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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Akasegawa Genpei was a pseudonym of Japanese artist Akasegawa Katsuhiko (赤瀬川克彦), born March 27, 1937 in Yokohama. He used another pseudonym, Otsuji Katsuhiko (尾辻克彦), for literary works. A member of the influential artist groups Neo-Dada Organizers and Hi-Red Center, Akasegawa went on to maintain a multi-disciplinary practice throughout his career as an individual artist. In 1986, Akasegawa and his collaborators, Terunobu Fujimori and Shinbo Minami, to announce the formation of a new group: …
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Lee Kyu-bok
He majored in calligraphy at Wonkwang University and completed his doctoral program at Dongguk University. In 2002, he founded CalliDesign, a company specializing in calligraphy, where he is currently the president, and served as a board member of the Korea Calligraphy and Design Association. He has been in charge of important large-scale projects in Korea, including the slogan titles for the 17th and 18th presidential inaugurations, the slogan titles for the opening of Gwanghwamun Square, the … -
Chung Kyung-won
A leading authority in design management, he has served as the President of the Korea Institute of Design Promotion (KIDP) and the Chief of Design Seoul Headquarters for the Seoul Metropolitan Government. He studied Industrial Design at Seoul National University and its graduate school, earned a Master’s degree in Industrial Design from Syracuse University in the United States, and a Ph.D. in Design Strategy from Manchester Metropolitan University in the United Kingdom. He debuted as a designer … -
Taguchi Junko
Junko Taguchi is an associate professor in the Faculty of Urban Science at Meijo University (Nagoya, Japan), currently visiting the College of Architecture at the Illinois Institute of Technology. She holds a PhD from the University of Tokyo (2015). Her research interests include education on architecture and historic preservation for both general and specialized audiences. She is the Japan member and proxy director of the UIA Architecture and Children Work Programme. She is also a Docomomo … -
Kim Eun-hye
Entered the world of translation after becoming captivated by the charm of Japanese translation, which involved meticulously studying original texts, while working an ordinary office job. After completing her studies at Geulbab Academy, she is currently working as a translator affiliated with Bareun Translation. Her translated works include The #1 Seller Doesn’t Sell Like You Do , The Neural Cleansing Revolution , The History of Business Model Innovation 1, 2 , The Diet That Melts Away … -
Gail Greet Hannah
Gail Greet Hannah is a writer specializing in design and marketing. She was a friend of Rowena Reed Kostellow and worked with her to publish her teaching method. She lives in Cold Spring Harbor. -
Kim Young-bae
He majored in visual design at Dankook University and the Department of Applied Arts at the same graduate school. He served as the editor-in-chief of the monthly Pop Sign , Sign Culture , and Sign Korea , and as the principal of the Sign Design School at the Sign Culture Institute of Hope Production Center, he conducted “Sign Design School” educational programs in Gyeonggi-do, Chungnam-do, and Jeonnam-do. He has served as a jury member for outdoor advertisements in local governments and is … -
Mike Evans
Mike Evans was a musician who released two singles on the Decca label and performed at the Cavern Club. In 1969, he was active in the Liverpool music scene and took the stage as a support band for Led Zeppelin and Bob Dylan. Afterwards, he transitioned to radio and contributed articles to magazines such as Sounds , Melody Maker , and The Guardian . Since the late 1980s, he has written and edited over 60 books on music, film, and fashion. -
Kim Yeon-su
He was born in Gimcheon, Gyeongbuk, and graduated from Sungkyunkwan University. In 1993, he published a poem in the summer issue of Writer’s World , and in 1994, he won the 3rd Writer’s World Literature Award for his novel Walking While Pointing at the Mask . He won the Dongseo Literature Award in 2001 for his novel Goodbye, Yi Sang , the Dongin Literature Award in 2003 for his novel When I Was Still A Child , the Daesan Literature Award in 2005 for his novel I am a Ghost Writer , … -
빌레 코코넨
A Finnish industrial designer , he runs a Switzerland-based studio where projects explore technological and scientific discoveries. His work reflects visions of future living environments , blending innovation with design foresight. Currently, he is a professor at Aalto University’s School of Arts, Design, and Architecture in Helsinki, Finland . -
Im Ji-hwan
A licensed architect in South Korea, serving as an advisory partner at BOUNDLESS (경계없는 작업실) and the CEO of ZERO TO N. After graduating from the Department of Architecture at Seoul National University, he gained practical experience at Hanul Architects and later founded Boundless Studio. At Boundless Studio, he recognized the necessity of integrated value across space development, planning, design, and construction. This insight led to the establishment of Zero to N, a comprehensive construction … -
Lee Hyun-song
A designer in the Brand Strategy Team at Hyundai Department Store, actively involved in infusing vitality into the brand through various activities such as brand positioning and campaigns across multiple media platforms. She is particularly interested in effectively communicating the brand’s direction to customers through design, exemplified by projects like the opening of The Hyundai Seoul.