Wagara, or traditional Japanese patterns, are a form of pattern that is unique to Japan. The most well-known of them takes a single design and turns it into a pattern by systematically applying it to the material whether cloth, fabric, or clothing. This wabi-sabi lifestyle was buttressed by Shinto, which provided the early Japanese with the emotional, spiritual, and intellectual dimension that people needs to be fulfilled. The introduction of Buddhism from the Asian continent between the fourth and sixth centuries brought amazing technological advances to Japanese civilisation, dramatically raising the physical quality of life. But the precepts of Buddhism did not alter the basic ancient wabi-sabi lifestyle of the average Japanese. Japanese Design Thinking begins by understanding people. Why? The one unmoving irrefutable fact in this ever-changing world is that people are first. And Japanese Design Thinking helps businesses make sense of what people experiences and then create seamlessly interconnected experiences that reinforce each other. It translates human values and corporate strategy into branded solutions. It is a method of using anthropological concepts to understand people's similarities and differences and explores how brand’s shapes, and is shaped by, people’s cultural values and social practices. It then synthesises brand and design solutions that are collaborative, ethical, culturally appropriate, meaningful and sustainable. Meaning "the pathos of things," mono no aware is not a nihilistic view of the world - instead, it is the acute awareness of being in the moment and enjoying what is around you. Shibui can be translated as astringent, simple, conservative, rough, elegant, unaffected. Some of Japan's greatest tea masters used the word to sum up the nature of beauty.

Japanese interior also utilizes low-height furniture design. This is because in the Japanese culture it is traditional to sit on cushions or Tatami mats on the floor to maintain a good posture. Gently rising steam is represented in this pattern by two curving lines, sometimes referred to as waves. The rising steam represents the capacity to rise above events that occur in life.Custom typography is an essential feature not only because Japanese calligraphy is highly respected, but could you imagine trying to create a Japanese typeface with thousands of characters in regular, bold, and italic?! When Japanese design is married up with brand anthropology, we have a complete system to deal with all of the brand and design challenges companies face for the future. Same Komon (Shark Skin): this pattern was used by the Kishū Tokugawa family. Tokugawa Yoshimune (1684 - 1751) is considered one of the greatest rulers of Japan. This physical expression of harmony is especially key to the appeal of Japanese gardens and to the interior design and decoration of traditional Japanese-style buildings, particularly private homes, ryokan inns, and ryotei restaurants. This same attention to harmony is one of the secrets of the appeal and success of Japan's modern commercial products, particularly small consumer items.

The shrine complex is closed to the public, but every 20 years visitors are allowed to enter the area around the inner sanctum of the complex. When the shrines are being rebuilt local communities drag wooden carriages with logs or stones through rivers and roads onto the temple grounds. The entire tradition is very vibrant with every participant wearing a happi coat representing a particular community. Donald Richie, an authority on Japanese culture, described the sengushiki ceremony at Ise Grand Shrine Complex in his magnificent book The Inland Sea: Megumi Koyama is a service designer/design researcher based in Tokyo. Their client work often displays playful minimalism, combining hand-drawn illustrations with elegant lines and shapes. Above we see a photograph of Japanese actress Emiko Yagumo (1903 - 1979) wearing a kimono with a sakura (cherry blossom) floral pattern. Geometric Patterns and SymbolismWhile all of the above tips work for any room, a Japanese-style bathroom requires a different approach. Bathing is an important ritual in Japan, so having a large, freestanding bathtub is a must. The centerpiece of a bathroom, these soaking baths encourage you to take a moment to relax after a long day. Finished with a white porcelain coating or made of teak wood, the bathtub can have either curved or angular forms.

Shinto - "the way of the kami" - is deeply rooted in pre-historic Japanese religious and agricultural practices. The term kami can refer to Japanese mythological deities, but also can mean divinity manifested in natural objects, places, animals, and even human beings. Shinto rituals and celebrations stress harmony between deities, man, and nature -- a key feature of Japanese religious life and art to the present time. Shinto has always been attentive to the protection of communities from unpredictable human and divine forces and has imbued its ritual practices with techniques and strategies to aid human life. Visual Production Interns – the role is focused on photography, design, photo-editing, image curation, and other visual media. Although ma is one design principle apparent in Ozu films, it is not the only one. Another principle is mono no aware, which means having empathy toward things. The feeling it produces can be described as a transient sadness of the passing of things, the passing of all life. In essence it is an awareness of impermanence. Ozu films are filled with these qualities as main characters pass away, someone get’s married and leaves the family, or still scenes of nature mixed with manmade environments expresses the slow degradation of nature by man and the passing of time. The main purposes of JDT is to foster correct notions of respecting and caring for one another habit of helping, doing what one can in daily life.Although creative work in Japan has had some key influences ranging from Zen Buddhism to Western Art, Japanese graphic design follows certain principles that distinguish it from other styles. What Influences Japanese Design? Shintoism and Buddhism Japanese is a language with an innate lyricism and rhythm. It is the mother tongue of the Haiku, a tiny poem that in just 17 syllables promises to break your heart or instil some universal truth. And just as the Haiku is soulful and sweet, so are the Japanese philosophies that are captivating the imaginations of designers and homeowners in 2018.

From ukiyo-e of the Edo period to manga and kawaii culture, Japan’s design trends have had a major influence on graphic design today.The way of writing, or shodo, is an ancient practice that is much more than putting the proverbial pen to paper—it's a practice in articulation, repetition, endurance, and composition. The Kiri pattern is most commonly represented as clusters of flowers on top of three leaves. Kōjitsunagi (Interlaced Kō Characters) This very simple yet powerful piece of art spawned all of the similar designs we see today. Maybe you can join the bandwagon and try these “Great Wave”-inspired designs for your brand: Japanese Design Ideas You Can Use for Your Brand