Kenya Hara Knihy

Representing a new generation of designers in Japan, Kenya Hara (born 1958) pays tribute to his mentors, using long overlooked Japanese icons and images in much of his work. In “Designing Design”, he impresses upon the reader the importance of “emptiness” in both the visual and philosophical traditions of Japan, and its application to design, made visible by means of numerous examples from his own work: Hara for instance designed the opening and closing ceremony programs for the Nagano Winter Olympic Games 1998. In 2001, he enrolled as a board member for the Japanese label MUJI and has considerably moulded the identity of this successful corporation as communication and design advisor ever since. Kenya Hara, alongside Naoto Fukasawa one of the leading design personalities in Japan, has also called attention to himself with exhibitions such as “Re-Design: The Daily Products of the 21st Century” of 2000.

For Kenya Hara, design begins with comprehension of the unknown. In contrast to 'information,' 'exformation' describes how little we really know and thus becomes the starting point for any type of design. Based on a range of projects the book describes what 'exformation' can look like in design practice and how this conceptalters our classic understanding of information design. Following the path embarked on in Designing Design (2007) and its successor, White (2010), Ex-formation continues to explore the void, absence, and indeterminacy in contemporary design.

Kenya Hara founded the "house vision" platform to explore new forms of living in the post-industrial age, linking sustainable building with technology. This publication continues the exhibition and features contributions from renowned architects and artists, including Toyo Ito and Sou Fujimoto, offering insights for future housing.

The latest publication by designer Kenya Hara following his acclaimed Designing Design. White is not a book about color. It is rather the author's attempt to explore the essence of "white," which he sees as being closely related to the origin of Japanese aesthetics--symbolizing simplicity and subtlety. The central concepts discussed are emptiness and the absolute void. Kenya Hara also sees his work as a designer as a pure form of communication. Good communication has the distinction of being able to listen to each other, rather than to press one's opinion onto the opponent. Kenya Hara compares this form of communication with an "empty container." In visual communication, there are equally signals whose signification is limited, as well as signals or symbols such as the cross or the red circle on the Japanese flag, which--like an "empty container"--permit every signification and do not limit imagination. It is not only the fact that the Japanese character for white forms a radical of the character for emptiness that has prompted him to closely associate the color white with the state of emptiness. This book offers a personal insight into the philosophy of the successful designer and author of Designing Design.

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

Kenya Hara inspires with his exceptional design, showcasing his work as Muji's art director and his ethereal exhibition designs. "Draw" offers a rare glimpse into his creative process, from initial sketches to confident designs, advocating for a return to analog methods in design. It's a compelling resource for aspiring designers.

(Piano/Vocal/Guitar Artist Songbook). Arrangements for piano, voice and guitar for all 14 songs from the ethereal singer/songwriter's eighth studio album: Astra Et Luna * Dark Sky Island * Echoes in Rain * Even in the Shadows * I Could Never Say Goodbye * Pale Grass Blue * Remember Your Smile * So I Could Find My Way * Solace * and more.

Highlighting the universal importance of the color white in culture

Erscheinung und Attraktivität eines Designprodukts hängen wesentlich von der Gestaltung der Oberfläche ab. Mit der Textur verändert sich seine Form und Bedeutung. So wird der Glanz des Panton Chair Classic zum Unterscheidungsmerkmal, bunt eloxiertes Aluminium erinnert an Sportgerät, Metallic-Lack an Autos oder Fingernägel, Patina lässt auf ein Alter schliessen. Neben solchen Werten, vermittelt durch visuelle und taktile Reize, interagieren funktionale Coatings mit ihrer Umwelt. Sie wirken je nach Bedarf haftend, wasserabweisend, antibakteriell oder wärmeleitend. Wie gehen Entwerfer mit diesem kreativen Potenzial um? Make up präsentiert Designklassiker aus der Sammlung des Museum für Gestaltung Zürich im Dialog mit Produkten zeitgenössischer Designer wie Konstantin Grcic, Alfredo Häberli, Ross Lovegrove, Jasper Morrison oder Kenya Hara.