Shigeo Fukuda
Graphic Artist, Poster Designer and a Sculptor. Renowned for his optical illusions.
Born in Tokyo, January 14th 1932.
He was born into a family of toy manufacturers, and grew up with an interest in origami. Fascinated by the handcrafted construction and precision which was involved.
In his teens he found an interest in the minimalism of Swiss graphic design. Influenced by the simplicity, the attention to detail, the precision and the craft skills.
Fukuda graduated from the Tokyo National University of Fine Art and Music in 1956.
In 1966, his work first gained prominence at a Czechoslovakian graphic design competition. One year later, Fukuda's work graced many posters specially commissioned for Montreal's Expo '67.
Realizing Fukuda's great potential as a world-class designer, Paul Rand (American Graphic Designer) helped arrange his first United States exhibition at New York City's IBM Gallery.
During the 1960's, Shigeo Fukuda became interested in illusionism.
"I believe that in design, 30% dignity, 20% beauty and 50% absurdity are necessary. Rather than catering to the design sensitivity of the general public, there is advancement in design if people are left to feel satisfied with their own superiority, by entrapping them with visual illusion."
Shigeo Fukuda was a very idealistic man. He was very anti-war and pro-enviromental.
His 1982 Happy Earth Day posters are prime examples.
驶An upside-down axe, the tool of destruction spoiling the earth's wilderness. The wooden handle, ironically, sprouts a branch of its own.始
Fukuda won a grand prize at the 1975 Warsaw Poster Contest for his piece titled 驶Victory 1945始
驶An illustration of a cannon barrel with its shell pointing downward, back towards the opening, sealing it forever.始
Fukuda's talent in visual communication design, using minimal graphic dimensions was at the foundation of his fame.
In 1980, Fukuda did another marvelous illusionist poster for Amnesty International.
1982 poster announcing a ten-man international poster exhibition. He beautifully proclaims the event by showing ten different pairs of colorful hands embraced in friendship.
It始s easy to see how the simplistic and minimal aspects of Swiss Graphic Design have inspired his work. The sheer quality of his work is what makes me interested in his complex concepts but simple designs.
Shigeo also created sculptures of illusion.
In 1987, Fukuda was inducted into the Art Directors Club Hall of Fame in New York City, which described him as "Japan's consummate visual communicator", making him the first Japanese designer chosen for this recognition.
“Fukuda took his keen sense of design even further with his remarkably futuristic UCC Coffee Pavilion in Tokyo. The entire theme is coffee. From floor to ceiling, the UCC Coffee Pavilion is a swirling marvel of synergistic design. Whether it's the simplicity of the logo, the mixed-media sculpture of Mt. Fuji made of hundreds of coffee cans, the multi-colored, expressionless mannequins holding steaming cups of coffee or the countless burlap sacks containing the mythical bean, Fukuda has created one of the most spirited design wonders the world will see. One can, just by looking at it, smell the delicious aroma of fresh, roasting coffee beans.�
I find Shigeo Fukuda such an interesting and inspirational character because the sheer quality, complexity and intelligence of his work. His target audiences span from older more respectable designers, to students like me, to non designers. His work speaks on such a global level which is another great element to his work.
His home outside Tokyo featured a 4-foot-high front door that would appear far away from someone approaching the house. This door was a visual trick, with the actual entrance to the house being an unornamented white door designed to blend in seamlessly with the walls of the house.
Shigeo died in Tokyo in 2009 on January 11 aged 76.