Our medium is color. Our goal is to have people experience the creativity that spreads from the memory of color. Color has the power to stimulate the senses and emotions. Something wells up within the heart. That something drives thought and expands the world. By facing society and engaging in the act of creation, we have sought to change the present and create new experiences. Through experiences, we have aimed to foster imagination in society. Imagination has the power to save people in every circumstance. When we feel like we’re being pulled into some dark and heavy current, imagination can transport us to a better place.
We are always trying to pull that trigger.
SPREAD
Spread is a creative unit founded by Haruna Yamada and Hirokazu Kobayashi. Spread fuses the long-sighted environmental approach of landscape design with the vivid visual techniques of graphic design, incorporating memories into their creative work as they strive to expand (“spread”) whatever subject they take on.
In 2004, SPREAD presented Life Stripe, an on-going work that records daily activities as a pattern of colored stripes. Their works that pursuing color has been exhibited at around world; Alcova (Milan), Ventura Centrale (Milan), Rppazmuseum (Basel), Embassy of Japan in Switzerland, Alcova Miami, Red Dot Design Museum (Singapore), Toyama Prefectural Museum of Art and Design, Spiral (Tokyo). Also they held workshop about color expression at Ministry of Education in Singapore, The National Art Center (Tokyo), University of Milan, The Guangzhou Academy of Fine Arts (China), University of the Republic of San Marino, Meguro Museum of Art (Tokyo), etc.
SPREAD’s representative works include the key visual for “the 10th Anniversary of the National Art Center, Tokyo”, branding of the cosmetic brands “Celvoke”, “Festival of Factory”, installation of “BURBERRY”, “Color Jungle” at Tokyo Midtown, exhibition design at Japan House London; “The Carpenters’ Line”, “Living Colours”, “Biology of Metal”, re-branding JR-East “Yamanote Line Museum”, installation Play! Museum “Miffy”, art direction “Dance Base Yokohama”, creative direction “Art Fair Beppu”, etc.
Awards; Red Dot Design Award /Grand Prix, German Design Award /Gold, Dezeen Award / Designer of the Year / Longlists, Pentawards, Design for Asia Award, GOOD DESIGN AWARD, etc.
HARUNA YAMADA
Birthplace: Tokyo, Japan Graduated from Nagaoka Institute of Design, Environmental Design. Haruna started her career as a landscape designer in the Ryoko Ueyama landscape design laboratory. After working as a designer in an environmental graphic company, a plastic manufacturer, and a record company, in 2004, she established the creative unit “SPREAD”.
HIROKAZU KOBAYASHI
Birthplace: Niigata, Japan Graduated from Nagaoka Institute of Design, Graphic Design. Hirokazu worked as an art Director and Designer for an advertising agency, mainly in overseas promotions. In 2003 he became freelance. Established the creative unit “SPREAD” in 2004.
BBC, Dezeen, ICON, ELLE DECOR, domus, INTERNI, Corriere della Sera, AXIS, Casa BRUTUS, JDN, Discover Japan, pen, Real Tokyo, NIKKEI
Red Dot Design Award / Grand Prix x 3 / Winner x 7
German Design Award / Gold / Winner x 2 / Special Mention
Dezeen Award / Longlisted as designer of the year x 3
Design for Asia Award / Gold / Silver / Bronze
Pentawards / Silver x 2 / Bronze x 3
Good Design Award / Winner x 4
iF design award / Winner
Taipei International Design Awards / Gold
D&AD award / Nomination / Shortlisted
Japan Tourism Poster Competition / MIC Minister Award
Japan Package Design Award / Bronze
Times Asia-Pacific Advertising Awards / Selected Prize
Yomiuri Advertisement Award / Award of Excellence / Winner
Mainichi Design Award / Nomination x 2
DSA Design Award / Shortlisted / Longlisted
Kukan Design Award / Shortlisted / Longlisted
Tokyo ADC Award (Japan) / Merit
JAGDA Award (Japan) / Merit
Tokyo TDC Award (Japan) / Merit
2024
Yebisu International Festival for Art & Alternative Visions 2024 “The World Beyond”, Tokyo
Red Dot Design Museum: Special Exhibition “The KOUBA principle”, Essen
2023
Alcova/Miami2023, Miami
WDA TOKYO 2023 Collaborative event Design for Anthropocene, Tokyo
Midland Anniversary 2023 “Time is Like a Flower”, Nagoya
Toyama Prefectural Museum of Art and Design 5th Anniversary: DESIGN SCOPE, Toyama
2022
MILESTONES, Kyoto
SPREAD exhibition GIFT/STACK Touring exhibition at TAKEO, Osaka
2021
AOYAMA CREATORS STOCK 20 GIFT/STACK at TAKEO, Tokyo
Spread by Spread: What Color is Tomorrow?, Tokyo
Much Peace, Love and Joy at Alcova, Milano
2019
Viewing Contrast at (place) by method, Tokyo
Roppongi Color Canyon at Tokyo Midtown Design Touch, Tokyo
Human-Nature at Red Dot Design Museum, Singapore
Bring Color into Your Life at Fuori Salone, Milano
Living Colours at Japan Louse London, London
2018
Biology of metal at Japan Louse London, London
Bring Color into Your Life at Fuori Salone, Milano
2016
Life Stripe at Kenpoku Art 2016, Kitaibaraki
Paper Garden at Spiral Garden, Tokyo
Casa Gife at Fuori Salone, Milano
2015
Tsubame-Sanjo Factory Festival at Axis Gallery, Tokyo
Life Stripe at Daikanyama T-Site, Tokyo
Life Type at The National Art Center, Tokyo
Life Type at Fuori Salone, Milano
Life Stripe at Embassy of Japan in Switzerland, Bern
Life Type at Kiito, Koube
2014
Life Stripe at RappaxMuseum, Basel
Life Stripe at Atelier Initial, La Neuveille
Tsubame-Sanjo Factory Festival in Sharing Design by Milano Makers at Fuori Salone, Milano
Life Stripe at OBR, Milan
Life Stripe at Fuori Salone, Milano
2013
Life Stripe at Fuori Salone, Milano
Making as Living at 3331 Arts Chiyoda, Tokyo
Making as Living at Kiito, Koube
2012
Live Colorfully! – A Creative support to Tohoku at Spiral Garden, Tokyo
Life Stripe at Fuori Salone, Milano
2011
Life Stripe at Traumaris, Tokyo
2010
ITO, Tokyo
2006
Life Stripe at Yokohama Bay Quarter Parking Gallery, Yokohama
2023
Kyoto University of the Arts, Kyoto
WDA TOKYO 2023 Collaborative event Design for Anthropocene, Tokyo
2022
Joshibi University of Art and Design, Tokyo
2021
Joshibi University of Art and Design, Tokyo
Showa Women’s University, Tokyo Aoyama Gakuin University, Tokyo
Aoyama Gakuin University, Tokyo
2020
NAFA(Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts), Singapore Golden Pin Design Award,Taiwan
2019
Tama Art University, Japan Aichi University of the Arts, Japan
2018
“Biology of Metal” at Japan House London Arts Education Conference 2018 (AEC), Singapore
2015
Guangzhou Academy of Fine Arts, Guangzhou China Embassy of Japan in Switzerland, Bern
2013
The University of Milan The University of the Republic of San Marino
2008-2011
Nagaoka Institute of Design, Japan
2008-2010
Nihon Kogakuin, Japan
2019
Through Dialogue with Colour – Chance and Certainty for art teacher’s in South Zone 1, Singapore
2018
Through Dialogue with Colour – Chance and Certainty for Singapore teacher’s Academy at the ARTS, Singapore
2017
Life Wave, Life Sound at Meguro Persimmon Hall & The Meguro Museum of Art, Tokyo
Design Camp – Dialogue with Color at The Meguro Museum of Art & Herman Miller Japan Ltd., Tokyo
Next 10 years at The National Art Center, Tokyo
2015
Life Stripe at Guangzhou Academy of Fine Arts, Guangzhou, China
Life Type at The National Art Center, Tokyo
Life Type at ILFISCHIO.Doc, Milano
Life Stripe at Embassy of Japan in Switzerland, Bern
2014
Life Type at Kiito, Koube
Pencil Workshop at Ishinomaki, Miyagi
2013
Life Stripe at The University of Milan
Life Stripe at The University of the Republic of San Marino
2012
Life Type at Nagaoka Institute of Design, Niigata
Paper balloon, Tokyo
Life Stripe at Minamisoma Children, Nagano
2011
Life Stripe at Yappeshi Festival, Oofunato
Life Type at UeFes, Yoyogiuehara
Life Type at CLASKA, Tokyo
2010
Life Stripe at Dictionary Club, Tokyo
2009
Life Stripe at Nippon Engineering College, Tokyo
2008
Life Stripe at Nippon Engineering College, Tokyo
2007
Life Stripe at TamagawaK-12, Tokyo
Project Manager
Spread is looking for a creative-savvy project manager.The job is to oversee the progress of the creative team from the start of the project to the finish. We welcome applicants who can communicate in both Japanese and English. Please send your CV to pm@spread-web.jp.
Creative Stuff
SPREAD is looking for creative staff. Graphic work in the area of branding and communication design. Spatial design work in the realm of installations and exhibitions. Work in design, research, and planning across either or both of these areas. Please send your CV and portfolio (10MB or less) to cs@spread-web.jp.
Administrative Staff
SPREAD is looking for an Administrative Staff. This position is for general clerical work in our design studio. This is a one day a week position. Please send your CV to aa@spread-web.jp.
Internship
SPREAD is looking for an ambitious intern. This includes graphic, space, research, and support for a variety of projects. You will be involved in multiple projects for at least 2 months. Please send your CV and portfolio (10MB or less) to is@spread-web.jp.
Mail : contact@spread-web.jp
Tel : +81(0)3-6904-2707
Uehara, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo,
151-0064, Japan
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