Characteristics of Modern Japanese Graphic Design in 1950s–1960s

Abstract

This research investigates the distinctive characteristics of Japanese graphic design during the 1950s–1960s by examining the surrounding contexts that supported identity formation and exploring how designers incorporated elements of traditional art into their design processes. The study employs historical research methods, focusing on social and economic conditions, the development of related institutions, printing technologies, and the production of printed media, alongside a comparative visual analysis of modern graphic works and traditional Japanese painting and printmaking. The findings reveal that Japanese graphic designers of the time sought to establish their own identity by drawing from traditional art through six key approaches: (1) employing empty space as the core of the composition, with forms merely indicating space; (2) using flat colors without shading, a quality associated with Japanese art in the eyes of the West since the late 19^th century; (3) applying asymmetrical balance to reflect the natural concept of imperfection; (4) capturing specific moments through the cropping of images, which produced effects distinct from Western compositional norms; (5) integrating image and text so that text functioned more as visual elements than as linguistic content; and (6) simplifying forms into powerful symbols using geometry, which was popular at the time. These approaches demonstrate the effort to create a modern Japanese graphic design language rooted deeply in traditional art.