Kenya Hara Retrospective PART 2

In 1999 and 2000 Hara produced some incredible work for Japanese breweries. First was the “Dandelion Wine” for Mukawa City in Hokkaido, famous for their fields of dandelions. The exquisite illustration was modified each year, with an additional puffball. The following year, he produced “Hakkin Bottle” for the Masuichi-Ichimura Sake Brewery.

In 1998 and then in 2002, Hara conceived an innovative signage project for two hospitals; the Umeda Hospital in 1998 and the Katta Hospital in 2002. There are 2 interesting things about these designs. First is that the signage is made from cloth. The cloth is also removable and washable, allowing staff workers to maintain a sterile and clean feeling. The concept was derived from restaurants, who welcome their guests with a clean white tablecloth. The second noticeable characteristic is the bold typography uses as a systematic method to guide people to their destinations.

Umeda Hospital

Katta Hospital