Designing Japan: A Future Built on Aesthetics
About this book
Designing Japan: A Future Built on Aesthetics is a book by designer Kenya Hara for design students, product designers, and readers interested in Japanese design thinking. Published by Lars Müller in 2019, the 208-page English-language hardcover is translated from the Japanese original and sets out Hara's view of how design can help Japan face an ageing population, a changing manufacturing base, and fast-moving technology. It introduces his philosophy of beauty as a foundation for practical problem-solving.
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For coursework, the book offers a way to connect aesthetics with social and industrial questions rather than treating them separately. Students can use it to examine ideas such as simplicity, perception, and the role of a designer as an organiser of collaboration, then test them against familiar products and brands. It supports reflective writing, concept development, and discussions on how culture shapes design decisions. On a university reading list, it pairs well with monographs on Japanese designers, adding a view of the broader context in which their work is made.
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