Japanese Graphics Now!

by Julius Wiedermann, Gisela Kozak

BIG IN JAPANEXPLODING WITH EYE-POPPING ORIGINALITY AND FRESHNESS, TODAY'S BEST JAPANESE GRAPHICS HAVE BEEN GATHERED TOGETHER TO MAKE THIS MUST-HAVE GUIDE TO CONTEMPORARY AESTHETICS IN JAPAN. WITH THEIR UNIQUE PERSPECTIVE, THE JAPANESE HAVE A WAY OF LOOKING AT THE WORLD THAT HAS LONG BEEN A SOURCE OF GREAT INTEREST FOR THE WESTERN MIND. HERE, JAPAN'S MOST TALENTED CREATIVE PROFESSIONALS STRUT THEIR STUFF IN THE FORM OF POSTERS, ADVERTISEMENTS, PRINT MEDIA, VISUAL IDENTITY, AND PRINT DESIGN. DIVIDED INTO CHAPTERS BY MEDIA TYPE, THIS HIGHLY VISUAL GUIDE PRESENTS A DIVERSE SELECTION OF GRAPHICS AND INCLUDES AN INDEX OF DESIGNERS, COMPLETE WITH WEBSITE ADDRESSES AND CONTACT INFORMATION. WE'VE ALSO THROWN A DVD INTO THE PACKAGE, ON WHICH YOU'LL FIND A VIDEO TOUR OF THE COOLEST PLACES TO VISIT IN TOKYO, INTERVIEWS WITH ART DIRECTORS, FILMMAKERS, AND DESIGNERS, AND THE LATEST AND GREATEST TELEVISION COMMERCIALS FROM JAPAN.

Genres: Art, Design, Nonfiction, Art Design, Reference, Collections, Japan

608 pages, Paperback

First published November 1, 2003

Reviews

[7jane]

Some may say that a book with just graphics and an introductory text may not be enough, but for all fans of visual beauty, especially Japanese style, this is a great picture book, and Taschen does do picture books quite nicely.

So, this book is about Japanese Graphics around 2006, which showcases quite well how they do it, put in categories of: 1) packaging 2) posters and ads, and 3) print. There's a strange good balance of traditional and modern, minimalist and chaotic, sensible and cute, foreign-style and clearly Japanese, busy and clear. Very useful for long commutes, which means there might be small texts involved XD

The following things, among others, appear in here: food & drink, beauty products, shopping bags, package material, advertisements for companies, universities, exhibitions, events, competetions and sales, condoms, electronics, clothes, cars, games, child safety products, for ecology-mindedness. It's quite endless so one might want to pause something. *lol* Well, it *is* a picture book of beauty. So beautiful are some things you would want to keep them, and not use them. (I mean, I have one green-tea drink bottle from a trip to Japan still on my kitchen windowsill, just because it's so pretty in its green-ness - I did drink the contents already though :) ).

If you're interested in graphics, or just like looking at great-looking packages, ads and such, especially from Japan, this is a good read.

[chouineuzzZ]

banger de fou, tout ce que j'aime... design graphique... livre composé presque exclusivement d'images... packagings japonais... etc..... quel bonheur

[Natty Peterkin]

An excellent collection of inspiring work – my only criticism is that due to the lack of background information other than name credits, it was sometimes hard to tell what a design was for (particularly the more abstract ones)

[Analuabc]

Livro repleto de designs e ilustrações e conceitos característicos dos Japoneses alguns, outros mais universais. Quem gosta de design ou de marketing ou simplesmente do Japão é um bom almanaque para ver e re-ver de vez em quando.

[Vander Alves]

A very visual sample of the distinctive graphic design found in packages, signs, flags, ads and all other kinds of everyday visual media across Japan.

[Robert Davies]

Really gorgeous imagery.

[Caramello]

I guess its not the sort of graphics I had in mind but still decent stuff that generates some ideas for drawing/art :)

[Esther]

Just Graphics.

[Inatmon]

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