公益社団法人 日本グラフィックデザイナー協会 JAGDA

Overview by Hiroaki Nagai, Editor in chief of Graphic Design in Japan 2010
This year the number of nominees for New Designer Awards was considerably larger than usual –32– perhaps as a result of the introduction of the newly revised selection system. All of the nominees demonstrated strength of a high level, and yet the works this year were generally of a similar trend and works of conspicuous individuality were inarguably few. The three recipients captured their awards in light of the strong sense of promise they clearly showed - a “requisite” for winning a New Designer Award.

Hideto Yagi
Mr. Yagi’s works broadly divide into two types: those created with a snap-off cutter knife and highly detailed pencil drawings Although neither technique is new and in the respect there is no element of fresh innovation, by employing these “hackneyed” techniques and elevating team to a high level of presentation, Mr. Yagi responds firmly to his clients’ demands. Going forward, we look for him to maintain that stance and pursue artistic expression more recognizably his own.


Rikako Nagashima
Ms. Nagashima’s works for a fashion brand all manifest an integrated sense of taste. All of her works of every scale, from major works for the mass media to smaller works for small-scale private companies, show a well-chosen design. And while her works are roughly hewn in some ways, overall they evoke a sense of stable strength. In the coming years, when her clear and powerful designs become augmented by finer details, her works will become all the more appealing.


Shogo Kishino
The works for which Mr. Kishino won the award were all created voluntarily in conjunction with an exhibition, and although it was pointed out that the works he submitted included none created for a client, ultimately he captured the award for the appeal of his beauty structured expressions with their fine balance of graphic taste and physical quality. While his artistic use of thread itself is nothing new, his works, by not giving away to total dependence on technique, exude a strong presence. We look forward to his continued use of Pop Art expression along with future developments in works created on a commercial basis.


Selection Process
• Among the 211 “new designers” (JAGDA members under age 40 as of October 31, 2009) featured in the 2010 JAGDA Annual, a total of 32 were nominated for JAGDA New Designer Awards. These consisted of entrants with 1 work garnering 8 of a possible 10 votes in a given category, or 2 or more works each receiving 6 or more votes. (Because the borderline number of votes needed for selection differed for each category, the posters category, which had the largest number of entries, was used as the standard and scores were computer-adjusted accordingly.)
• All featured works by the nominees were grouped together by designer, and the 20 members of the Selection Committee undertook the preliminary round of voting, with each member allowed to cast up to 5 votes in total. The voting, carried out anonymously by filling out printed forms, produced a total of 11 designers garnering 4 or more votes. The Committee members unanimously decided to narrow the field to these 11 finalists.
• The second round of voting, conducted by the same method, allowed the Committee members to cast up to 3 votes in total. The results were as follows: 2 nominees garnering 7 votes each, 2 garnering 6 votes, 3 garnering 5 votes, 3 garnering 4 votes, and 1 garnering 0 votes. Following discussions as to how to proceed next, a majority decision led to a third round of voting for the same 11 nominees. This time, each Committee member selected which nominees he felt deserving of 1st, 2nd and 3rd places, again indicated on written forms (with the provision that all voting members had to choose the full complement of 3 proposed winners). This time, a 1st-place vote was worth 3 points, 2nd place 2 points, and 3rd place 1 point.
• This final round of voting produced the following results: Hideto Yagi 18 points, Rikako Nagashima 17 points, Shogo Kishino 16 points. The Committee members agreed to bestow the JAGDA New Designer Awards on these 3 new designers.