{"id":2356,"date":"2013-08-24T17:25:17","date_gmt":"2013-08-24T07:25:17","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.natashabarr.com\/blog\/?p=2356"},"modified":"2020-11-05T08:57:02","modified_gmt":"2020-11-04T22:57:02","slug":"a-look-at-japanese-design-and-online-technology-part-1","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/natashabarr.com\/blog\/design\/a-look-at-japanese-design-and-online-technology-part-1\/","title":{"rendered":"A look at Japanese design and online technology"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"Japanese
Billboards in Tokyo<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Japan is a place that I know many designers and non-designers alike are fascinated by. Whether it’s the history, the culture and subsequent sub-cultures, the novelties or just the food, Japan has something to interest everybody. During my trip my May I couldn’t help but observe Japan’s approach to design and advertising. I also got to experience using some Japanese websites before the trip and noticed distinct differences in style and functionality.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Over the next two posts I will not only be looking at design of Japanese media but also Japan’s technology use and online behaviour in comparison to our own.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

Design<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

When you arrive in Japan you can’t help but notice the differences in Japanese advertising and design. For starters, it’s everywhere and takes up a lot more visual space than what you’d experiencd in Australia. Large decals and billboards on the sides of buildings, decorated exteriors of trains with advertising on the carriage’s interior, even tissues given out on the street have a promotions printed on the packets.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Japanese
An example of advertising in Akihabara, Tokyo<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n
\"Japanese
Advertising throughout a train carriage<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

From my own exposure to Japanese media, I feel that there are three main types of  execution ‘styles’ – those that are traditional, those that are cool and finally those that are ‘kawaii\/quirky’. There are of course other types but I feel these styles cover the broad majority of them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Traditional<\/strong> is usually advertising and design centered around products or services that have some sort of cultural ties in Japan. This includes packaging of traditional foods and advertisements showing the process of something being made or produced.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Japanese
An example of food packaging design with a traditional aesthetic<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n