To celebrate the Pictograms: Iconic Japanese Designs exhibition, JAPAN HOUSE Los Angeles presents a special hands-on workshop inviting guests to create their very own pictograms. As a fun creative outing for design lovers and families alike, participants will take home their completed pictogram and will receive exclusive pictogram badges, serving as a unique souvenir of the event and the exhibition spotlighting this design legacy.
Pictograms are an integral part of everyday life, appearing everywhere on street signs, in train stations, and across digital platforms such as computers and smartphones. They are visual icons that are designed to communicate information across languages and cultures. Japan has played a pivotal role in the development of pictograms, including introducing the first full set of Olympic pictograms for the 1964 Tokyo Olympic Games and the first emoji, which is now used globally as a universal visual language.
This workshop will be led by Daigo Daikoku, Art Director and CEO and Kosuke Tsurube, Senior Designer of Nippon Design Center. The program will open with an educational presentation introducing Nippon Design Center (NDC)’s extensive body of work, followed by an overview of the history and development of pictograms within the field of visual communication.
After this fascinating introduction, participants will be guided through a design session to make their own pictograms. Daikoku will conduct a live sketching demonstration to show how to create a pictogram step-by-step, sharing professional tips and design guidelines. Using specially prepared worksheets modeled after those used by NDC when creating pictograms for the Experience Japan Pictogram project, guests will be prompted to create pictograms that focus on wide-ranging themes including culture, food, landmarks, nature, and transportation, allowing them to personalize their designs.
The program will conclude with a show-and-tell where guests can share their creations, fostering dialog and creative engagement amongst the attendees.
The workshop will be held twice (with same content in each program) and is open to guests ages 10 and up. Participants under the age of 14 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.