The project “Lost in Translation” began with a quick introduction to the Japanese script, the different types of characters, and their origins. We then delved into Japanese calligraphy, typographic differences from Latin scripts, and Japanese design in general. This foundational knowledge was necessary to develop an eye for good adaptations and translations between Japanese and Latin designs, as well as to understand the common problems and errors that arise.

Our first attempts involved designing a “Rakkan-in,” a stamp with our names, which is often used as a signature by Japanese calligraphers and artists. These stamps were created using either Hiragana or Katakana characters.

Finally, we designed a Japanese New Year card (called “nengajo”) for the Year of the Tiger. In my design, I decided to combine the character for 'tiger' with a cubist illustration of a tiger.