Kenya Hara
Kenya Hara (原 研哉, Hara Ken'ya, born 1958) is a Japanese graphic designer, curator and writer. He is a graduate of Musashino Art University. Hara is employed by Musashino Art University as professor, and taught Communication Design and Design Theory in Science on Design Faculty since April 2003.
Kenya Hara 原 研哉 (Hara Ken'ya) | |
|---|---|
at Nippon Design Center, 2012 | |
| Born | Japan, Okayama Prefecture |
| Education | Master's Degree Program(Design Course) of Musashino Art University |
| Known for | Communication Design / Identification Design |
| Website | https://www.ndc.co.jp/hara/ |
Hara is one of the leading designers in Japan and his books Designing Design and White are recognized as essential for anyone studying design theory and aesthetics.
Hara has been the art director of Muji since 2001, and designed the opening and closing ceremony programs of the Nagano Winter Olympic Games 1998.
In 2008, Hara partnered with fashion label Kenzo for the launch of its men's fragrance Kenzo Power. He also designed the official posters for EXPO 2005 Aichi, created the signage system for the Umeda Hospital and the visual identification for the Nagasaki Prefectural Art Museum, worked on new design for the Matsuya department store in Ginza, among many other design projects.
In 2021, Hara partnered with Xiaomi and designed a new logo for the company, which was unveiled on 31 March 2021, replacing the previous one. Hara and his company converted the previous square logo into a squircle. He earned $300,000 from the project.