[BOOK REVIEW] JPG2 (JaPan Graphics 2)
- 8th March , 2008 by KNDY in Book Reviews
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BOOK TITLE: JPG2 (JaPan Graphics 2)
Published by Actar and released on December 2006
PAGE COUNT: 420 Pages
Volume two of JPG, Japan Graphics, is a comprehensive survey of contemporary Japanese graphic design and illustration. The changes in Japanese graphic design after the first volume have proved to be far beyond our imagination. Instead of “more copies, higher resolution, to a wider audience,” there is a greater focus on individual and original works. JPG 2 brings together over 20 design teams, showcasing the evolution of teams from the first JPG as well as showcasing new projects, new teams, and the best contemporary design talents. Works by Amane Murakami, Buddha Productions, Dainippon Type Organization, Enlightenment, Hideki Inaba, Higraph, keitarrow, Loworks, Keigo Mohri, Namaiki, Shinji Shimada, Ryuh Tomoaki, Sunday-Vision, Power Graphixx, Takora, Taku Anekawa, TGB design, Tsuyoshi Kusano, Tsuyoshi Hirooka, wabisabi, iseneehihinee.The book is divided into 13 chapters: Photo + graphics, Imaginary landscapes, Printed matter, Customize on the product, Re-product design, Order made, Talking graphics, Portrait, Activism, Fake analog, Digital error, Super fine lines and Digital/manual interaction.
I absolute loved the first book and all of the awesome content that was featured. So, it was a no-brainer that I had to get “JPG2″.
Although the book loses it’s rubber covers, the foam front which sports the JPG logo is now wooden.
Four years have passed since the last book and this time around, Sakomoto Tomoko and staff decide to profile the designers and showcase their work in a variety of sections.
The book starts out with “Photo + graphics”. Combining photography but using software like Adobe Illustrator to add water, vines, flowers, skies, you name it. Then to “Imaginary Landscapes”, “Printed Matter”, “Customize on the product”, “Re-product Design”, “Order Made”, “Talking Graphics”, “Portrait”, “Activism”, “Fake Analog”, “Digital Error”, “Super Fine Lines”, “Digital/manual interaction”.
A few examples for each section are:
“Customize on the Product” features customizations of footwear, denim and t-shirts.
“Reproduct Design” features how curves and line designs to artwork can create another image such as a tree or a music instrument.
“Talking Graphics” shows how designers use kanji or using imagery in their graphic design. For example, vwv//design utilized new alphabet like Korean Hangul but using a combination of Japanese katakana and the alphabet.
“Activism” is just that. Showcasing logos and posters used for activities such as “AGRI 2006 Fashion Contest - Changing Agriculture through Fashion”
“Fake Analog” is a section utilizing digital painting.
A major difference from this year’s book compared to the last is how a lot of designers have gone towards vector graphics for designing their work. And others that utilize manual painting or digital painting to accomplish their work.
And at the each of section, a designer then does a “My Favorite Place” featuring photography and descriptions of places they enjoy.
If anything, the direction to focus on around two dozen designers/design firms does help cut the clutter and definitely profiles the artwork of those chosen for this book.
At the end of the book are the profiles, where the last book featured a little big about the designer’s work, college education and website and company info., for JPG2, big photos and more profile information for each artist featured. But what I like about these profile sections is that the designer takes a photo of their design work space. So, it’s cool to see that and them comment about it.
I think I’ve purchased many publications and design books just to know of an artists workspace, hardware and software used and it was really cool to see photos of each designer and firm’s workspace.
“JPG2″ is similar but different from its predecessor.
Things are much more organized and fewer designers are being featured. But what is accomplished is trying to get to know more about the designers featured in this book and the kind of work that they are known for now.
Again, the new profile section showcasing photos of their workspace and the designer commenting on it, was a very nice touch to the overall book.
I did enjoy the last book because it featured so many designers but I can understand people wanting things more hi-res, larger pictures and the book is much better in organizing things.
Amazon mentions this book is about 200+ pages but putting this book side by side to the first JPG, it’s about the same, so I’m guessing this book has around 400+ pages.
As mentioned before, this book does feature designers who are incorporating vector graphics into their artwork. As well as those who stick with painting or digital painting, so I think that designers who appreciate Japanese graphic design and also swear to using Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop and Corel Painter will probably enjoy this book a lot.
All in all, “JPG2″ is a very good book. Again, similar to the first but very different which is fine by me. I look forward to the third book and again, both JPG books are highly recommended!
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