A revelatory, beautifully produced compendium of the influential Japanese commercial design journal, with posters, billboards, shop window displays and more

From 1928 to 1930, Tokyo publisher Ars issued The Complete Commercial Artist: a fully illustrated journal of commercial design for both commercial retail spaces and print design. Featuring countless original designs, its 24 volumes were dedicated to topics ranging from posters, packaging, flyers, page layout and typography to neon signage, billboards and shop window displays. Under the guidance of lead editor and writer Hamada Masuji, a passionate advocate for commercial design, the publication became the most important—and visually dazzling—document of Japanese design in its time.

This generous volume from Letterform Archive Books shares hundreds of exuberant and whimsical pages from all 24 volumes of the now-rare publication. An extensive historical essay and volume-by-volume walk-throughs by art historian Gennifer Weisenfeld introduce readers to the magazine's creators and offer analyses of their use of illustration, photography, typography and lettering, highlighting both Japanese and European influences as new forms of media sparked a global dialogue.

Presented for the first time to an English audience, The Complete Commercial Artist: Making Modern Design in Japan 1928–1930 takes readers on an eye-opening tour of interwar Japan's vibrant visual culture.

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Click & Collects available from Wednesdays 10-5pm from the Gallery Shop. To pick up on a weekend, order by 3pm on the Friday before. Please don't come to pick up a Click & Collect order until you have received your 'Ready for Pick-Up' email.

 

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We do our absolute best to ship all purchases as soon as possible and aim to send most orders out within 3-5 working days. During busy periods this may increase slightly. Standard UK orders are sent with Royal Mail 2nd Class. Higher value items are sent via Royal Mail recorded delivery. If you require more urgent shipping please get in touch with us prior to ordering by email shop@dulwichpicturegallery.org.uk or phoning: 020 8299 8741

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shop@dulwichpicturegallery.org.uk