis the path to creativity, explains mujis design philosopher. Insights into japanese design philosophy by kenya hara, 9783037781838, available at book depository with free delivery worldwide. Apr 24, 2018 hara is also the author of numerous critically acclaimed books, including the design bible designing design 2007, which muses on the concept of emptiness in design aesthetics and philosophy. This book spans history from the beginnings of professional japanese. Hara says, the essence of design lies in the process of discovering a problem shared by many people and trying to solve it. Hara is concern, design is not just about creating better solutions but also searching for a better question, thus the chapters were intentionally asked as questions who, what, how and why.
One of my favorite designers, kenya hara is a prominent graphic designer in japan. Jan 04, 2014 born in 1958, kenya hara has helped mold the face of contemporary japanese design alongside the equally influential industrial designer and haras friend naoto fukusawa. In 2000, he produced the exhibition redesigndaily products of the 21st century, which successfully presented the fact that the resources of astonishing design are found in the context of the very ordinary and casual. The book begins with several exhibitions that hara organised and for which he devised the question that should be answered.
The 2hour dlsu lecture entitled emptiness the design philosophy of muji is centered on the brands history and concept which is greatly influenced by the simplicity of japanese design. Surface design dialogue kenya hara event japan house. As art director for muji since 2002, japanese graphic designer kenya hara born 1958 and his aesthetic of paredback, beautifully functional objects has taken the world by quiet storm. You will get depth, clarity, and insight into the design philosophy and process of a design master. Oct 15, 2007 here are some spreads and the cover below from japanese designer kenya hara s latest book, designing design. In designing design, he impresses upon the reader the importance of emptiness in both the visual and philosophical traditions of japan, and its application to design, made visible by means of. Oct 22, 2003 kenya hara is a great writer who explores design with humility and honest inquiry read. He is interested in the designing circumstances and conditions, rather than the things. Japanese design and architecture through the lens of zen.
Hara, born 1958, is a japanese graphic designer and professor at the musashino art university. Hara is also the author of numerous critically acclaimed books, including the design bible designing design 2007, which muses on the concept of emptiness in design aesthetics and philosophy. Nov 07, 2012 kenya hara is a name that is legendary in many design circles. Ultimately it has to do with how we perceive our relationship with nature. A case study of kenya haras design philosophy objectives. Kenya hara is a name that is legendary in many design circles. Mujis design philosophy is emptiness, not minimalism, says. Since 2001, hara has been the art director of muji, japans retail chain for household products sometimes dubbed the ikea of the east founded in 1980, and aims to let its minimalistic products speak louder than the advertising around it. Hara is giving a talk about the book at an aiga lecture in new york on 29 november. In designing design, he impresses upon the reader the importance of emptiness in both the visual and philosophical traditions of japan and its application to design, made visible by means of. In 2001, the first art director ikko tanaka who was a very important person for muji and founded its concept asked if he.
Tokyo graphic designer kenya hara s name is synonymous with the changing face of contemporary japanese design. Kenya hara is an internationally acclaimed japanese designer, one of the most. Hara explains how the philosophy of emptiness has inspired mujis design which is loved around the world today. Kenya hara, world renowned japanese graphic designer, curator, and board member of japanese lifestyle brand muji, will visit the. Kenya hara in the year 2000, kenya hara produced an exhibition entitled re design daily products of the 21st century where he gathered talented architects and designers and. Hara strongly believes that design isnt just about colours or shapes but rather its the design role to give a rich. Simplicity is defined by clean lines, points, and planes that, despite its minimalism, can be pinned down to a shape. Representing a new generation of designers in japan, kenya hara pays tribute to his mentors, using long overlooked japanese icons and images in much of his work. Kenya hara is a japanese graphic designer who helped cement the philosophy of japanese brand muji by leveraging the concept of emptiness. For the past decade, mujis preeminent art director kenya hara has been traveling the world to spread his philosophy of emptiness. Mujis design philosophy is emptiness, not minimalism.
Hara has put an amazing amount of meticulous detail into making the act of reading his book such a physically and mentally enjoyable experience. He graduated in design from the musashino art university of kodaira in 1983, and immediately joined the ndc nippon design center. From traditional zen arts such as zen rock garden to modern design architecture by tadao ando, toyo ito or sou fujimoto, or products by muji zeroabundance explores the beauty of ultimate essentials leveraging the concept of kuu, the core tenet of buddhism. In 2001, the first art director ikko tanaka who was a very important person for muji and founded its concept asked if he could pass the baton of art director over to me. In 2000, he produced the exhibition re design daily products of the 21st century, which successfully presented the fact that the resources of astonishing design are found in the context of the very ordinary and casual. Kenya haras designing design is just that book, and you should buy it immediately before it goes out of print. Haras exhibition of artificial, hightechnology fibers, called senseware, was displayed at the milan triennale 2009 and resulted in a great deal of public interest. Here are some spreads and the cover below from japanese designer kenya haras latest book, designing design. He is a graduate of musashino art university hara is one of the leading designers in japan and his books designing design and white are recognized as essential for anyone studying design theory and aesthetics. Not only is the content illuminating and intelligent, allowing the world to gain an appreciation for one of the truly unique voices in the design field that voice being the japanese master kenya hara but also in keeping with the subject, the book itself is. Even though these concepts might appear similar, emptiness in japanese aesthetics is different from western simplicity, observes hara.
A graphic designer and curator, hara is perhaps best known as the art director of lifestyle brand muji, but his contributions extend. Designing design gives the reader an understanding of said philosophy as well as opens their mind to new ways of thinking. Born in 1958, kenya hara has helped mold the face of contemporary japanese design alongside the equally influential industrial designer and haras friend. At a time when were bombarded by the 247 news cycle, back.
Designing design book summary my little bookshelf medium. Kenya hara exhibition identity this is an exhibition which uses kenya hara s design philosophy, utilizing elements of white and emptiness in the typeface and layout. Kenya hara and the aesthetics of emptiness zero abundance. The opening chapters and the final chapter are the best, it is worth it to go through the entire book though. Regarding his vision for muji he says the consumers mentality upon purchasing something should think its about acceptance, not appetite. Representing a new generation of designers in japan, kenya hara born 1958 pays tribute to his mentors, using long overlooked japanese icons and images in much of his work.
Kenya hara design talk opens discussion on the design. Hara kenya is the most famous designer in japan and art director of muji. But in traditional japanese design, simplicity has a slightly different character. With the simplicity of its products, kenya hara explains how the philosophy of emptiness has inspired mujis design which is loved around the world today. Most books today touch on the howto and the what of design.
Since 2001, hara has been the art director of muji, japans retail chain for household products sometimes dubbed the ikea of the east founded in 1980, and aims to let its minimalistic products. With his brilliantly simple design work for everything from bookstores to the branding for the beijing olympics, he also wrote the design bible designing design in 2007. He has planned and produced various international touring exhibitions. Kenya hara japanese graphic designer, curator, and board member of muji. In this book there are hundreds of beautiful illustrations and photos in color and black and white, along with poetic commentary and design principles. Presentation template x art director, hara kenya on behance. Mujirushi ryohin, muji for short, is known as a no brand company that offers simple yet quality everyday products.
The visual principles of the zine, is directly influenced by kenya hara. White not only plays an important role in japanese culture in general but also in the work of designer kenya hara. White can be attained by blending all the colors of the spectrum together, or through the substraction of ink and all other pigments. Born in 1958, kenya hara is a graphic designer, professor at the musashino art university and, since 2002, the art director of muji. Famous designercurator kenya hara once said that his design philosophy is of eastern emptiness, which is different from the simplicity of the west. In short, it is all colors and no color at the same time.
He is currently the art director of muji, a professor at musashino art university, and also the representative director of the nippon design center ndc inc. Nov 21, 2017 kenya haras horizon poster, uyuni salt lake. Kenya hara sees design from a philosophy about how to approach life. Hara has traveled the world widely in an attempt to investigate the meaning. Its not often that i come by a book that is so true to its core ethos in both form and message. This is an exhibition which uses kenya haras design philosophy, utilizing elements of white and emptiness in the typeface and layout. Hara kenya no dezain design of kenya hara book hara kenya dezain ten hon.
From the textured white in the title, the pure white on the first page and the printed white within the pages. In designing design, he impresses upon the reader the importance of emptiness in both the visual and philosophical traditions of japan and its application to design, made visible by means of numerous examples from his own work. Kenya hara, born 1958, is a japanese graphic designer and professor at the musashino art university in tokyo. Designing design industrial designers society of america. In 100 whites, hara gives one hundred specific examples of whitesuch as snow, iceland, rice, and wax. In term of functionality, a square roll creates more resistance than a round roll. Muji, which hara describes as a concept or ideology rather than a product design, was created as a sort of antithesis at the height of japans economic wealth in 1980, and was consequently.
Tokyo graphic designer kenya hara is synonymous with the. For those of us involved as much in design criticism as design itself, those are welcome words. Mujis design philosophy is emptiness, not minimalism, says kenya. Hara explains how the philosophy of emptiness has inspired mujis design which is loved around the. Kenya hara s looks at design from a philosophy about how to approach life. This philosophy is the thread that runs through the entire text of kenya haras deep and thoughtful book, designing design amazon. The opening sentence of kenya haras recent book designing design states that verbalizing design is another act of design. On the basis of these examples he discusses the importance of white in designnot only as a color but as a philosophy. Oct 04, 2011 a case study of kenya haras design philosophy objectives. I researched the story and design philosophy of a favorite hara kenya as a designer and human. For example, shigeru ban turned a round roll of toilet paper into a square roll. Hara describes how he experiments with the different.
Hara describes how he experiments with the different whites he mentions. Kenya hara is an internationally acclaimed japanese designer, one of the most interesting protagonists on the international scene. The subtle exhibition was organized by the company with wide input from kenya hara and other creators. The secret behind mujis design as told by kenya hara, art director. He is interested in designing circumstances or conditions rather than things. Hara has put an amazing amount of meticulous detail into making the act of reading his book such a physically and mentally enjoyable. Kenya hara is a great writer who explores design with humility and honest inquiry read. Kenya hara on the design philosophy of muji businessworld. Kenya haras looks at design from a philosophy about how to approach life. Jul 22, 2018 in designing design the renowned japanese designer kenya hara impresses upon the reader the importance of emptiness in both the visual and philosophical traditions of japan design thinking. Mar 16, 2012 redesign daily products of the 21st century toilet paper answered by shigeru ban pp.
Hara produced an exhibition entitled re design daily products of the 21 st century where he gathered talented architects and designers and asked them to redesign. After that you entered the nippon design center, a firm founded in 1959 with the aim of improving the quality of advertising design in japan. Muji shanghai huaihai 755 has been opened at huaihai lu the main shipping street of shanghai city on saturday, 12 december 2015. Hara talks about the popular household brands design philosophy of emptiness and what it means. The story of japans design ethos, by mujis celebrated art director. It is the global flagship store which has the largest area of all muji stores in china. Zen minimalism defines japanese design and aesthetics. Mar 20, 2018 you will get depth, clarity, and insight into the design philosophy and process of a design master. Designing design is quite possibly the most beautiful book on design ever published. Hara is one of the leading designers in japan and his books designing design and white are recognized as essential for anyone studying design theory and aesthetics.
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