Earlier this month, I made the drive out to LA to catch “Pictograms: Iconic Japanese Designs” at Japan House Los Angeles. I'd been eyeing it for a while, and I'm glad I made the trip before the exhibit ended.
The first emojis designed by Shigetaka Kurita (left). Everyday Japanese pictograms (right)
The exhibition, curated and designed by Nippon Design Center (NDC), walks through Japan's deep influence on the pictograms we interact with every day. It opens with a striking comparison: a wayfinding sign using pictograms next to one relying entirely on text to communicate the same information. From there, it traces the history of pictographic communication in Japan, from kanji and family crests to the groundbreaking symbol set NDC created for the 1964 Tokyo Olympics. A standout section breaks down NDC's actual design process, including the 40x40 grid system designers use to distill complex ideas into universally understood symbols. The exhibition also features NDC's “Experience Japan Pictograms” project, a free-to-use symbol set designed to help international visitors navigate the country, and closes with interactive installations where visitors can build their own pictograms.
The curation of the exhibit was so good. Every zone built on the last, making a compelling case for something most of us barely notice. Pictograms are one of those design achievements that succeed precisely because they disappear into daily life. They shape how we move through airports, read our phones, and navigate public spaces, all without saying a word. That kind of quiet, universal communication doesn't happen by accident. It takes real design discipline, and this exhibit makes that visible.
–Robert (@robertvidaure)
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