Secret Exhibition, which is rarely seen by famous japanese designers!!

This time, I participated in the exhibition “ Secret Exhibition, which is rarely seen by famous japanese designers” at 21_21 DESIGN SIGHT in Tokyo. The exhibition began on November 22, 2019, displays a large number of sketches, drawings, and models created by members of the Japan Design Committee.　Japanse version is here.

The exhibition was held in 21_21 DESIGN SIGHT in Roppongi. This architecture is worked by Tadao Ando, you can also enjoy the architecture very much.

This exhibition tells process that does not appear in final form. 26 designers such as Naoto Fukasawa, Kenya Hara, Motomi Kawakami, Kengo Tsuji, and Taku Sato participate. What kind of exhibition is it? I interviewed this exhibition.

Japan Design Committee was established in 1953. Designers, architects, and critics representing each fields top creators participate voluntarily.

The first thing that surprises us at this exhibition is the video viewing space where designers’ working environment are displayed on three sides.

You can see the working scenery of Kenya Hara and Shunji Yamanaka so on. These videos are divided into closed hands and focus on designers, which are very impressive. It is exactly the moment when the products was born. I understood process of japanese famous designer’s making products.

Shin Matsunaga

Mr. Matsunaga, who has amaging achievements such as corporate logo of Benesse, calbee, Blendy coffee and uno. Graduated from Tokyo University of the Arts, and became independent through the Shiseido Advertising Department. Matsunaga’s sketch is already a masterpiece.

Cutouts are attached to the paper with cello tape.

You can see that the point of the logo of the calbee logo is shifted little by little and experimenting with the optimal point. Even so, the aesthetics of this logotype production are amazing.

Mr. Matsunaga made socottie, which we usually use and the package design of GITANES, a stylish French cigarette smoked by Lupine III so on.

The “Hiroshima Appeals” poster made by japanese famous designer Yusaku Kamekura’s “Burning butterfly” .Then, new poster series was produced every year for eight years. Mr. Matsunaga is also participating and the draft is on display.

Kenya Hara

Kenya Hara, who will know the name even if not related to the design industry. He is the representative director of Nippon Design Center and Japan’s leading designer.

The image above is a draft of the the Tokyo Olympic logo competition. In my opinion, I liked this design better than already decided one. From the shape of the person to the shape of a magma…, you can see the change of thinking.

This is the composition of the book. It’s very informative for designers.

A cute picture likely to be found in MUJI

Nice Infographics made by only pen and paper.

Taku Sato

Taku Sato, who studied at Tokyo University of the Arts, worked for Dentsu.He is famous for packaging design of lotte xylitol gum and delicious milk. In 2018, he was awarded the Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology Prize for Arts Award.

Composition of COOLMINT( Japanese famous gum)

his notebook

Naoto Fukazawa

Naoto Fukasawa is Japan’s leading product designer. Graduated from Tama Art University. After moving to the United States in 1989 and working for a design consulting firm IDEO (San Francisco) for eight years, he became independent.

He specializes in designs that focus on behaviors that people usually don’t mind.

RealMe brand smartphone “RealMe X”, which is being developed in emerging countries as an OPPO sub-brand. The special model “Onion Edition” with the motif of “onion” is being developed as a special model. Although it is a smartphone, the gentleness of nature is transmitted somehow.

Juice Skin concept model with the motif of the fruit skin that is the source of the juice. There are also strawberries and kiwis.

There is more designers work than introduced this time, “The Secret Art Exhibition” is a large exhibition of super famous designers such as Shunji Yamanaka, Fumie Shibata and Kazushi Nagai so on. The event will be held until March 8, 2020 (Sun), so why not come and visit it?

●Exhibition Information

Dates: November 22, 2019 (Fri)-March 8, 2020 (Sun)

Venue: 21_21 DESIGN SIGHT Gallery 1 & 2 Closed on Tuesdays (open on December 24 and February 11), New Year’s Holiday (December 26-January 3) Opening hours 10:00-19:00 (Entrance 18 Until: 30)

Admission fee: 1,200 yen（about11dollars) for general, 800 yen for university students, 500 yen for high school students, free for junior high school students and below Please see the usage guide for various discounts.

Official site