Design Forum 1987

This elegant original exhibition poster created in 1987 by legendary Japanese designer Yusaku Kamekura was produced for Design Forum '87, held at the prestigious Matsuya Ginza department store in Tokyo.

One of the most influential figures in twentieth-century graphic design, Kamekura is widely regarded as the father of modern Japanese visual communication. His work helped define Japan's post-war graphic identity, combining the clarity of international modernism with the refinement and restraint of traditional Japanese aesthetics.

The poster presents a stylised nocturnal skyline composed of monumental geometric skyscrapers emerging from a deep black background beneath a crescent moon. The city appears twice within the composition, creating a rhythmic repetition that recalls architectural reflections while reinforcing the poster's carefully balanced structure.

Rendered in subtle gradients of gold, silver and warm beige, the buildings evoke both the vertical energy of contemporary cities and the optimism surrounding Japan's economic and technological expansion during the 1980s. The minimalist palette gives the composition an extraordinary elegance while allowing the architecture to appear almost luminous against the darkness.

The typography itself is treated with equal precision. The bold "DESIGN FORUM '87" lettering anchors the composition while the Japanese text below integrates seamlessly into the visual rhythm of the image. The result is a perfect demonstration of Kamekura's mastery of proportion, spacing and typographic harmony.

By 1987, Japan had firmly established itself as one of the world's leading centres for industrial design, architecture and visual communication. Events such as Design Forum provided a platform for dialogue between designers, architects and creative industries during a period of remarkable innovation and international influence.

Kamekura was uniquely positioned to represent this moment. Internationally celebrated for his iconic posters for the 1964 Tokyo Olympic Games, he played a pivotal role in introducing Swiss-inspired modernist principles to Japanese graphic design while maintaining a distinctly Japanese sensibility.

The stylised cityscape can be interpreted both as a representation of Tokyo itself and as a broader symbol of modern urban life, technological progress and the future-oriented spirit that characterized Japanese design culture during the late twentieth century.

Original exhibition posters by Yusaku Kamekura are increasingly sought after by collectors of graphic design, modernist posters and Japanese visual culture. Their historical significance and timeless aesthetic place them among the most important examples of post-war design history.

Combining architectural elegance, minimalist sophistication and exceptional graphic balance, "Design Forum '87" stands as a superb example of Kamekura's enduring legacy and of the extraordinary vitality of Japanese design during the 1980s.

Original Poster

Exhibition - Japan - Design

Matsuya Ginza Toppan

Good condition, light folds