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Last weekend the special exhibition, Japan: Tradition. Innovation, opened at the Museum of Civilization. It runs until October 10th and explores five different areas of Japanese design – Travel, Automation, Social Status, Consumer Culture and Entertainment. When I visited the exhibit on Sunday I was unfortunately too late to see the ‘Advanced Step in Innovative Mobility’ demonstration, but you can see it here:

Throughout the exhibition, modern Japanese design was juxtaposed with older artifacts which created an interesting contrast while also revealing an inherent connection rooted in their history and tradition. A particular piece that caught my eye was a container designed to hold an alcoholic beverage called a ‘Shochu’ bottle. The inspiration for the design was taken from the old Japanese proverb, ‘Nana karobi yaoki’, which translates as, ‘If you fall seven times, get up the eighth.’ The bottle has a curved bottom, and rights itself if tipped over.

As a designer who loves simplicity, I have always idolized Swiss and European design from the BauHaus school, and designers such as Max Miedinger. With little knowledge of Japanese design, I envisioned pictures of Pokemon and Hello Kitty dominating the exhibit. Once I started moving through it, I marveled at how simple and beautiful Japanese design is, and how functionality and innovation is not overshadowed by form.

From a digital standpoint the exhibit utilized some interesting interactive tools. Touch screens were used to showcase some of the ancient Japanese scrolls and compared them to the process and structure of modern Anime comic books. Computers were also set up so that visitors could enter their comments, which were then displayed on large projection screens for everyone to see.

If you are interested in design, technology or Japanese innovation, this exhibit is well worth the visit.

Click here for more information.