Art direction for the "Tsubame Sanjo Kouba no Saiten" an open factory event featuring mainly factories and workshops in the Tsubame Sanjo region.

Discover the prowess of Niigata's Tsubame-Sanjo region, a true stronghold of Japanese metalworking.

From the traditional craft of "hammered copperware," in which a copper sheet is hammered to create a vessel, to everyday items such as pots and kettles and outdoor gear, the area produces a diverse range of metal goods.

Our office oversaw the art direction for the "Tsubame Sanjo Kouba no Saiten" event held in the Tsubame-Sanjo area to showcase the works of more than 200 local factories and workshops. Held once a year,

the event offers visitors the opportunity to visit factories to see and experience how these metal works are made. Now in its 10th year, the event has received a fresh design makeover this year.

To depict the visual essence of the diverse range of factories in this industrial zone, from large corporate facilities to individual blacksmith workshops, we focused on the unique architecture of each, including chimneys and windows that capture natural light. The entire stretch of the poster represents the Tsubame Sanjo region, with various factories of different sizes represented by their silhouettes and symbols.

The factories’ silhouettes are combined with photos of the products they craft, from artisanal items like copperware and Japanese razors to mass-produced wares like cooking utensils. The goal is to visualize the diversity of craftsmanship and the presence of skilled artisans.

The event logo and English typeface were developed from scratch. They feature stencil fonts inspired by metal machining and bending. The arrangement of the same words next to one another, mirroring the continuous manufacturing of products on a conveyor belt, creates a visually striking effect.