Project Overview

OVERVIEW

Invited to contribute to an exhibition at Tokyo Midtown for Children’s Day, I designed a 6-foot fabric koinobori to be displayed in a public outdoor setting alongside international artists. The project required designing for a broad audience, varying viewing distances, and a three-dimensional, moving format.

This required designing for a broad audience, varying viewing distances, and a three dimensional, moving format.

DELIVERABLES

6' Double Sided Koinbori

PROBLEM

How might I use a traditional format to communicate a specific story in a way that is:

• Visually engaging at a large scale

• Accessible to a broad, international audience

• Cohesive across a three dimensional, double sided form

MY ROLE: ILLUSTRATOR

Concept Development, Visual Strategy, Execution

Process

DESIGN CONSIDERATIONS

• Visibility at varying distances

• Movement of fabric in an outdoor environment

• Continuity across a double-sided form

CONCEPT DEVELOPMENT:

I approached the koinobori as a narrative system rather than a single illustration. Taking advantage of its double-sided format, I used each side to represent a different point in time, creating a progression from past to present:

• Side A (Orange): Mythological past

• Side B (Blue): Contemporary experience

Mythological Past

Side A (Orange)

Contemporary Experience

Side B (Blue)

Mythological Past

Side A (Orange)

Contemporary Experience

Side B (Blue)

Mythological Past

Side A (Orange)

Contemporary Experience

Side B (Blue)

EXECUTION:

The orange side illustrates the origins of the festival, focusing on the story of Chang’e and her husband Houyi. Warmer tones and dreamlike visuals create a mystical atmosphere that reflects the folklore.

The blue side shifts to a contemporary perspective, depicting modern day celebrations inspired by my own memories of children playing with lanterns and families gathering for dinner under the full moon. A cooler palette and city like elements ground the scene in the present day.

Solution & Outcome:

A 6-foot koinobori that translates a cultural narrative across a dynamic, three-dimensional form, displayed at Tokyo Midtown alongside international artists. 

The final piece bridges mythology and contemporary experience, engaging a wide audience through both storytelling and visual contrast.