Ikko Tanaka was a Japanese graphic designer. Tanaka is widely recognized for his prolific body of interdisciplinary work, which includes graphic identity and visual matter for brands and corporations including Seibu Department Stores, Mazda, Issey Miyake, Hanae Mori, and Expo 85. He is credited with developing the foundational graphic identity for lifestyle brand Muji, emphasizing the “no brand” quality of their products through unadorned, charming line drawings paired with straightforward slogans. His use of bold, polychromatic geometries and his harnessing of the dynamic visual potential of typography are undergirded by a sensitivity towards traditional Japanese aesthetics. Though keenly sensitive to historical precedents and established conventions, Tanaka nevertheless maintained a degree of playfulness in his work, manipulating color, scale, and form to reconfigure familiar iconographies into fresh and accessible visual representations. Tanaka is also widely recognized for his posters designs for Noh productions and other performances and exhibitions staged in Japan and beyond. He was active in realms of typography, exhibition design, and book design as well, and his publication Japan Style was released in 1980 alongside the Victoria and Albert Museum exhibition of the same name. As a leading figure in postwar Japanese design, Tanaka is also credited with playing a role in the professionalization and expansion of the discipline.
Authors
Tanaka Ikko
田中一光
다른 사람들
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With a background in media, theater, and programming development, she uses technology as both material and inspiration for her creative work. As a developer and artist, she creates content that merges technology and art, sharing her work across various social media platforms. Furthermore, she maximizes the unique characteristics of technology and the web as mediums, designing interactive experiences that engage audiences and encourage their participation.
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Moon Ju-hwa
Film critic. Debuted through the 2024 Cine21 Film Criticism Award and began working as a critic. Currently pursuing a Ph.D. in the Department of Art, Culture, and Film Studies at Pusan National University, conducting research on the representation of history in contemporary cinema. Has worked with institutions such as the Art Sonje Center, Gwangju Biennale, Busan Biennale, and Busan International Film Festival, participating in numerous exhibitions and projects. -
Nicole Miñoza
Director of Product Management, Fonts & Type at Adobe. She has been working for creative product users in a variety of roles at Adobe for nearly 20 years. -
Kim Hyun-ho
Editorial director of VOSTOK magazine and head of VOSTOK PRESS. He is the editor of various publications and the director of PLATFORM-P. He has worked as the chief editor of the design journal Yanggwibi , editor-in-chief of the Seoul National University Press and Culture Center, and a member of the planning committee of the School of Photographic Theory and the bimonthly magazine Wordnbow , and received the Art in Culture New Vision Art Criticism Award. -
Park Jeong-hoon
He majored in Korean literature and photography. He has held photography exhibitions including Black Light , Distant Mountain , Seasons , and Every Little Step . He has translated several works by Leonard Koren into Korean, including Wabi-Sabi: Just Here , This Is Not Zen: Gardens of Pebbles and Sand , What Artists Are , and Wabi-Sabi: Simply Like This . -
Hansil
Awakened to the disarray in the Korean language, he dedicated himself to reviving dying words, simplifying difficult Sino-Korean terms into accessible native expressions, and interpreting Korean words in Korean. He established “Maum-Dakkeuneun Maeul” (Mind-Polishing Village) at the foot of Surime (Mount Songni) in the Sabara region (Sangju) of Nosarasa (Gyeongbuk). There, he leads meditation practices to help anyone polish their mind, freeing themselves from suffering to live a … -
Kim Dae-kwon
He started his career as a font engineer with the first project, “Malgun Gothic”, the first Korean hinting font for UI. He developed various plugins for font editors and gave many technical lectures. He enjoys various collaborations and conversations with font designers. He is currently in charge of mobile font download service at Font Bank and operates Line Gap. -
Pyo Hyun-myung
President of KT. In 2004, during his tenure as Vice President of Marketing at KTF, he played a pivotal role in introducing service design into corporate management and marketing activities in Korea. Drawing on his extensive experience as a corporate leader, he applied service design to KT’s innovations, leading to the creation of iconic branding campaigns such as Have a good time (2005), SHOW (2007), QOOK (2009), and the groundbreaking exclamation olleh (2010). These efforts marked a … -
Seoul Biennale of Architecture and Urbanism
Established in 2017, the Seoul Biennale of Architecture and Urbanism explores the diverse challenges arising from rapid urban growth through the lens of architecture and urbanism. With a focus on Seoul and other global cities, the Biennale seeks to address pressing urban issues and propose innovative solutions. The Biennale features Thematic Exhibitions centered on a specific theme, Guest Cities Exhibition showcasing pioneering public projects from around the globe, and On-site Projects that … -
Lee Jung-min
Lee Jung-min graduated from Ewha Womans University, Faculty of Design and received her master’s degree from the Graduate School of Industrial Design with the thesis Strategies for Legal Protection of Service Design . Since 2013, she has been working as a researcher at the Korean Intellectual Property Office. -
Han Jin-yeong
Graduated from the Department of English Language and Literature at Chonnam National University and spent nearly a decade working in publishing, creating books. Later transitioned to a full-time career as a translator. Notable translations include How to Write a Life , Living a Life of Writing , Seeking Meaning Outside Religion , The Bonobo’s House , People Skills , The Boy Who Lost His Shoes , and Diagrams: The Art of Organizing Thoughts . -
Momose Hiroyuki
He graduated from the Department of Painting at Tokyo Zokei University and earned her graduate degree in Comprehensive Design at the University of Tsukuba. he served as an assistant professor in the Department of Performing Arts and Film at Paichai University and is currently a full-time lecturer in the College of Design at Sangmyung University. A member of ANBD(Asia Network Beyond Design), he has held numerous exhibitions, including From in the Memory , and has given various lectures on topics …