Tag: branding

DESIGN TRAVEL GUIDE ☞ Christmas in Tokyo’17

Previously:  DESIGN TRAVEL GUIDE ☞ Hong Kong’16

Once again, another long overdue post. I visited Japan in December 2017 when I had my university entrance exam. It was the christmas period and Tokyo was full of beautiful illumination. I won’t talk about the illumination much below but some great places for that were Tokyo Midtown and the area around Tokyo Station. Really classy places. You won’t get that level of illumination in Singapore, Japan really prides itself in its lighting design.

At that time I was really into Lisa Ono and Bossa Nova, hence the music choice, but now when I look back it might be cheesy but oh well. I shot and edited all these back in December 2017 but I missed the time to upload during christmas then. But now I finally decided to make a post on it. I am living in Japan now so I will probably have even cooler places to show in the future. This list of 6 places include some places you will not find in other english media that I really like such as “CHOCOLATIER PALET’DOR”. As mentioned before, it would not just be places of design interests, but anywhere I enjoy. I merely named it “DESIGN TRAVEL GUIDE” because it is a list made by a designer, me in this case. 

DISCLAIMER☞All these photos are shot and edited in 2017 so the state of the shops reflect that time.

 

 

#1 

CHOCOLATIER PALET D’OR ショコラティエ パレ ド オール
★★★★★
Address 〒100-6501 Tokyo, Chiyoda City, Marunouchi,
1 Chome−5−1 新丸の内ビルディング
Access  5 minutes walk from Tokyo Station
 

Hours
Mon-Sun: 11:00~21:00
Photos courtesy of CHOCOLATIER PALET D’OR’s
instagram and relevant parties.

I’m used to seeing big global chocolate brands like Godiva or even Japanese ones like Royce. However, ever since I watched a Japanese drama on chocolatiers, I have developed an appreciation and curiosity for chocolatiers. I found a Japanese chocolatier –not in a food guide book– but in a brand identity compilation book. It was chosen as an example of brilliant brand design and I could not agree more. Typographically state-of-the-art. From the chocolates to the store and packaging, this is the kind of experience I was hoping to find in Japan.

I went to the store near Tokyo Station, in the Marunouchi building, overall a beautiful area. The store had seats with certain dine-in menu, the ice-cream looks great but what was really interesting (in 2017) was their transparent cocoa drink. It was fascinating. Their stuff is actually pretty expensive, but I think they make very decent souvenirs for slightly more important people. Especially since it is not a global brand and can only be obtained there.

#2

Creamia
★★★☆☆
Website  http://www.nissei-com.co.jp/cremia/en/
Access  Various locations

Hugely recommended at that time, but these days I find it everywhere. True to what everyone says, its a really great soft serve. I even watched a video that explained that the people behind it used science and years of research to develop the perfect taste, texture and even the perfect cone that complements it.

#3

La Mère Poulard ラ・メール・プラール
★★★★☆
Address 3 Chome-5-1 Marunouchi, Chiyoda City,
Tokyo 100-0005
Website  http://www.la-mere-poulard.jp/
Access 2 minute walk from Tokyo Station

Hours
Mon-Sun: 11:30~22:00

I saw a facebook video about fluffy omelettes and after further probing, found it to be La Mère Poulard. It originated as a french inn in 1888, with their giant omelettes cooked in a wooden hearth being hugely popular. It was also on an island which was the reference for their original logo. As of now, it seems that this restaurant can only be found in Japan besides its home country of France, which makes it worth a visit if you are in Japan. The brand identity design is pretty impressive here as well, they keep the consistent red and the interiors make you feel like you are transported to that french island where this place was first opened on. I had the omelette which is really interesting texture-wise but it was not too spectacular for me personally, but I did notice the Japanese customers finish it well, perhaps it is more fitting for the Japanese tastebuds.

#4

Ghibli Museum 三鷹の森ジブリ美術館
★★★★★
Address 1-1-83 Shimorenjaku, Mitaka
Tokyo 181-0013
Website  http://www.ghibli-museum.jp/
Access  Take the cat bus from the JR Mitaka Station

Hours
Mon-Sun: 10:00~18:00;
closed on tuesdays;

“Let’s get lost together” is the museum’s slogan. Photography inside is forbidden so I cannot show much but this is a magical place. There are delicately crafted exhibits in every corner, many layered or have moving mechanisms. This means even the manhole are designed and there are places you have to crouch to go through. It really feels like you are in a Ghibli movie.

The exhibition on that time was about food in their movies and they remade several kitchens into sets that we can explore. It also documents the tedious behind-the-scenes process in creating an animated film. In line with the theme of food, they had a short film called “Mr Dough and the Egg Princess” screened in a delightful mini theatre. From the art deco lamps outside the theatre to the illustrations on the ceiling of the theatre, its a dream come through–I mean having your own themed theatre showing tailor made films and perhaps even have deliberately crafted trailers before the film is super cool. The short film is also a silent film such that tourists from any country can understand it without having a hundred different subtitles. My entire family loved it. The short film they make are specifically made for the museum and they renew them once in a while, along with new exhibitions, giving the museum a lot of revisit value.

This is a must-go, however tickets are hard to come by. Tickets for the month go on sale on like the 10th of the month but they sell out real fast. It was the case for me and I had to ask a friend residing japan to help me get it. Apparently they have separate quotas for buying in Japan and from overseas. You should google it.

#5

niko and … ニコアンド
★★★★☆
Address 6 Chome-12-20 Jingumae, Shibuya City,
Tokyo 150-0001
Website  http://www.nikoand.jp/
Access 4 minute walk from Meiji-Jingumae Station

Hours
Mon-Sun: 10:00~23:00

This is actually a retail franchise but I really like it. I appreciate brands that has a strong concept and art direction that they use throughout consistently in different areas. They can be as diverse as having food, furniture or even clothes in the same brand. A good example is IKEA and MUJI whom also have a strong typographical system throughout their brand, be it in furniture design, price tags, food menu or catalogues. 

Ok so in a nutshell, “niko and …” is most well-known for its clothes but they also sell potted plants, furniture, daily necessities and some stores have a coppe café in it. The idea is that you can attach any other brand name behind [niko and …], so they manufacture original items, carry certain brands and also collaborates with certain brands (from Casio to).

However all of these things are designed or selected in line with “niko and …”s strong and unique visual language. I remember when I first visited, I really love how everything is done originally in its brand universe. They had such wide variety of original goods that you don’t know what you might find, they even have their own gachapon machines that sell tiny potted plant figurines. I remember when I purchased my first item then, I got a beautiful receipt that has an exclusive QR code to a beautiful brand film they made that season. I still store that advertisement in my phone, because they really make some of the best advertisements.

 
(ABOVE) Not my favourite advertisement of theirs, but still a good one.

The soul of the brand can actually be found in their special “niko and … ” dictionary which is a special edition publication designed by award-winning graphic designer Naomi Hirabayashi who also did the brand’s identity design. This dictionary explains every tiny preference and inclinations that guides the brand. An example is that dictionary states their liking in old luggages full of stickers and scratches or their emphasis on the combination of metal and wood. All of these principals and values culminate to guide the diverse brand to have a hard-to-define yet consistent colour or tone.

BTW, you can check out their painter denim, it sells quite well and I have it. Perhaps next time I will write a post just talking about their advertisements. LOL.

I passed the entrance exams!
 

 
 

 

Next stop ☞ Taiwan ’18

Total Design・トータルデザインー; Bynd Artisan

(TOP) Bynd Artisan, Holland Village Atelier
(上) 「バインド・アーチザン」Holland Village 店舗
Photo courtesy of ‘On The Grid’

There is a new generation of business owners in Singapore. In the past, the ideal was to expand businesses quickly with cheaper and faster techniques, creating gigantic factories of people who can do labour of robotic speed(both literally and metaphorically) . This works in the past but it is pointless to out-Ebay Ebay or any other of these big companies in this world of endless competition. Their strategy is to win to the bottom, but now what we want is to win to the top.

シンガポールに次世代の経営者がいます。以前は、理想としてロボットのようなスピードで仕事ができる人々が集まる巨大な工場(文字通りであろうと比喩的であろうと)を作り、より安くて速い技術を使って急速にビジネスを拡大させようとしていました。これは過去のことですが、この世界における無限の競争の中でイーベイやイーベイのような大きな組織を作れば意味がありません。それらの戦略は底辺での勝利を目指していますが、今私たちに必要なのは頂点で勝利を収めることです。

People in Singapore are no longer willing to do factory-like work, they no longer want to do unfulfilling labour and be easily replaceable. Especially with the ageing population, businesses have trouble finding this gap of employees who are willing to take up these jobs, often turning to foreign employees from countries like China, India or Malaysia.

シンガポールの人々は、以前のように工場のような労働をしたがらないし、達成感のない仕事や簡単に人員交代できる仕事もしたがりません。特に高齢化とともに、これらの仕事に就きたいと思っている労働者のギャップや、中国やインド、マレーシアのような国々からの外国人労働者の雇用問題をビジネスは抱えている。

(TOP) Brand brochure
(上) ブランドパンフレット
Photo courtesy of ‘&Larry’

A book binding business was also struggling in what they call a sunset industry. The employees were old and they just make the same kind of books over and over again. In 2014, they decided to take the bold step of rebranding their entire brand starting with renaming it “Bynd Artisan”

本作りに関連しているビジネスはまた、斜陽産業と呼ばれることに悩んでいました。労働者は年配で、ただ同じことを繰り返し、同じような本を作っています。2014年、彼らは大きな一歩を踏み出す決意をしました。「バインド・アーチザン」へブランド名を改名し、新ブランドを立ち上げたのです。

このブランドの創業者は、「トータル・デザイン」という信条のもと、新しいベンチャービジネスを確立させました。これには、ブランドデザイン、プロダクトデザインやインテリアデザイン、人デザインやコラボレーティブデザインが含まれています。

The founders built this new venture upon the belief in “Total Design” which includes branding design, product ＆ experience design, interior design, people design and collaborative design.

They brought all their backend services to the frontline, making exciting retail stores, branded as “Ateliers”. They also created a strong brand image that is consistent from the products to the interior. An interior reminiscent of a craftsman’s workshop is reflected from the raw textures of the brick walls to the old book-making machinery, creating a unique, stimulating customer experience. A customized notebook system is designed where one can choose from a wide variety of materials such as rivets, strings, paper and leather, even topping it off with an engraved name to make it the perfect gift.

「アトリエ」として確立された、人々を楽しませる小売店を作り、彼らは全てのバックエンドのサービスを最前線に持ってきました。彼らは、製品からインテリアに至るまで首尾一貫している強力なブランドイメージを作り上げました。ユニークなものを生み出したり、顧客の好奇心を刺激したりするインテリアは、煉瓦壁の感触から古典印字機に至るまで反映されている職人の作業場を思い起こさせます。彼らは、カスタマイズできるノートブックシステムを作りました。これは、リベット、糸、紙やカバーのような素材を豊富な種類の中から選ぶことができ、完璧な贈り物のために、それに名前を掘って仕上げることさえもできます。

(TOP) Store Interiors
(上) 店内インテリア
Photo courtesy of ‘&Larry’

Every store is assigned with a more veteran craftsman who has an irreplaceable position, some are even poster boys of the brand. They are taken out of the traditional context of working behind the scenes to the customers where they have a workshop-like space in the middle of the store. They are also paired with a young apprentice, where they will impart their invaluable skills and cultivate the next generation. The special effort made for the growth and welfare of the employees exemplifies “People Design”

全ての店舗に取って代わることのできないベテランの職人を割り当てて、その中の数人はブランドの広告塔になりました。店の真ん中には作業場があり、職人は顧客に作業が見えるように正面を向き、その場の後方で働いています。彼らは若い弟子を付けて、製本の技術と知識を伝えようとしています。従業員の成長ややりがいを感じられる努力は「人デザイン」の代表的な例です。

Collaboration is imperative for always pushing out new, fresh works. Bynd Artisan collaborates with people from a wide range of fields like graphic designers, singer-songwriters and fashion designers. A notable example is when they recently collaborated with the 1 Michelin starred local establishment Iggy’s on a dessert known as “5 Stones”. Inspired by the popular Singaporean childhood game, the dessert exudes a local vibe not just in appearance but also in flavours such as Bandung and Bur Bur Cha Cha.

新しくて、斬新な作品を生み出すために、コラボレーションは常に大切にしなければなりません。バインド・アーチザンはグラフィックデザイナーやシンガーソングライター、ファッションデザイナーなどの幅広い分野で活躍している人々とコラボレーションをしました。最近では、「イギーズ」という一つ星レストランと協力して「5 Stones」というお菓子を作りました。シンガポールの子供たちに人気のあるゲームに感銘を受けて、形だけでなく味も「ボボチャチャ」や「バンドン」のようにシンガポール風にしました。

(TOP-LEFT) 5 Stones – A dessert collaboration with Iggy’s
(TOP-RIGHT) Poster of veteran craftsmen
(上左) 「イギーズ」というレストランとコラボした「5 Stones」というお菓子
(上右) 職人のポスター
Photo courtesy of ‘&Larry’

They grew to 5 outlets in a very short time, reflecting the potential of the brand. They were also awarded the highest accolade of Singapore design, the President’s Design Award, becoming a role model of how design supports businesses. I am confident that in time to come, there would be more and more people with the same mindset and we will see people pushing the boundaries once again.

短期間の間に５つの新店舗がオープンし、ブランドの将来性がはっきりと見えてきました。さらに、2016年にシンガポールで最も権威のある大統領デザイン賞を受賞し、彼らのデザインがビジネスを支える手本となりました。同じ考えを持つ人が増えていくと、ふたたびその境地を開いていく人々が現れるはずです。
 
 

 
 

DISCLAIMER☞The writing and content have seem odd during the attempt to draw a parallel between my limited Japanese ability and English expressions. This is for my practice, let me know areas of improvements thanks. Special thanks to my Japanese teacher, Anna.

Specific Feelings・具体的な感情

“私は普通にイヤホンで映画を聞きます。
ただ対話。
どうやってこんな音程やトーンが表れられますか？
こんな考えよくあります。”
—DEAN, R＆Bソングライター

“Usually I listen to movies through my earphones,
just their dialogues.
How do I express these tones or sounds visually?
I think about that alot”
– Dean, R&B Artist

What inspires you? How can you get inspired?
Sometimes it is hard to find the right inspiration and we would get the writer’s block and have trouble delivering good work, no matter what medium you are working in, be it food, music or art.

あなたは何のことからインスパイアされましたか？どのようにインスパイアされましたか？
我々はたまに創作の行き詰まりを会って、ひらめきも来させにくくて、料理や美術や音楽どんな媒質でも、いい作品を作るのは難しいです。

以前、演劇のクラスで私たちが学んだ大事なことは「感情は単独なものではない」ということです。
もし私たちがただ喜、怒、哀、楽をそれぞれに演じたら、人間のような演技ではなくて、ロボットのようになります。
人間の感情は時々わけがわからなくなり、悲しみと憂うつさを感じると同時に怒りも含んでいます。

I remember back in my theatre class days, a prominent thing that we learnt is that emotions are not singular.
We don’t just feel “happy, angry, excited, sad” by itself, that would be robotic.
Sometimes our feelings are mixed up and complicated, you feel sad and depressed but at the same time its embedded with some anger.
 
 
 
 

(TOP-LEFT) Kowloon Walled City, Hong Kong 1970s/1980s
(TOP-RIGHT) Kawasaki Warehouse, a Japanese arcade inspired by the Kowloon Walled City
(上左) 以前の香港九龍城
(上右) 現在九龍城インスパイアされたゲームセンター、Kawasaki Warehouse

 
 

The same could be said about design projects.
We are often briefed to make a work “friendly, cute, cool or professional” and sometimes the result we produce are just like that.
It doesn’t touch their hearts, their reactions would just be “Oh, that’s cute” and that’s it.

デザインでも同じことが言われています。
クライアント の要求に応じていつもフレンドドリー、プロ、かっこいい、可愛いなど基本的な特徴を表現させます。
作った作品も書いたとおりにそのままです 。
人の心も動かないし、「ええ、あれは可愛いですね」と言ってこれで終わり。

特別に感じられた作品から、具体的な雰囲気と性格が見えます。
実際の場所、時代と行動の精神が描写されています。
1980年代VHSの懐古・懐かしさ、パリアールデコの魅力、香港九龍城のさびた雰囲気。
このような特徴が作品の中に表れています。

I observed in works that makes me feel something special, that they have very specific feelings.
They portray the spirit of real places, eras and movements.
The nostalgia of the 1980s VHS style, the glamour of Parisian Art Deco, or the dystopian vibes of the Kowloon walled city.
There is soul in these kind of inspirations.
 
 

 
(ABOVE) Songs by DEAN inspired from movies like Bonnie & Clyde.
From the lyrics to the acting and ambient sounds added, the spirit of the movie can be felt.
(上)「俺たちに明日はない(ボニーとクライド)」とかの映画がインスパイアされた歌手DEANの歌。
歌詞、PVの演技、入った雑音とか映画の精神が感じられます。

 
 

An example can be found in the Korean hip-hop fashion brand Nonagon.
Like hip hop music itself, the brand’s personality is partially mischievous and sometimes aggressive yet is very chill and relaxed at times.
Such flexible and multifaceted vibes are apparent through their logo, website, social media, advertisements and videos etc.

ノナゴンという韓国ヒップホップファッションブランドに、その一例がみられます。
ヒップホップのような茶目っ気と余裕があるのに強い感情もブランドの性格に入っています。
こんな人間のようにフレキシブルで、多面な様子がロゴ、ウェブサイト、広告、動画などのところに表れています。

 
(ABOVE) Nonagon’s Brand Film.
(上) ノナゴンのブランド動画。

 
 

これから作品がもっとはっきり分析できるようになりたい。面白い話題を研究して、もっと具体的な感情を作品に現したい。

I wish to be able to analyze works better from now on, researching into interesting topics and making works that carry specific feelings.
 
 

 
 

DISCLAIMER☞The writing and content have seem odd during the attempt to draw a parallel between my limited Japanese ability and English expressions. This is for my practice, let me know areas of improvements thanks.