Sawamura Award 2024 Imago Praecipua Eventus by Takuma Tahara

Sawamura Award 2024 Imago Praecipua Eventus by Takuma Tahara is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2025 Praemium A' Design Award Argenteum in Graphica Competition Category.

ArgentumGraphica· 2025

Sawamura Award 2024 Imago Praecipua Eventus

by Takuma Tahara

Client: SAWAMURA Inc.

Praemium A' Design Award Argenteum Winner in Graphica Category

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Verified Award Winner
Verify Award Status for #171707

View at A' Design Award Press Release Award Badge

Colors

The Design

About Sawamura Award 2024 Imago Praecipua Eventus

Praemium Sawamura MMXXIV est imago praecipua visualis creata pro eventu societatis novis operariis dicato, qui in theatro tradito Kabuki Kyotii in Iaponia celebratus est. Argumentum eventus erat traditio et innovatio. Litterae verbi KABUKU typographia varia delineatae sunt, ita ut quaeque littera et ut littera et ut illustratio fungatur. Colores et exemplaria Iaponica traditionalia ex theatro sumpta cum ratione colorum recenti coniuncta sunt. Imago praecipua diplomatibus, invitationibus in formam tesserarum spectaculi effictis, sigillis et divulgationi applicata est, ita ut eventus aspectum unum atque congruentem acciperet.

The Recognition

About the Praemium A' Design Award Argenteum

Sawamura Award 2024 Imago Praecipua Eventus victor est Praemii A' Design Award Argenteum, honoris eximie amplissimi formis summi generis, pulchris et conspicuis dati. Victores Argenti opera valde splendida et creandi ingenio praedita sunt, quae praestantem peritiam, talentum et acumen auctorum suorum ostendunt. Exspectatur Sawamura Award 2024 Imago Praecipua Eventus opus mirabile, exemplare, valde professionale et penitus novum fore. Haec forma Argento victa inventum notabile et admiratum est, quod ad fines artis, scientiae, formandi rationis et technologiae promovendos confert. Sawamura Award 2024 Imago Praecipua Eventus creatio est, quam multi invident, quae cupiditates excitat, sensus bonos affert et admirationem miraculumque movet.

Behind the Design

Press Kit

Credits, team members and technical details provided by the designer.

Unique Properties: Key visual for an event for new employees at SAWAMURA Inc. The event held at the traditional Minami-za theater in Kyoto. The unique feature of this key visual is that it synchronizes with the characteristics of the venue (Kabuki). This key visual was displayed in the client's office and at the venue, and was also used on the award certificates, social media publicity, press release, and invitations (like show tickets). The uniformity of the visuals increased the motivation of those involved in the event and heightened the excitement of the event.
Dimensions & Packaging: Key visual: W728mm x H1030mm
Invitation: W20mm x H76mm
Seal: Diameter 40mm
Certificate of commendation: W210mm x H297mm
Tags: Key visual, Japanese, tradition, innovation
Production Technology: Adobe Illustrator CC
Design Challenge: The most difficult part was the color scheme. I had never used so many colors at once in my previous work, so I tested and proposed several patterns.
To refine the design, it is better not to use too many colors, but since it was decided that each winner would use different colors and patterns, I had no choice but to use many colors.
It was difficult to balance traditional Japanese colors with a color scheme that felt new.
Research: I wanted to incorporate the actual Kabukiza theatre into the design, so I worked with the client to research the venue, looked into Kabuki itself, and studied traditional Japanese colour schemes. I incorporated patterns used in the actual Kabukiza theatre and objects used in its architecture into the design. I also fused elements that feel innovative.
Inspiration: The event theme was "KABUKU". It is close in meaning to "cut a dash". The alphabet of "KABUKU" was designed using various typography. These pieces function both as typography and as illustrations. They are both alphabetical and kabuki (Minamiza is a traditional Japanese kabuki venue) illustrations. "KABUKU" also means "playful behavior." The alphabet to look like a different motif. The event also has the sub-concept of tradition and innovation, the color scheme was chosen to evoke a feeling of traditional Japanese style combined with newness.
Project Duration: The project was held at Minamiza, Kyoto, Japan on March 29, 2024
Operation Flow: This key visual not only serves as a formal announcement design within the concept, but also incorporates elements of traditional Japanese Kabuki visually. It can convey the meaning of the event's theme, "Tradition and Innovation," in a broader and deeper sense to new employees who participate in the event.
Image Credits: #All Creator Takuma Tahara