J!-ENT
Asian Entertainment News and Pop Culture

BOOK TITLE: JPG (JaPan Graphics)

Published by Actar and released on April 1, 2003

PAGE COUNT: 420 Pages

JPG–a tidy twist of letters that refers to both Japanese graphic design and that ubiquitous form of digital image transmission, the jpeg. Here is the youngest generation of graphic designers in Japan, a motley, formidable group whose work reflects a remix of influences from the West and appropriations of local cultural expressions. JPg is about 3D and computer graphics, but also about other fields of visual culture, from printed matter to consumer goods to contemporary art. Organized around three poetically conceived categories–”Scanning the World,” “Multiplying Out,” and “Free to Browse”–JPg acknowledges that design is everywhere. It is our space, our environment, and our experiences of the world; it is the media, it is the packaged and prepared food we eat, it is the cell phone we hold to our ear. JPg asks where all this design comes from, where it goes, and how we experience it–but in a specifically Japanese context, with all its possibilities for a more global application.

I buy art and creative design books like crazy. Mainly to be used as references for ideas or my interest in the artwork of current modern designers.

In Japan, there is a lot of design that I love and some of these designers are featured in the first volume of “JPG (Japan Graphics)”.

First of all, the first thing you notice is the book. It’s big, it has that basketball feel with it’s rubber, bubble cover and right in the front is this foam JPG on the front of it.

Opening the book, you realize how trendy and cool this book is by the various shots of Japan, then a foreword from a few designers but then the part I have been wanting to see, the various design firms.

For example, you have LOCKER ROOM DESIGN featuring their pixel artwork made of dots. In this case, an artwork of urban landscapes in Japan. Another piece featured is artwork of hexagons, then an illustration of Louis Vuitton for Brutus Magazine which instead of lines or hexagons, uses line art.

Then yo go to Power Graphixx which showcases their artwork for Kohkoku Magazine which is just cool to look at for the vector artist that dig Japanese designs. And the list goes on with dozens upon dozens of popular graphic designers and firms. One of my favorites, groovisions are featured with their Chappie artwork and their Brockmann toy line.

So, it’s not limited to just artwork on print, logos, outdoor ads and websites but also other forms of new media and hundreds of pages of cool design work.

Now, it’s obvious that those agencies that took place, filled out a questionnaire. Some just basically talking about their work, while some who were very meticulous on their descriptions.

But for those wanting information on what software or how they created the artwork, you will not find it on this book.

To finalize the book, there are profiles that feature a bit of a bio on each creator, their website and e-mail or company information (Note: A lot of the websites and e-mails have become obsolete since the release of this book).

I appreciate design from Japan and upon purchase of this book, I was really hoping this book gives me something to be excited about and I was literally in visual shock because a lot of my favorite designers and works that I have seen but wasn’t sure of who created them, were featured in this book. WOW!
If anything, this book was meant to be looked at than read in my opinion. Actually, there isn’t much to read but what is there to read, it’s actually quite humorous and interesting (also informative) at the same time.

I really have to give Sakamoto Tomoko, Ramon Prat and staff some props for the designers they covered. Delaware, Level 1, groovevisions, oh… if you love Japanese design and how they incorporate it to their medium or have knowledge of it, you are just going to love this book.

Ok, plus and negatives:

+ Featuring the most influential designers from Japan and the designers chosen are among the top designers from Japan.
+ Book is beautifully done and definitely a visual book that may provide designers inspiration.

- For those looking for biographies and full written on the behind-the-scenes and what inspires the artists and a lot of copy, this is not the kind of book that you are looking for. (otherwise, if this doesn’t bother you..then this book is perfect).

You can find this book at book stores but it will be shrink wrapped. So, if you are wondering what kind of book this is, it’s a book featuring the works of popular designers. Again, I emphasize, if you are looking for in-depth interviews with the designers and behind-the-scenes on how they create the artwork, this book does not offer that.

Otherwise, what this book was meant to be and its presentation alone is just spectacular and of the plethora of design books that I own, this one is definitely a must have if you are fan of Japanese design. I love this book!

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!

Tags: JPG (Japan Graphics)