In Praise of Distortion

In contemporary Japan, the appreciation of imperfection is fading. Geert Hofstede's (2016) studies highlight Japan's high value on perfection and success, seen even in design. Growing up in Japan, I felt the suffocating nature of strict societal expectations. My project explores ‘distortion’ in typography, inspired by Okakura's The Book of Tea (1961) and the Shino Tea Bowl, celebrated for its imperfect beauty. The Yugami typeface, with its bumpy forms, aims to revive Japan's historical appreciat