JAN 11, 2009 – Shigeo Fukuda dies in Tokyo. I didn’t know Fukuda by name, although I should have. I’ve seen his work and although I liked it, I never investigated who had done it. Sometimes it’s like that for me with graphic designers. I usually do a bit of research on painters or illustrators when I see work that I like. However, when I saw Fukuda’s yellow cannon poster (Victory 1945) in the obituary column, it was such a strong image that I had to do some looking.
Fukuda was a master of graphically simple, yet creatively complex posters and graphic designs. He was a follower of the Swiss Style, a Western design style from the 40′s and 50′s known for it’s minimalism. He worked mostly in the realm of political and social issue advocacy, as opposed to the commercial world.
He has this great quote about his view on design – I believe that in design, 30 percent dignity, 20 percent beauty and 50 percent absurdity are necessary. I’m sad to see him gone, but he’s left a great legacy and will continue to be an influence and inspiration to future designers.
Above is a spoof I did based on the satirical poster that caught my eye, and below is my sketch idea and process for making my drawing. Also below are some other samples of Fukuda’s work, including his amazing shadow sculptures (created from trash and found objects). (more…)
