#Japan #Tokyo #Ginza Graphic Gallery #Corporate Design #A5 Collection

Exhibition Overview

The Ginza Graphic Gallery (ggg), operated by the DNP Cultural Promotion Foundation, will be hosting an exciting exhibition from May 27 to July 5, 2025, titled "Identity Systems: Rebranding West Germany After 1945." This exhibition aims to shed light on the remarkable corporate design evolution that took place in West Germany post-World War II.

Background

This exhibition is a continuation of a successful show held at the Kyoto ddd gallery from October 2024 to January 2025. The focus is on showcasing unique examples of iconic posters, visual identities, and rare design manuals from corporations that played a significant role in rebranding an economically recovering West Germany. The exhibit emphasizes the contributions made by German designers, starting from pioneers like Peter Behrens in the early 20th century, up to the systematic design solutions that have influenced modern corporate identities worldwide.

The Designers

Featured in this exhibition are graphic designers Katharina Sussek and Jens Müller, who operate the design studio vista in Düsseldorf. Their collaboration with the A5 Collection highlights a vast archive of resources that illustrates the branding transformations undertaken by several organizations during this era. Visitors will gain insight into the incredible design solutions that propelled West Germany's image as a flourishing democracy. Through sketches, samples, and visual identity examples, this exhibition serves to illuminate the structured progression of design solutions that emerged in the wake of World War II.

Details of the Exhibition

The exhibition details are as follows:

• - Dates: May 27 (Tuesday) - July 5 (Saturday), 2025
• - Opening Hours: 11:00 AM - 7:00 PM
• - Venue: Ginza Graphic Gallery

(DNP Ginza Building, 7-7-2 Ginza, Chuo-ku, Tokyo)

• - Closed: Sundays & public holidays
• - Admission: Free
• - Organized by: DNP Cultural Promotion Foundation
• - Supported by: Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany
• - In collaboration with: A5 Collection Düsseldorf

Gallery Talk

In conjunction with the exhibition, a gallery talk featuring Katharina Sussek and Jens Müller will take place on May 30, 2025, from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM at the DNP Ginza Building, third floor. This talk, which is free of charge, requires prior reservation due to limited seating for 70 participants. The event will also include English-Japanese interpretation for the audience. Reservations will open on May 1, 2025. To attend, please check the GGG website for more details.

About A5 Collection Düsseldorf

The A5 Collection, based in Düsseldorf, is helmed by Katharina Sussek and Jens Müller and features resources closely tied to their publishing activities, including the `A5 books` series focused on German graphic design. The collection spans several pertinent books like Logo Modernism, emphasizing the corporate design timeline and its international evolution. This collection does not only reflect the multifaceted history of graphic design in Germany but also aims to create new insights through extensive relationships between literature, original documents, and artifacts, acknowledging both the historical narrative and contemporary practice.

Conclusion

The "Identity Systems: Rebranding West Germany After 1945" exhibition provides a distinctive opportunity to explore Germany's rich design history, illustrating how visual communication shaped the post-war nation’s identity. Join us at the Ginza Graphic Gallery to witness this remarkable journey of design transformation that once redefined a nation's narrative and identity.

As this primarily focuses on corporate identity and reclamation, the exhibition promises to be not only educational but also visually captivating, providing various touchpoints for understanding West Germany’s remarkable journey through design.