
The 1991/92 economic collapse that led the country into what is called The Lost Decades, which lasted until 2010, also inspired Japanese graphic designers to imbue their design with a sense of positivity. Then in the 1990s, Japanese graphic design exploded! Fully embracing Postmodernism, Japanese designers further carved their own unique ideals into graphic design.

The strong geometric shapes related to these concepts were combined with Japanese symbolism to create something that, though inspired by European concepts, were concretely Japanese. Industrialisation and the growth of manufacturing in the country laid the path for the exploration of the European concepts of Constructivism and the Bauhaus to make its way into Japanese design. Between the 1950s and 1980s, Japan underwent an incredible economic boom, becoming the third largest economy in the world. The next important step in the development of Japanese graphic design was during the Post-War years. Most famously, the French Post-Impressionists Claude Monet and Edgar Degas. Japanese art, particularly Ukiyo-e woodblock prints, inspired artists the world over. This not only had a profound effect on Japanese art and design, but also a profound effect on what is considered “Western” art and design.
Minimalist japanese art free#
With the fall of the Tokogawa shogunate and opening of Japan’s borders, Japan was now free to trade with the outside world and a reciprocal trade of culture began. This meant that there was hardly any influence from outside the country-which allowed Japanese art and design to truly flourish and take on its own, unique identity. Prior to the Meiji Era, which began in 1868, Japan had closed borders. HistoryĪ very brief history of the last 200 years of Japan is essential to understanding why Japanese graphic design is where it is today. Read on to find out more about what makes Japanese graphic design truly special and some incredible examples of Japanese graphic designers from the past and present. This, combined with a very Japanese approach to creating and the idiosyncrasies of Japanese culture, means that Japanese graphic design has an incredibly unique style. Japanese graphic design is a hugely diverse mix of different styles, approaches and methodologies. It’s no secret that Japanese design-encompassing architecture, fashion and, of course, graphic design-is renowned all over the world.


Japanese Graphic Design Characteristics & Examples
