Kenya Hara: 5 Iconic Works by the Japanese Designer

Contents:

• Umeda Hospital
• Haptic Exhibition & Senseware: immersion in the world of tactile sensations
• "Designing space for four-legged friends"
  "Design focused on the needs of dogs"
  "Creating a comfortable environment for dogs"
  "Architectural solutions for life with a pet"
  "Innovations in architecture for our tailed companions"
• The meaning of the symbols of the Tokyo Olympics
• Xiaomi

Kenia Hara, a Japanese designer, was born on June 5, 1958. He graduated from Musashino Art University in Kodaira and initially focused on graphic design. However, over time, his professional interests broadened significantly. Currently, Hara is renowned as a curator of original exhibitions and the author of several significant works on design theory.

Since the early 1980s, Hara has actively collaborated with the Japanese agency Nippon Design Center, and in 1992 he founded the Hara Design Institute. The studio he created covers a wide range of design areas, including branding, book design, and exhibition development.

Another significant stage in Hara's biography is his work as art director for Muji, a well-known manufacturer of home goods. A unique feature of their product designs is their minimalist design, which excludes the use of logos and bold branding elements. Nevertheless, the company's products are easily recognizable thanks to their original, restrained Japanese style.

Japanese minimalism is a key feature of Kenya Hara's work. In this context, it is worth considering some of his most significant projects.

Umeda Hospital

In 1998, Kenya Hara created a wayfinding system for Umeda Medical Center, which focused on obstetrics and pediatrics. The designer set himself the task of providing a feeling of comfort, warmth, and safety for the main patients of this clinic - women and children.

Hara came up with an original idea: signs and markers developed according to his concept were made of white cotton covers. At first glance, this approach might not seem the most convenient, but its main purpose was that these covers could be easily removed, regularly washed and replaced, which ensured a high level of hygiene.

Haptic & Senseware: An Immersion in the World of Tactile Sensations

In 2004, Kenya Hara developed the idea for an exhibition focusing on sensory perception in the field of design. The project involved 22 experts from various disciplines, who collaborated to create a collection of art objects.

The word «haptic» translates as "tactile" or "pleasant to the touch" in Japanese, and it is this tactile component that became a key element of the exhibition. The variety of materials and textures evokes a sense of tactile qualities in viewers upon first glance at the exhibits.

Traditional Japanese zori slippers resemble soft moss, and the juice packaging, although made of plastic, looks so realistic that it feels as if it were made from elastic banana peel. This exhibition demonstrates how design can influence our feelings.

"Designing Spaces for Four-Legged Friends"
"Design Focused on the Needs of Dogs"
"Creating a Comfortable Environment for Dogs"
"Architectural Solutions for Living with a Pet"
"Innovation in Architecture for Our Tailed Companions"

This project has become one of the most famous creations of Kenya Hara, who worked on it in collaboration with other Japanese designers. The team developed various houses, beds, and play complexes for dogs, taking into account their breeds and characteristics. The concept is to provide pets with truly comfortable living conditions in a space adapted for humans.

Thus, a platform with a ladder was created, allowing the pet to be on the same level as the owner, and a cozy, soft house suitable for the "plush" Bichon Frise. A wooden ladder with low steps, designed by Hara himself and intended for small dogs, was also created, along with a number of other items. Some of these objects are play areas where four-legged friends can run, jump, and look for hidden treats.

Free plans for these objects are available on the project's website, allowing anyone to build their own pet house or playground by following the instructions provided.

The Meaning of the Symbols of the Tokyo Olympics

Although Kenya Hara was not involved in the design of the Tokyo Games, he still participated in a design competition, as a result of which he presented his interpretation of the Olympic identity.

The emblem is based on a white and red ball, which reflects the colors of the Japanese flag. The main idea was to create an image reminiscent of a flash, one that would be memorable and warm, yet avoid the intrusive brightness of advertising. An important aspect of the design was also the reproduction of a heartbeat through an original print and color gradients. Below the logo, the Olympic rings are presented in a simplified form, using a thin golden outline.

Hara put forward ideas on how his logo could be used: in advertising brochures, in the design of sports grounds, and in celebratory fireworks displays.

Xiaomi

In 2021, Kenya Hara took part in updating the Xiaomi logo. Initially, the new version of the logo surprised many, as the changes were minor and at first glance seemed insignificant. The logo, which was a square with rounded corners, became a little more “round”, turning into the so-called squircle - a combination of a square and a circle. The font contained in this logo has also remained virtually unchanged on a visual level.

Nevertheless, as Hara notes, the design team used mathematical calculations to find the optimal ratio between a circle and a square. This was done to evoke the concept of "aliveness" and reflect Xiaomi's corporate spirit. This logo form serves as a metaphor for the unity of nature and technology.

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