Nippon Design Center 1960–1979, Commemorative Volume, Tokyo Japan [Kazumasa Nagai]

Nippon Design Center 1960–1979, 1990. Nippon Design Center, Inc., Tokyo, Japan. 10 x 13.75, 190 pages with Japanese text and a stapled English language supplement. Printed in Japan at Toppan Printing Co., Ltd. Book design by Kazumasa Nagai with his iridescent foil stamped logo on the front cover. Editing and layout by Hiroshi Tanaka. Printed in an unknown quantity, likely for promotional use only and never sold publicly.

Nippon Design Center (NDC) was founded in 1960 to act as a link between the major industrial fields and design circles in Japan. This volume was published to commemorate its’ 20th Anniversary and features a collection of NDC’s work since their founding. Heavily illustrated (many full page but without captions) in black and white and color featuring: advertisements, posters, trademarks and symbols, calendars, magazines, packaging, television commercials, etc.

Foreword by NDC President Kazumasa Nagai. Including (5) individual section texts by various authors, each introducing the organization’s history and development including early ideals, periods of rapid economic growth and expansion, achievements as well as market and consumer fluctuations for the years: 1960-64, 1965–69, 1970-74, and 1975-79. Overall, an excellent (albeit brief) story of a fascinating period in Japan and its’ advertising design industry!

A very good softcover with pearl-like, metallic sheen printed wrappers with a few bumps and small tears. A light bend to the top and bottom interior corners including some waviness and light damp stains to the bottom portion of most pages. Condition noted and price adjusted.