For this project I collaborated on developing a conceptual design brief for Tokyo Design Studio and their collaboration with New Balance within a speculative brief scenario. The project focused on researching ways to connect Japanese culture and visual identity with the footwear design and accompanying campaign imagery.
As part of the research process, I explored the traditional Japanese art of Ikebana, commonly translated as “giving life to flowers” or “making flowers alive”. This research informed the overall visual direction of the project and influenced my experimentation with composition, layout, form and colour. I aimed to combine traditional Japanese aesthetics with a contemporary editorial and campaign design style while remaining aligned with the objectives of the brief.
The final outcome was presented as a diptych format, positioning two final artworks side by side as a connected visual set. One composition used carefully arranged traditional Japanese flowers to create the silhouette of one of the shoe models featured within the brief. The second design explored a more experimental approach, incorporating textures such as rock and marble alongside layered floral arrangements inspired by traditional Ikebana structures. This allowed me to create a more detailed and expressive composition while continuing to reflect the balance, harmony and organic forms associated with Japanese floral design.
