Kenya Hara

Designing Japan

A Future Built on Aesthetics

Designing Japan presents renowned designer Kenya Hara’s vision of how his industry can support Japan in crafting a future founded on a unique philosophy of beauty as well as crowd-sourced wisdom from around the world. A master collaborator, meticulous organizer, and globally conscious innovator, Hara draws on more than three decades of participations in design work and exhibition curating, as well as deep professional interaction with creators from many fields.

In Designing Japan Hara reveals methods that make publicly accessible aesthetic inquiries of how this island nation will proceed as its population ages, other nations take over manufacturing, and technology develops. Illustrations and examples recognize successful problem-solving through design, proving that it is a living, changing industry that remains relevant not in spite of, but as a partner to, advancing technology.

Designing Japan presents renowned designer Kenya Hara’s vision of how his industry can support Japan in crafting a future founded on a unique philosophy of beauty as well as crowd-sourced wisdom from around the world. A master collaborator, meticulous organizer, and globally conscious innovator, Hara draws on more than three decades of participations in design work and exhibition curating, as well as deep professional interaction with creators from many fields.

In Designing Japan Hara reveals methods that make publicly accessible aesthetic inquiries of how this island nation will proceed as its population ages, other nations take over manufacturing, and technology develops. Illustrations and examples recognize successful problem-solving through design, proving that it is a living, changing industry that remains relevant not in spite of, but as a partner to, advancing technology.


“[...] a fascinating read.”
– Design Anthology

“I have just finished reading ‘Designing Japan: A Future Built on Aesthetics’ which I would like to recommend not only to those passionate about Japanese design and interested to learn about the essence of its aesthetics“
Daniella on Design

“Una lectura entretenida y formativa que permite desentrañar la meticulosa, inspiradora y avanzada cultura de diseño japonesa a través de uno de sus representantes más reconocidos.”
The Praxis Journal


Author(s): Kenya Hara

Design: Kenya Hara + Sebastian Fehr, Hara Design Institute

13 × 18,7 cm, 5 x 7 ¼ in

208 pages, 45 illustrations

hardback

2019, 978-3-03778-611-6, English
CHF 32.00

Kenya Hara

Kenya Hara (*1958) is considered the most influential designer of present-day Japan. After graduating in design from the Musashino Art University of Kodaira in 1983, he worked as a curator and graphic designer before taking on the role of art director at Muji in 2002. Hara is president of the Nippon Design Center Inc., and head of the department of Science of Design at Musashino Art University. He has published widely on his design theory, including the books “Designing Design” (2007), “White” (2009), “Designing Japan” (2018), and “100 Whites” (2019).

Kenya Hara

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Kenya Hara

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