Article by Figberrytea
As an illustrator, I am constantly inspired by nature, daily life and different cultures around the world. While the internet allows us to view the world at our fingertips, there’s something comforting about having a book in your hands and being able to flip through the pages and immerse yourself in the beautiful text and pictures.Today I’d like to share five books that are sure to get your creativity flowing. Any one of them would be perfect addition to your library if you are a lover of cute and colorful things like me!
The books we’ll talk about today will cover topics such as interior design, packaging, and color palette selection. Even if you can’t read Japanese, all of these books are packed full of pictures that speak for themselves. Treat them as references or simply enjoy the lovely art and images inside.
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Here are my 5 book recommendations:
- Josei no Kokoro wo Tsukamu Shop Image Graphics
- Hatsumi Kenichi: Showa no Retrospective Package
- Nippon Ice Chronicle (Tatsumi Mook)
- Haishoku Idea Techo Mekutte Mitsukeru Atarashi Design no Hon Kanzen Hozon Ban
- 3 shoku dake de sence no ii iro
About Figberrytea
Josei no Kokoro wo Tsukamu Shop Image Graphics
If you miss traveling and seeing beautiful cafes and store fronts, this is the book for you! Anyone can appreciate the eye-catching visuals of the locations featured.
As we flip through the pages, we are greeted with enchanting stores, restaurants and hotels with displays ranging from colorful and cute to avant-garde and traditional.
Each page is a visual feast to eyes, showcasing foods that are too cute to eat, meticulously designed packaging, and rooms that stretch the imagination.
Hatsumi Kenichi: Showa no Retrospective Package
Can you recognize the logos of Maruchan’s Cup Noodle and Fujiya’s Milky Peko-chan?
If you are a fan of retro aesthetics, this book may be right up your alley.
It features Japanese packaging popular from the 1930s to 1980s with four chapters focusing on character, illustration, logo, and color. Under each chapter, items are categorized by candy, food, drinks, and everyday goods. The variety of items featured in the book makes it a great snapshot of the packaging and advertisement styling of the era!
It features Japanese packaging popular from the 1930s to 1980s with four chapters focusing on character, illustration, logo, and color. Under each chapter, items are categorized by candy, food, drinks, and everyday goods. The variety of items featured in the book makes it a great snapshot of the packaging and advertisement styling of the era!
Nippon Ice Chronicle (Tatsumi Mook)
Can’t get enough of retro packaging? Cool off this summer by enjoying the evolution of Japanese ice cream packaging from 1928 to 2018!
While there is some mention of ice cream in the 1920s, the boom in flavors and varieties really starts in the 1960s.
See how print advertisements go from black and white to Technicolor and eventually evolving into the packaging we have today. While this book focuses solely on ice cream, the publisher also has other books chronicling the history of nostalgic candy, instant ramen, vending machines, and many more.
See how print advertisements go from black and white to Technicolor and eventually evolving into the packaging we have today. While this book focuses solely on ice cream, the publisher also has other books chronicling the history of nostalgic candy, instant ramen, vending machines, and many more.
Haishoku Idea Techo Mekutte Mitsukeru Atarashi Design No Honkanzen Hozon Ban
Oftentimes the most difficult part of an illustration can be deciding on what colors to use.
Luckily with over 125 color combinations to choose from in this book, you’ll surely find a palette suitable for your design needs. Each palett “recipe" is composed of 9 colors with names ranging from “Rainbow in the Soap Bubbles” to “Modern Colors of the Meiji Era.”
A photo or illustration is also included to show the inspiration behind the names! Color values are given in CMYK, RGB and HEX for easy reference and examples are given for design, patterns, and illustration. There is even a section for suggested two-color combinations and three-color combinations. With luscious color names such as “Chocolate Cosmos” and “Champagne Gold,” this book is a treat for any fan of beautiful colors!
Luckily with over 125 color combinations to choose from in this book, you’ll surely find a palette suitable for your design needs. Each palett “recipe" is composed of 9 colors with names ranging from “Rainbow in the Soap Bubbles” to “Modern Colors of the Meiji Era.”
A photo or illustration is also included to show the inspiration behind the names! Color values are given in CMYK, RGB and HEX for easy reference and examples are given for design, patterns, and illustration. There is even a section for suggested two-color combinations and three-color combinations. With luscious color names such as “Chocolate Cosmos” and “Champagne Gold,” this book is a treat for any fan of beautiful colors!
3 shoku dake de sence no ii iro
If you’re looking to make a visual impact using just a few colors, then this book is perfect for those needing inspiration for limited color palettes.
Each palette is composed of three colors with examples of each color being designated as the base, accent, or sub. Color values are given in CMYK, RGB and HEX for easy reference and examples are given for design, patterns, and print advertisements.
While there is some variety in the themes, the overall palettes tend to be more playful and modern in comparison to the previous book. While some of the color selections may be on the lower contrast side, they still work perfectly fine as starting points for palette ideas. The cover of the book is a lovely example of the delicate palettes that await you!
Each palette is composed of three colors with examples of each color being designated as the base, accent, or sub. Color values are given in CMYK, RGB and HEX for easy reference and examples are given for design, patterns, and print advertisements.
While there is some variety in the themes, the overall palettes tend to be more playful and modern in comparison to the previous book. While some of the color selections may be on the lower contrast side, they still work perfectly fine as starting points for palette ideas. The cover of the book is a lovely example of the delicate palettes that await you!
I hope you’ve enjoyed taking a glimpse at these selections and have found the descriptions helpful. Whether you are interested in completed designs or the foundations in color selection, there are plenty of books available on the site covering similar topics and much more!
About Figberrytea
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