Tokyo Zokei University
Graphic Design Major4 years
Shuntaro Kimura

Q. What kind of creative activities do you do?

Recently, I've been mainly working on an exhibition for the Ama Seminar's school festival, but I often try my hand at things other than graphic design, like posters. Right now, I'm making prototypes for the masks that the staff will wear (laughs).

Q. The moment when the font's sensitivity was turned on

It all started with the movie's title sequence.
I love movies, and I particularly love the title sequences of films like "007" and those by Saul Bass. I like the letters used in those images and the wide variety of expressions in flat graphic design, and I've become interested in them.

When I actually started paying attention, my interest expanded to things like the letters on signs in the city. Besides movies, I also like looking at signs in entertainment districts like Shinjuku Kabukicho. Individually, they look amateurish, but when they're all together, the impact and energy is incredible. They give off an atmosphere like "Blade Runner," or an old sci-fi movie!

Q. What is your favorite Morisawa font and why?

."Suzumuri"is.
Even when typeset normally, it doesn't feel too rigid, and I think it gives off a sense of rhythm. I particularly like the slightly swaying feel it gives when typeset horizontally.

Since the element is shaped like a drop of water, I use it for designs that evoke images of "water" or "summer." Also, I think this is an unusual use, but the Suzumushi subordinate Western characters have an "Asian feel that foreigners imagine." I use them to create unusual sign designs!

Q. What do you think of the teachers at this school?

The distance between us is really close! Before I entered university, I imagined a relationship between students and faculty with a clear line drawn between them, but it feels more like we're just people I can talk to.

Q. The moment the switch turns "OFF"

When I'm watching a movie.
When I watch a movie with elaborate visuals and text, it flips the switch for me... When I don't want to think about anything, I watch a stupid movie that makes me want to die (lol).
Recently I watched a movie called "Idiots Come in Tanks" directed by Yamada Yoji, and it was so refreshing and great!

Q. What would you like to challenge yourself with in the future? What are you interested in?

I'm going to work for a video production company. While many students come from film or video-related departments, I'm going as a graphics major, so I'd like to use my knowledge of text and graphics in the video industry.

I started making videos in my third year, and I hope to gain more production experience in the workplace and combine that with the graphic design knowledge I learned at university to create something new!