Playful and original graphic design work by Japanese designer Toru Kase

Toru Kase’s current graphic design work consists of a neat and playful design approach, which results in light-hearted and original work. Kase typically merges type and graphic artwork to create a subtle, yet neat design approach. A great example of Kase’s work is his flyer design work for Dinosaur Expo, an annual group exhibition held in Tokyo, as well as his other flyer design work for a bookstore from 2014.

Kase’s playful design approach for his Dinosaur Expo flyers are light and subtle in colour and shape, creating a minimal-like, yet clean visual outcome. They are playful in visual style, as the curved shapes, asymetrical layout and typography are positioned neatly to engage with the viewer. The theme that Kase went with reflects successfully, as combining the content of the flyer with the visualisation, creates a playful and engaging design. Kase did not go with a complex design approach, he just kept the illustrated artwork simple, and created the typography fun and playful. The flyer design also seems to be aimed for children, as there is a younger audience attraction present.

With Kase’s Fun! Tokyo! project for Japan Rail, Kase shows that he is capable of delivering a corporate-like design approach. Utilising full colour images with large typographic headings, Kase delivers a clean and a more ‘adult’ professional design approach, compared to his Dinosaur Expo flyer designs. His Fun! Tokyo! flyer design work is clear and concise, and delivers a clean and neat visual of promoting the project for Japan Rail.

“His series of posters from 2014 reveal a more structured approach to layout and a great deal of commercial sensibilities.“

What I can take from Toru Kase’s light-hearted and distinctive design approach for inspiration, is the use of creating simple lines, shapes and colours, and composing them into a engaging, yet playful composition. Limiting to a two or four colour palette makes the artwork not visually complex, and legible to understand. I could also take his design approach of utilising full colour images, combined with graphic elements to visual a solution for flyer and/or poster design.