Tama Art University – What's the concept?
A look at the concept behind Takenobu Igarashi's 1995 logo for Tama Art University.
What’s the concept?
Tama Art University is a private university located in Tokyo. It is known as one of the top art schools in the country.
In 1995, almost 60 years after its opening, it was decided that a new trademark be designed. This responsibility would be given to the renowned Japanese designer Takenobu Igarashi.
In reverence to Hisui Sugiura, the first Dean of the University and a pioneer of Japanese graphic design, Igarashi modelled a logo after the character 美 which means beauty or art in Japanese, and part of 美術 (bijutsu) which means fine arts.
In this combination of form (balance and elegance) and word (beauty and art), it evokes the technique of a mixed-surrogates, also known as picture writing, common in Japan.
Bird Logos
One of my favourite sub categories in logo design is the ‘bird logo’. A symbol of freedom, the bird logo has come to represent things such as human rights and peace and more corporate notions of speed and efficiency. During my research, bird logos have proven to be particularly popular in Japan, and often around unexpected industries such as construction companies, and more globally, for air travel. What are your favourite bird logos?
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