SHIGEO FUKUDA

“I believe that in design, 30 percent dignity, 20 percent beauty and 50 percent absurdity are necessary,”

Wednesday, March 9, 2011

 "A playful heart requires no translation."
- Paul Rand on Shigeo

Wednesday, March 9, 2011

 Shigeo Fukuda, was born on valentines day in 1932 in Tokyo, Japan to a family that was involved in manufacturing toys.
He became interested in the minimalist Swiss Style of graphic design, and graduated from Tokyo National University of
Fine Arts and Music in 1956.

Wednesday, March 9, 2011

 Shigeo Fukuda's work is deeply influenced by Takashi Kohno; a pioneer in modem Japanese
graphic design, Kohno was purported to be Japan's first designer possessing a distinct objective
along with a creative personality. His posters heralded a new era of visual expressionism. Kohno's
work was always controversial, yet visually inspiring. His posters were an exhilarating prelude to
Fukuda's own imprint on communication design.

Wednesday, March 9, 2011

 Fukuda's most famous poster, entitled Victory
1945 , is a bitingly satirical commentary on the
senselessness of war.
Wednesday, March 9, 2011
“Mr. Fukuda was expert at communicating
messages using minimal graphic means. Although
he admired Japanese woodblock traditions, his
spare style was universal, his symbolism bridging
cultural divides.”
- Steven Heller for the New York Times
 Human Rights Environmental Pollution Preserving History

Shigeo Fukuda's sense of high moral responsibility as a graphic designer is undertaken with firm conviction. His work
effectively mirrors and embraces the worldly causes he believes in. Coupled with his fine flair for color and layout, along
with advanced Japanese reproduction techniques, Fukuda always manages to get his points across.

Wednesday, March 9, 2011

 Contrary to Western styles of expression, Japanese communication is more emotional than
rational. Such emotion is profoundly linked to art. Fukuda dramatically shatters all cultural
and linguistic barriers with his universally recognizable style.

Wednesday, March 9, 2011

 “Fukuda is not a communicator who conforms to the principles of accessibility, With few
exceptions, his purpose is to mystify.” - Seymour Chwast

Wednesday, March 9, 2011

 “Shigeo Fukuda died on
January 11, 2009. Our
world has suffered a great
loss, indeed. But if you
change the way you look
at the world, the world
itself changes. Perhaps
the illusion here is that
Shigeo Fukuda lives on.”
- KT Meaney

Wednesday, March 9, 2011

Wednesday, March 9, 2011
 Panoramic Compositions 4 Images Panoramic Compositions 2 Images

Wednesday, March 9, 2011

 Panoramic Compositions 4 Images

Panoramic Compositions 2 Images

Wednesday, March 9, 2011

 Sources (In order of appearance)

“Mr. Fukuda was expert at communicating messages using minimal graphic means. Although he admired Japanese woodblock traditions, his spare style was universal, his
symbolism bridging cultural divides.” - Steven Heller for the New York Times

nytimes.com - http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/20/arts/design/20fukuda.html?_r=1

“I believe that in design, 30 percent dignity, 20 percent beauty and 50 percent absurdity are necessary,”

designishistory.com - http://www.designishistory.com/1960/shigeo-fukuda/

"A playful heart requires no translation."- Paul Rand on Shigeo

modernism101.com - http://www.modernism101.com/fukuda_invitation.php

“Shigeo Fukuda, was born on valentines day in 1932 in Tokyo, Japan to a family that was involved in manufacturing toys. He became interested in the minimalist Swiss
Style of graphic design, and graduated from Tokyo National University of Fine Arts and Music in 1956.”

designishistory.com - http://www.designishistory.com/1960/shigeo-fukuda/

“Shigeo Fukuda's sense of high moral responsibility as a graphic designer is undertaken with firm conviction. His work effectively mirrors and embraces the worldly causes he
believes in. Coupled with his fine flair for color and layout, along with advanced Japanese reproduction techniques, Fukuda always manages to get his points across.”

Art Directors Club - http://www.adcglobal.org/archive/hof/1987/?id=235

“Fukuda is not a communicator who conforms to the principles of accessibility, With few exceptions, his purpose is to mystify.” - Seymour Chwast
Nytimes.com - http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/20/arts/design/20fukuda.html?_r=1

“Shigeo Fukuda died on January 11, 2009. Our world has suffered a great loss, indeed. But if you change the way you look at the world, the world itself changes. Perhaps the
illusion here is that Shigeo Fukuda lives on.” - KT Meaney
UnderConsiteration.com http://www.underconsideration.com/speakup/archives/005788.html

Wednesday, March 9, 2011