JAGDA Designer Awards Exhibition 2014 – Visual Roundup

JAGDA – short for Japan Graphic Designer Association – is currently holding their annual Designer Awards Exhibition at G8 Gallery in Tokyo. We went for a visit.

The Japan Graphic Designers Association Inc. (JAGDA) was established in 1978 under strong leadership of the late Yusaku Kamekura, who built the foundation for the postwar graphic design in Japan with such masterpieces as posters for Tokyo Olympics. Today it is the only nationwide graphic design organization in Japan with approximately 2,900 members. Its broad activities include the publication of yearbooks, the hosting of exhibitions and symposia, design education, regional development, and the protection of members’ rights and welfare. – JAGDA

This years 32th iteration of the award exhibition consists of posters and small graphic works by the three winners of this years JAGDA Newcomer Award: Daijiro Ohara, Junya Kamada and Kentaro Harano. The Newcomer Award was set up in 1983 as a gateway to success for upcoming designers.

Daijiro Ohara

Born in Kanagawa Prefecture in 1978. Attended Musashino Art University in 2003 graduated from the Department of Science of Design. He founded Omomma the same year.
In addition to engaging in video production and design work, exhibitions, workshops and performance, he creates a large number of projects that explore new perception of words and letters. He also won a 2014 TDC (Tokyo Type Directors Club) award for HaKU “everything but the love” a music video.

“Riding on Words” – Typographic skateboard carvings.

TypogRAPy – Typographic concert poster for a rap band.

TypogRAPy – illustration

Chalkboard as base for freestyle typographic explorations.

HaKU “everything but the love”

Still images from the award-winning and purely Japanese typography based music video HaKU “everything but the love”.

Cover for a book on “Showa” era (1926–1989) record sleeve design.

A music guide book

“Rap” & “Record” – Kotobadge – laser-cut wooden badges of Japanese lettering.

“Photo” & “Image” – Kotobadge – laser-cut wooden badges of Japanese lettering.

Junya Kamada

Born in Hokkaido in 1976. Hokkaido Tokai University (now Tokai University) graduate. Hokkaido College of Art and Design graduate. Became freelance graphic designer and art director from 2012.
Some of his main awards: JAGDA Award 2011, Japan Package Design Award Gold, Silver, Bronze, Japan Typography Award best work and China International Poster Biennale Bronze.

Kinotoya – Branding for a pâtisserie.

Packaging for an apple farm.

Branding for tomato juice packaging.

Packaging design for farm produced meat sauce.

Farm pamphlet

”Dschinghis Khan” – Pamphlet for a Japanese Yakiniku BBQ restaurant

“Birth Project” – Animal Calendar

Design package for a Tofu shop. The clusters of Tofu shapes are actually coasters for pots.

Design for a Japanese agricultural union.

Bookshelf Design: NI-HON-GO – meaning Nihongo (“Japanese” in Japanese language). “Hon” also means book.

“One Day One Hand” – Alphabet badges

Underground “walking-walking-walking etc” passage

Branding for a copy writer Maruchino Yuko – It`s made up of the Japanese letter “Ma” (マ) from her sirname. If you look closely you can see the pointy top of a pencil.

Branding for a photographer

JAGDA exhibition poster

Tokyo Midtown – Design Hub Exhibition Poster

Kentaro Harano

Yamaguchi born in 1983. 2006 Tama Art University Department of Graphic Design graduate, the same year he joined Hakuhodo Inc (Japan`s second largest advertising agency, after Dentsu Inc).