A revealing look at Japanese design weaving together the stories of people who shaped Japan’s design industries with social history, economic conditions, and geopolitics. From cars to cameras, design from Japan is ubiquitous. So are perceptions of Japanese design, from calming, carefully crafted minimalism to avant-garde catwalk fashion, or the cute, Kawaii aesthetic populating Tokyo streets. But these portrayals overlook the creativity, generosity, and sheer hard work that has gone into creating and maintaining design industries in Japan.
In
Designing Modern Japan, Sarah Teasley deftly weaves together the personal stories of people who shaped and shape Japan’s design industries with social history, economic conditions, and geopolitics.. Key to her account is how design has been a strategy to help communities thrive during turbulent times, and for making life better along the way. Deeply researched and superbly illustrated,
Designing Modern Japanappeals to a wide audience for Japanese design, history, and culture.
Sarah Teasleyis professor of design at RMIT University, Melbourne. She is coeditor of
Global Design History.
"Teasley situates design movements within their political, economic, and social contexts to elucidate not just the how of design but the why. The detailed background of historical processes makes the book accessible to nonspecialists and those in corollary fields like marketing and economic history. The inclusive approach covers a variety of design outlets: graphic design like magazine covers, advertising, and packaging; craft production like lacquer and ceramics; consumer goods like fans and cars; and intangibles like fashion all receive their due."
“Teasley draws on a rich and varied collection of sources to weave history, sociology, design commentary, and fascinating anecdotes into her account of the evolution of Japanese design following thlS(
![Designing Modern Japan [Hardcover]](/itemImage/2/3/5/4/2_5184954.jpg "Designing Modern Japan [Hardcover]")