HARA DESIGN INSTITUTE

Meiji Jingu Museum exhibits articles used by or associated with Emperor Meiji and Empress Shoken, whose souls are enshrined at Meiji Jingu. Kengo Kuma designed the architecture, while Hara Design Institute handled the visual identity, signage, and exhibit graphics. The symbol mark for the museum was derived from the character "mei," which is the first character in the name Meiji Jingu, and is composed of two components, one symbolizing the sun and the other the moon. Here, the character is recreated, drawing inspiration from the stylistic forms of ancient Chinese writing, to produce a symbol mark that expresses the serene mystery of the shrine located in central Tokyo. Its square form with a circular element in the middle also symbolizes the museum space with a visitor inside viewing an exhibit. In the museum's permanent display area, banners provide a clear introduction to events and day-to-day customs at Meiji Jingu, such as by incorporating four perspectives--century, year, day, and individual glances.

Hara Design Institute handled the visual identity and signage for Tainan Art Museum, and also provided public art. The logotype is expressed with a design that emphasizes the straight lines in the detailed forms of traditional Chinese characters, compressing them to give a flat look. The design of the logotype was partly inspired by the fact the museum is in Taiwan, where the emphasis is on the traditional forms rather than on simplified characters.

The symbol mark is a fusion of the pentagon, based on the characteristic shape of the roof canopy of Building 2, and the initial M of "Museum." The straight lines of the mark make it readily adaptable, enabling it to be evolved into various forms.

The art museum consists of two structures, a modern art museum (Building 1) and a contemporary art museum (Building 2). The modern art museum (Building 1) is a renovation of what was once the Tainan City Police Department building, and is now a cultural and historical asset of Tainan. The contemporary art museum (Building 2) was co-designed by Shigeru Ban Architects and Taiwanese architectural firm Joe Shih Architects. The visual identity we provided creates a strong link between the two buildings, which are completely different in architectural terms.

We designed distinctive numerals for use in the signage. The very legible, attention-grabbing shape of the numbers alone spices up the parking space. The letters designating the individual galleries have a tall, narrow design and serve to create effective guideposts for walking around the complex structure.

Kenya Hara and Noiz Architects co-designed the public art installation entitled "Shadow in Motion" at the entry/exit No.3 for the underground parking space below Building 2. The work acts as a device that provides visitors with an impressive experience created by natural light thanks to specially arranged louvers, adding character to the access point for an otherwise unadorned underground parking space.

The Teikuhiko (High Resolution Tour) website has provided content to JAPAN HOUSE for use while operations are closed due to the coronavirus pandemic.
JAPAN HOUSE LONDON set up a dedicated webpage to present a high-resolution tour of twelve locations in Japan.


JAPAN HOUSE
A Ministry of Foreign Affairs program aiming to open the eyes of people throughout the world to the shocking realization of how little they actually know about Japan. JAPAN HOUSE stimulates renewed interest in Japan through complexes established in three hubs--London, Los Angeles and São Paulo.
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https://www.japanhouse.jp/en/

Teikuhiko--High Resolution Tour
Teikuhiko is a website taking a close look at spots chosen by Kenya Hara to introduce particular aspects of Japan. Combining photography, video, and text, Hara personally edited the descriptions to share the inspiration he found on visiting each of these locations.
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https://tei-ku.com/en/

Hara Design Institute designed signage and handled the visuals promoting the opening of MUJI Kyoto Yamashina, MUJI's largest store in the Kansai area. The store aims to connect local producers with consumers, inviting food producers like bakeries and tofu shops from the Kyoto area to sell their products in the basement food hall. The store opening visuals depict food producers and their workplaces, communicating the freshness of the food and the effort put into its production, giving a view of the process that leads up to the products arriving in the store--things modern-day consumers don't often see, such as the bakeries where bread is made, chickens at poultry farms, and farmers harvesting vegetables. For the food court signage, we took a new approach for MUJI by designing lightbox signage to identify the local food specialty shops and convey the lively atmosphere of a restaurant area. Each of these signs uses a single, large Japanese kanji character--plus the word in English in smaller letters below--to allow for smooth navigation by ensuring that diners can see from a distance where each type of food is located.

MUJI opened MUJI Kamppi Helsinki in Finland only one month after launching its first store in Switzerland--MUJI Zurich Glatt. MUJI Kamppi Helsinki is MUJI's largest flagship store in Europe. Hara Design Institute produced visuals linked to the arrival of these new stores.

By placing MUJI's stainless steel unit shelf furniture in locations evocative of each country--the Swiss Alps, with their vast expanse of majestic nature, and a sauna, a Finnish tradition that has spread around the world--the store opening announcement visuals communicate MUJI's approach in Europe, which incorporates the culture and lifestyle of each respective country as well as bringing MUJI's regular products. The "My Bag" goody bags with promotional text in Japanese were also very well received.

Hara Design Institute handled the book design for a project commissioned by Taiwanese collector HL Huang to present one hundred items carefully selected from the exquisite masterpieces in his collection of antiques. Yoshihiko Ueda photographed each of the items, which included brushes, inkstones, inksticks, paperweights, water droppers, and seal stones, For the first time in our history, we were instructed to spare no cost on this project. Our efforts to determine the very best quality of paper, printing, bookmaking, cloth, format, and other characteristics for this uncompromising book culminated in the creation of a minimal, black 'sculpture of information.' A special version of the book destined to be gifted to particular friends and associates includes a separately bound original print in the four-hinged shiho chitsu enclosure. This special version is set in vertical type, contrasting with the horizontal type of the version for sale, but care is taken to ensure coherence of design between the two when placed side by side.

文字をテーマに毎年展開されている「モリサワ・カレンダー 2020」を担当しました。 2020年のテーマは、平安時代の「かな」。 中国より伝来した漢字から生まれた「かな」は、書のプロセスの中で、 腕や手のあらゆる関節の回転運動を経て、 溶け出すような曲線の造形へと変容していきます。 特に平安時代の「かな」は、純粋な造形物としてみても、 世界に類例のない、美しいオブジェクトとして見ることができます。 ここではその造形を楽しむべく、原型を再現しつつも、 ひと月おきに部分を大胆に拡大したものを展開しています。 余白の妙や、改行の間合い、そして枯れた料紙の美とともに、 平安を代表する書家、小野道風（伝）が生み出す文字のフォルムをご堪能ください。 なお、当カレンダーは、実用性をふまえつつ、空間に寄与するものという趣旨で、 玉（数字）は漢数字を主体に構成し、和のしつらいを意識したデザインとしています。 ぜひ、壁にかけてお使いください。 本作品は、「第71回 全国カレンダー展」で日本印刷産業連合会 会長賞および第1部門 金賞を受賞しました。...

Sen is a coffee in tune with the delicate tastes of Japan, created through a process involving meticulous consideration of flavor and the application of unique roasting technology. As part of a design renewal for this product, Hara Design Institute designed the packages, logotype, and website.

Clean and simple packages convey the refined and delicate sensibility of Sen, while the logotype incorporates a roasted coffee bean to emphasize that this is a coffee brand. Special packages for selling alongside traditional Japanese confectionery (wagashi) incorporate striped patterns from Japanese textiles to give a modern impression that also retains tradition, as appropriate for the combination of coffee and Japanese sweets.

The Sen website opens with a motion graphic of an undulating water surface to express the gentle progression of the coffee's aroma as it develops. This is a clean and simple scrolling site that gives a comprehensive introduction to Sen, including the product concept, flavor, and roasting technology.

Ko'-yama Yusui Coffee Sen in the grounds of Kamigamo Shrine, Kyoto, is a rest spot designed by architect Go Hasegawa, providing a peaceful environment for sipping Sen coffee prepared using Ko'-yama spring water--the water that flows through the shrine. Hara Design Institute handled communication design, including the noren (shop curtain), logotype, cups, and signage.

Sen website:
https://sen.agf.jp/

MUJI INFILL is an interior finishing service launched by MUJI in China. This is a commercial version of the dwelling space concept presented by Youzhu and Nippon Design Center (Hara Design Institute) at the HOUSE VISION 2018 BEIJING EXHIBITION. Product development was conducted in collaboration with MUJI.

Based on furniture that achieves maximum space efficiency through the use of edge areas such as backs and sides, and on storage areas that perfectly accommodate MUJI's standard modules, MUJI INFILL is a comprehensive system delivering the basic interior structures for your home--such as construction of floors, walls, and ceilings--as well as helping you through to completion of the entire process of selecting, designing, constructing, and installing components such as storage areas, kitchens, sofas, beds, showers, baths, and toilets so that everything fits perfectly in your own custom dwelling space.

The first MUJI INFILL model rooms have opened on the B1 basement level and second floor of MUJI Qingdao Inzone Plaza, MUJI's sixth flagship store in China. Going forward, this service will be rolled out in Shanghai and other cities. MUJI fans in Japan will also be keeping a keen watch.

https://www.muji.com.cn/cn/mujiinfill/

無印良品の家、5年ぶりの新作となる「陽の家」。 原デザイン研究所は時間をかけてデザイン監修を行い、 動画制作をはじめ、SPツールも手がけています。 ゆったりとした土地が手に入る地域なら、住居は平屋が快適です。 「陽の家」には庭と仲良くする工夫がつまっています。 天気の良い週末は、テーブルを庭に出して、 木陰の下で朝食の時間をゆっくり過ごしてみる。 本来なら室内で行われる営みを庭に出してみることで、 風土や環境の恵みにあらためて気がつくはずです。 大開口によって生み出される水平のつながりが、 室内から庭、そして家の周辺へとグラデーショナルに連続し、 庭は爽快なリビングに生まれ変わります。 また、作り付けの家具を工夫し、家具に背面をなくすことで、 限られた空間がより広く感じられるようになりました。 都市では実現しにくい内外のつながりを持つ「陽の家」は 現代の住まいづくりの、気持ちのいい答えになっているはずです。...