Japanese Design Is More Than Minimalism

Minimalism is just one variation of Japanese culture and design, but it seems as if minimalism ended up representing what the world perceives as the Japanese aesthetic. In this video, let's explore what Japanese design is, and appreciate the everyday, organised chaos of their maximalistic designs that you might have missed.
📖 References
Design Huddle Podcast - Design News: Japanese design and the difference between international Vs. local presentation
kzbin.info/www/bejne/i3y2e4Sbe5uiqq8&ab_channel=DesignHuddle-TopRatedTechandDesignPodcast
Getting to Noh: Myths of Japanese Minimalism
hyperallergic.com/566719/getting-to-noh-myths-of-japanese-minimalism/
“How Japan Made Me a Minimalist”
www.tokyoweekender.com/2019/02/how-japan-made-me-a-minimalist/
The Japanese Minimalist Lifestyle with TOOTHPIC NATIONS
www.japannakama.co.uk/the-japanese-minimalist-lifestyle-with-toothpic-nation/
The Origin of Minimalism
minimalistroad.com/origin-of-minimalism/#how_Minimalism_Started
THE SECRET OF ZEN DESIGN: TRACING THE HISTORY OF MINIMALISM
www.interactiongreen.com/zen-zero-design/
The Commercial Zen of Muji
www.newyorker.com/business/currency/the-commercial-zen-of-muji
How to Not Be Befuddled by Japanese Design
medium.com/swlh/how-not-to-be-bamboozled-by-japanese-design-ad385a58e3dc
🤳🏻 Stay connected with us!
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We also write articles on Medium to help you up your PPT game: blog.dstory.co
🎵 Music we used
"Jiminell" by 895studio
kzbin.info/www/bejne/rZWrkoCkoNh7n5o&ab_channel=895studio
"Senerity by Prod. Riddiman"
kzbin.info/www/bejne/eamUonuBesSsb7M&ab_channel=Prod.Riddiman
"Candy Moon by Dayz Musiq
kzbin.info/www/bejne/m5THlZeMpr1lhZI&ab_channel=DayzMusiq
"One Wish" by ROA
kzbin.info/www/bejne/h36TqZiHmaZkj6s
👀 Check out our other videos!
Latest uploads: Why is Boy Band MIRROR so Popular in Hong Kong?
kzbin.info/www/bejne/mnq2lKOvi7aUqck
PowerPoint Design: Designing an Animal Crossing Themed PowerPoint About the Coronavirus
kzbin.info/www/bejne/Z5WVanaMmpaohdk
⏱️ Timestamps
00:00 - I'm inspired by their organised chaos
01:18 - A quick history lesson
3:26 - They need a lot of reassurance
5:19 - They need value for money
6:30 - Minimalism is marketable
8:37 - There's so much to talk about!!
#japanesedesign #minimalism #maximalism

[@dstoryco]

What comes to mind when you think about Japanese design? Do you think of minimalism? Share with us some of your favourite Japanese designs!!

[@FBI8855]

請問可唔可以加返啲中文字幕

[@ny2869]

Like watching ur video, clear presentation, informative

[@ny2869]

How come u are able to capture that interesting scene in 日常 which I totally forgot it’s existence

[@nkdevde]

I think of things being orderly, neat, practical, but also friendly, e.g. with appliances playing a pleasant melody when turned on.

[@dstoryco]

@@FBI8855 我的中文不太好，但是我會試一試！！🙌 會慢一點

[@sakurachristineito6428]

As a person who has been visiting Japan since the 90's I think Tokyo was NOWHERE near minimalistic like the west thinks. I was completely drawn into the glitzy, sparkly, loud, happening, vibrant & energetic space that is like Ginza at night, Pachinko parlors, game centers & early 90's anime like Ranma, Dragonball z & Sailormoon. I guess that what makes modern Japan attractive

[@dstoryco]

Absolutely! I love the fact that it feels overwhelming!

[@khaimk4r4su]

People are kind of numb-sighted and don't see the classic eiga posters, at least the ones from popular shows. They are very saturated. Sometimes in a tasteful way

[@user-ul5wq3kv4p]

This video reminded me of my roommate in Japan who is Japanese. Our rooms were the same exact size but even with the most simple things his room looked unique and twice as much more spacious. He is a designer himself , so there's that.

[@jacobharvey2946]

It does feel like Japan has a split personality when it comes to design. Personally I experienced a lot of minimalism in school (I even had a professor who wrote a book on Japanese graphic design) so that’s what I usually think of first. And now with the Internet, and Japan’s info-rich, and sometimes chaotic looking design (to us westerners), it feels like that side is all that’s discussed.

[@janjavate1405]

that google search for Japanese Design was so relatable. I always liked how they design their graphics but can't find that right reference.

[@bruce-le-smith]

haha super relatable, loved the humour in this video too

[@micchiki2430]

I love this! I'm slowly building my design portfolio and I wanted to focus on the aspects of Japanese design. Right now, when they say "Japanese-style", it's always narrowed down to minimalism but after intensively researching, I can say that Japanese architecture is actually so much more diverse than it is perceived.

[@dstoryco]

It really is and there's so much to explore other than just minimalism! I haven't been looking at Japanese architecture yet, but it should be interesting to research!

[@foodie1986]

that espresso experience is exactly what happened to me the first time i ordered one. got a tiny paper cup with an even tiny amount of liquid. had to pretend that i liked it.

[@MattiasPilhede]

Oh this was a really great video! One of the things that shocked me about going to Japan was the maximalist design everywhere and overwhelming amounts of information. My exposure to Japanese graphic design was minimalism, and so I assumed that would be the case everywhere. Instead I was surprised whenever I did see the minimalist design. Recently I've been more interested in maximalist design and how to actually do it. I wonder in some ways if maybe maximalism and minimalism are actually very similar in a way, and that the core idea that unites them might be about organizing things. So I really hope you still intend to do a video on Japanese maximalist design some day!

[@lulinestorage]

excited here as well…..😅

[@alexanderholland1018]

Sad to see this is 2 years old with no updates. Would love to see more of this!

[@johnoestmannmusic]

I'm sorry, that scene transition from the falling camera during the earthquake at 3:26 was **chefs kiss**

[@narutokunn]

That transition at 3:26 is smooth. Felt like the camera dropped due to the earthquake buttt.. not

[@humanthetooth]

This idea really intrigued me. Its something ive brushed against often but never quite put into words. I hope you pick the series back up!!

[@Chester-y1y]

I lived in Japan for a few years in the early 1970s and my experience was that Japanese design (store layouts, magazines) was anything but minimalist. I would call it "exquisitely organised overload". Quite good when you got used to it, I thought. Today, walk into any Bic Camera and check out the way products are shelved. A lot of stuff in a small space.

[@LeoHaviaras]

Amazing, this video blew my mind, as a Brazilian, i can feel the drastically cultural difference between us westerns from the Japan approach

[@Nesterou]

Oh my. You're talking about how you're so impressed about Japanese design, but you nailed it in your very video. It was so wholesome to watch!

[@plixplop]

3:13 I'm dying at the censor blur disappearing after the inappropriate figurine was knocked off the toilet 😂 I think the comparison of the Japan vs US Marie Kondo thumbnails really sums up the whole video! Very interesting.

[@ネメシス-h1z]

I wouldnt say that japanese design is minimal. Its refined.

[@minihali]

Aww man, I was so ready to watch the whole two year backlog of videos covering this niche topic in depth. Well, at least we got one that got me hooked into learning more about this topic myself!

[@tompearce6312]

Wow, so interesting! I love Japanese design and anime and manga but I'd never really looked at it in this way before. I think the peaceful, serene idea of Japan and the intense kawaii idea are both really appealing to a lot of westerners. For me these days it's the traditional crafts too.

[@AustrianLinuxMemer]

I was born for minimalist designs Low space, high functionality is their philosophy

[@chaurichard3157]

this is one of the best on KZbin, hope you can continue the series, you are a treasure on this platform

[@butterfliesinantarctica2]

i love how she put グーグル翻訳 on the thumbnail

[@dstoryco]

HAHAH OOPs 🤫🤫🤫 keen eyes

[@ny2869]

Looking forward to your upcoming videos! Keep the quality! Best wishes!

[@dstoryco]

thank you so much!!! trying my best to improve my videos further!

[@SpookyDayo]

That was an awesome video! Very excited for this series :)

[@dstoryco]

Yay, thank you!!

[@dakshya.s]

Such a creative exploration!

[@dstoryco]

Thank you so much!!

[@anibalismo]

Your videos are really beautiful. There is a lot of info unpacked and full of personality

[@BoingoRider]

This was amazing and I can't wait to see more,

[@SeaSerpentLevi]

hell yea i'm craving for more content on japanese design, its so few and far between but its such a endless source of fascination.. And this was a great video! Just found this channel but i already love it >:O

[@dstoryco]

Thank you so much!! We'll try to upload more as we learn more about Japanese design!

[@paulglennhunter]

I've definitely noticed the common belief over here that Japan is all about minimalism and less is more. So much so that even I buy into the hype until I actually remember what walking around Tokyo or Osaka is like, or using a webpage in Japan with its cluttered, incredibly dense design (buying tickets to events or places is something else. I need to set a day aside to try and figure it all out in advance before I need to pull the trigger and get my wallet ready). Interesting topic, I'll check out the rest of the series.

[@malvikatewari91]

Such a wonderful comparison of two coexisting aesthetics and their place in history, please keep sharing more!

[@samsturdi]

Kinda a bummer this video literally didn’t talk about the subject.

[@shkhan84]

This was such a God send! I can si relate to the whole Internet searches only talking about minimalism, especially like you so rightly pointed is not the case. I was searching for kawaii information and your video was so helpful overall❤❤❤

[@codeninja100]

This is such an interesting insight. The minimalistic signature of Japan is just an outward facing marketing strategy whilst real Japanese design for Japanese is more maximalist. It's something ive seen but never noticed until now! Awesome video!

[@ledojaeger7474]

This video was amazing!! I’d love to see continued content from you about this!

[@XINN1X]

i really hope this series comes back this video was so great

[@bruce-le-smith]

Cool video, the algorithm floated it to me today. Wanted to share that before/after WWII my grandparents also lived very simple lives in North America - They grew up without electricity or plumbing (maybe they had a few basic 12v batteries to power some early farm equipment). And they ate food they grew on their own farms. My grandma told learning how to bake cakes and pies with heat in a cast-iron wood-fired stove was very tricky! My great uncle told me he once dove into a hole in a frozen lake to get a 12' cast iron pry bar because that's how precious that tool was at the time. Sometimes some of the changes all of us homo sapiens are struggling to adapt to aren't only because of socio-political (traditional Japanese homes) or religious (Zen Buddhism) factors. Sometimes those changes might be due to the Industrial Revolution and the sudden mass availability of electricity, chemicals, motors, and plastic after WWII. I think it's still a part of our global history that we're all struggling to make sense of. Unfortunately we haven't really had time to catch our breath. In just a few generations we've rapidly gone from the electrical grid, to gas motors, to plastic gadgets, to computers, to the internet, to mobile phones, to cameras and microphones everywhere, to ML/AI - And no one's really had time to step back and ask if we're all running in a good direction.

[@MjolnirMarks]

Interesting video - Very well put-together. I especially liked the Marie Kondo thumbnail comparisons. I am covered in traditional style Japanese tattoos, which are full of colour and wild imagery. I love this bright and energetic look, but only when I wear plain and simple shirts or t-shirts with it, to contrast. Perhaps an important aspect to investigate in both the minimalist and maximalist Japanese styles is the relationship between the two?

[@troy1825]

i just found this now, but this is an insanely informative video and i love your personal touch you added onto it. you've earned a subscriber and thank you.

[@dstoryco]

ahhh this comment is so thoughtful! thank you so much! hope you enjoy our other videos as well!

[@sebsalvarado]

you did a Great Job on this video, thanks for bringing up this perspective.

[@dstoryco]

I'm so glad you enjoyed it!

[@jakezepeda1267]

Damn, it just started getting interesting at the end.

[@lurelurche]

woow! can't wait for the next!

[@abimntp]

after i watched this video i realized something, simplicity of muji products and cluttered ads have something in common, a direct message.

[@KaitaniRiku29]

wowww im hooked just watching this introduction! subscribed and looking forward to more videos on this topic 🥰 and the editing is so nice and clear!

[@simplefolding]

Thanks, hope you can continue the series.

[@Pluzzie]

i really like how the thumbnail look like

[@phoebeyutbt]

Extremely nuanced and well-researched video. Thank you!!

[@sainteleven6880]

I got hypnotized by the video.

[@pinkwormm]

i loved this video with all my soul!! keep on going, this content is fire

[@wcisnijstart]

This channel is underappreciated

[@JohnLuarca]

This is great! Pls do more of these videos about Japanese design. 👏🏼❤️

[@dstoryco]

Yes!! Thank you, will do!

[@devilsheephi]

Great video!! Editing really done well and smooth presentation. 由香港人角度去分析日本嘅capitalistic maximalism都幾有趣，因為同香港清倉大特賣個啲ad有異曲同工之妙又有啲唔一樣～希望可以分析埋kawaii core/原宿系帶十幾二十隻公仔嘅maximalism!

[@SoftHighlights]

I love the Michaelsoft Binbows cameo

[@darkshortyx]

I await your explanations, because these are very important topics. Thanks for creating this video!

[@LittleMew133]

I like how snacks are categorized as for kids or adults. Like I remember eating spicy snacks as a kid fine 😂

[@oleksiyraiu7190]

About that YT channel that projects better taste for the foreigners - I do respect that.

[@meatgraffiti]

that earthquake transition was WILD loll

[@devvyplease8177]

Amazing video, can't wait to see the rest

[@jacksparr0w300]

Did you ever make the video on Maximalism? was looking forward to it.

[@evrys]

subscribed. awaiting for next episodes

[@esnho]

Would be great to ear more about this subject!

[@aliettacarbajal]

You’re so right! Japanese design is so rich.

[@felipoto]

Such well made video. Subscribed!

[@aluisiofsjr]

3 years later… where is the series?

[@NoFuqinIdea]

Visiting a Donki is probably the visually noisiest experience any human can ever have.

[@bhaveshartsy7805]

your video just getting views, it reached to me somehow, I liked it, are you still continuing the series ? would love to watch.

[@shuccle6161]

Love it! Can you cover gaming designs like Nintendo and Pokemon specifically, from the Japanese perspective vs Western? I've noticed so many things over the years from the consumer perspective but a video about all of it would be awesome

[@aliettacarbajal]

I love it! 😍please keep shearing

[@cyan_galaxy]

Maybe the maximalist design trends from Japan hava taken advantage from the fact that the Japanese language can transmit more "information per inch"? Kanji (and Hiragana and Katakana) can be recognisable in smaller sizes and carry meaning in a single symbol that in English would need much more space for the words needed to display the information.

[@ThatCrookedMind]

Hey, really awesome video! Well searched and clearly presented! It's the kind of design content I'd love to see more of here on KZbin. Subscribed ;)

[@dstoryco]

Thank you so much for subscribing! Thank you for your kind words : ) Baby Driver is my favourite movie so I love your timelapse video : ))

[@acerina141]

I need more of this 😭😭😭😭

[@RG-vh6kg]

So insightful!

[@clifftse7767]

4:25-4:34 It got me

[@SuedeBeach]

Wow how long did this video take to make?? It’s so complex and so good!! I’m a designer and really interested in storytelling around design thinking and how it manifests in culture. Would love to see more from you

[@narutokunn]

Came here from reddit. Subd. Eagerly waiting.

[@dstoryco]

Thank you so much!!! Please anticipate it 🥰🥰🥰

[@hamad_2000]

Same

[@nomad1517]

IKEA always had that Japanese feel to it. Colorful. Clean, but playful and practical. I think the Japanese mastered practicality for the most part. Same thing with the nordic countries. I could be wrong though. That's just what I have perceived.

[@lowstaar]

Minimalism is a declining trend, cluttercore is the new deal. Minimalist houses, furniture, lifestyle cost too much and not practical at all and look very sterile. People started to spend more time at home during Covid and realized that living in a clinical and soulless environment is pretty bad. There was a KZbin video about cluttercore which I recommend watching.

[@hundredandten]

i dont get how minimalist houses cost too much… it has less

[@EmL-kg5gn]

@@hundredandten I think it’s because even though buying more costs more, having the freedom to discard things without worrying about maybe needing it again or finding a way to repurpose it one day is a luxury. Simple things like cardboard boxes and jars pile up and create clutter because you just never know!

[@Chris3s]

@@EmL-kg5gn I don't think this is true. You can resell a lot of stuff you don't need anymore. And if no one wants to pay for it, then just give it away for free and make someone else happy if you don't need it. We had so many things lying around for years and most of it we could sell.

[@EmL-kg5gn]

@@Chris3s In theory but a lot of people can’t do that so easily because of the specific anxieties and other mental effects of poverty. Not to mention selling something does usually take time/effort and poor people usually have less time and energy to spare. You also don’t usually make back what you paid so if you do sell but unexpectedly end up needing it again one day you’re left with an avoidable expense

[@Chris3s]

@@EmL-kg5gn sure, but it takes like 10-15min to post something including taking pictures and a quick research. You would also sell something you won't need, like clothes you don't wear or some stuff like presents you never used etc

[@AriKihel]

I finally found material about that ❤❤

[@bottle-]

No further episodes????

[@trappercap]

Holy shit, I needed this video so much ily

[@alexhantson]

Great video !

[@lerdodetejada]

So… where’s the series?

[@tefiiii143]

Awaiting for new episode

[@tlst94]

What if in an alternate timeline, minimalism also applied to manga/anime? Which they always have only 1 chapter/episode with everything planned ahead, well-thought out, and fast-paced. Like Dragon Ball from Bardock to End of Z. Or Naruto from the Minato prologue to the Boruto epilogue. Also, what if every video game was 20-minutes long to beat for average players and 10 minutes for the skilled ones? Even RPGs like Pokemon. How'd enterntainment have been like in that parallel universe?

[@Kr4r4]

Why does this channel doesn't have more videos 💔

[@pscl_0]

Fr 😭

[@catalina257]

Hi, this is amazing! Where can I get more information?

[@Atamagaikokujin]

If you ever go on a japanese website, minimalist is far from the first word you think of. However japanese can navigate that mess for most part without bother

[@YeeHawk]

Your thumbnail is so cool, what type of design is that? Pls tell meeeee

[@gaboqv]

great video, i think Kondo isnt as popular in latam and some people have reached the masses dhowing ux in japan tend to be quite cluttered vs the western counterparts, but i would like to understand more on how they pack information

[@atfernando1]

If you use Nichijou, you’re good in my books.

[@gregh2453]

Great video

[@_cheems_oi]

So good. thank you

[@Seth6097]

Wonderful video Subbed ❤❤

[@artemysdy]

Hey, can you share how to find and study more of Japanese graphic design?

[@FrozenAfricaPrincess]

Thank you for this intro, do you have any book or inspiration sources for Japanese (maximalist) design?

[@nnaomikan]

i need more of thiisssss

[@davidsmusic]

What a cool video, I love it!! could you share the title songs of your music? it´s so lovely to listen instead of design at my job. Greetings from Germany!!

[@igrb]

amazing vid

[@narutokunn]

From which Anime is the Espresso scene after 5:00?

[@dstoryco]

It's called nichijou!! kzbin.info/www/bejne/epS0d3WagbOpkLc&ab_channel=manadancer

[@narutokunn]

@@dstoryco thankyou

[@lieutenantpepper2734]

I would disagree on the iPhone part. The Iphone in Japan really took the country by storm. It was a revolution and took the "galakei" flipphone down so quickly. By the time of the Iphone 4 some companies were handing them over as work phones to their employees. I happened to be one of them, the boss ordered us to use Iphones and paid for it.

[@ajigusnawan2816]

did she just said, "its will became start of th series and gone?