Ikko Tanaka — Artist Biographical Backgrounds

Ikko Tanka (田 中 一 光 ) w a s a graphic designer known for combining a contemporary style with traditional Japanese art and aesthetics.

BIOGRAPHY:

• Born in 1930 in Nara, Japan
• Studied at the Kyoto City School of Fine
  Arts
• Began working as a designer in the late 1950s
• Was known for his expertise in both Japanese art as well as Western
  design principles, favoring minimalism over realism
• Died in Tokyo in 2002
• Established the Ikko Tanaka Design Studio in Tokyo in 1963
• Heavily involved in theater groups and dramatic arts throughout his life, making many posters for theatrical
  performances
• Was the art director and a co-creator of Muji, a Japanese retail company known for its minimalist style and
  emphasis on recycling
• Bridged the gap between professional designers and experimental art
  Joined New York Art Directors’ Club Hall of Fame in 1994

“Even a total lack of decoration can, provided it is underpinned by necessity, constitute an outstanding example of design.”