THE ROUNDABOUT
6"×6"/card stuck/ 2014

THE ROUNDABOUT is a series of greeting cards using traditional Japanese colors and Waka - traditional poems that communicate in an artistic way. Noble men and women exchanged Waka in letters because they were not to allowed to see each other’s faces nor talk before marriage. They had to be well educated in order to know the true meanings behind these literal poems. The circle shape indicates a specific kanji, 和: wa, which has many meanings in Japanese. The meanings include Japanese culture, harmony, and communication among others. The front page of each card shows a Waka - a Japanese poem. These poems were written about one thousand years ago. The inside page shows the English translation and explains the meaning of the Waka, while the back shows the meaning of the colors and the credits for each translation.
 

OkuCollection
3.5"×3.5"/ premium grossy paper
8.5"×11"/card stuck/ 2014

Okucollection is a handcrafted jewelry brand that I designed. The four unique series are based on the elegance and colors of birds. Oku is a Japanese term for memory and giving gifts, and these jewels are a start to creating beautiful thoughts. By using origami figures and packaging, jewelries can show that their products are dedicatedly handcrafted.
 

Creativity
8.5"×11"/Transparent film/ 2015

Creativity is an interactive work for a project on speed and speculation. The role of speed in graphic design is to give another layer or space to the design in order to create a different mood, such as elegant or intense, in order to show its message more clearly. Also, this work represents the relationship between graphic design artwork and viewers. One side of the work, which shows a boy reading a book, has more elements (in other words, more information) in one place, which creates a quick flow of time. The amount of information causes viewers to take a long time to understand the work or pay attention to the work. On the other hand, another side of work, which shows a boy alone in the space, has minimal information and so has a slow and quiet mood. It takes viewers a moment to get information from the work. The theme in the design is creativity. One opens a book and finds a huge world inside of it. One closes one’s eyes and also finds a huge world there.

MADOKA
10"×10"/card stuck/ 2014

MADOKA is a constellation calendar. The constellations in the sky always tell me which season it is. I love stargazing and drew upon this desire to create an interactive calendar. It shows all of the seasons with their constellations. In Japanese, madoka means a circle, heaven, and perfection.
 

DANDELIONS
5"×11"/ 2014

DANDELIONS is a sake bottle design. Dandelions have very long roots in order to survive. This concept relates to both sake and Japanese people, as both can be stronger than they appear. The product was for a number-presenting project. Each square shows the numbers zero to nine by the numbers of roots. To me, the number zero means the beginning, rather than nothing. I chose for my design to show the beginning of life, which is getting stronger and stronger.

Three Times
12"×22"/ Linen paper/ 2015

Three Times is a faux newspaper written by William Shakespeare about Julius Caesar’s murder, “published” on the day after Caesar was killed. The name, Three Times, comes from the scene where Caesar rejected crowns three times, and the number for March, the month when he was killed. Moreover, “Times” adds the feeling of a newspaper title. Advertisements, numbers, and expressions in the newspaper are based on both Roman culture at the time and quotes from Shakespeare's works. The articles are purposely printed on colored paper, since Rome did not use white paper.
 

Come Here, Stay Here, Almost There
4"×6"×6"/ Plaster/ 2015

Come Here, Stay Here, Almost There is a set of plaster sculptures for the Birdhouse Project. To me, hands are symbols of protection and of welcoming life, both of which are functions of bird houses. Also, these plaster sculptures show that a life is delicate and easily broken.

800
60"×20"/ Plastic thread/ 2015

800 is a piece of crochet work done for an installation project. 800 represents the value of beauty in Japanese culture, namely the idea that there is always something beautiful or inspiring around people, although these things are sometimes hidden or camouflaged from view. All people have to do is seek them out. So, this crochet work is purposely blended into the environment and its visibility to the viewer depends on their angle of view. 800 is named after the Shinto belief called “eight hundred gods” which says that gods are everywhere since everything has a god living inside of it.