1960s/70s Japanese Information Graphics from Idea Magazine

I recently saw a copy of Idea magazine in a friend's studio. 

It's a Japanese graphic design magazine - quite expensive - it covers only a couple of subjects per issue.

I had not heard of it but was blown away by this particular issue. All about information graphics from 1960s-70s Japan. It is in Japanese so I couldn't read it - but for once just looking at the pictures was enough.

I have taken lo-res pix of some of the pages.

They marry an attention to detail with a fantastic visual artistry.

They communicate but they do so in a delightful way.

Some patterns I noticed - 

- High resolution of data

- Ground is monotone - figure/data is proudly colourful

- Nice integration with the text

I appreciate that these graphics may not be typical of Japanese Information Design

- they are old

- this is a design magazine with a certain take on what to include

It got me wondering about the visual literacy of the Japanese. I have never been there but I had assumptions based on their more figurative text/ manga-reading-salarymen etc - but tonight's talk at the Sign Design Society suggested no connection. Barry Gray who did the talk said that in his experience no culture found it easier to read signs/ pictures than any other.

The main learning for me was the use of colour - bright and primary. 

These are timeless because of this primal use of colour - as opposed to the muted pastel respectability us NYT/Tufte-philes hanker after. Don't get me wrong - I'm not going to be changing my work too soon.

Those of you who saw some of the work at Interesting2008 will see that colour is more a part of the non-WWII magazine work. But for now there I am more interested in the basics of composition - and colour really is not something to trifle with in information design until you are ready.

This looks to be a magazine keeping in touch with - the next issue is about Herb Lubalin - one of my favourite designers/ visual thinkers. 

Here is some of his type work (some think he is obvious - I think he is great)

 

NOTE-(I've been trying to track a copy of the Japan issue down but even magma cannot get any for the while so I you have one that you do not want, get in touch and I will marry you.)