Profile: Hiromi Maeo |
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This is the public profile of Hiromi Maeo, click here to view our interview with Hiromi Maeo
View Larger Image and Additional Photos of Hiromi MaeoAbout Hiromi Maeo : Hiromi Maeo is a designer specializing in universal and minimal design, focusing on creating value and meaningful experiences through simplicity and functionality. With a career spanning branding, graphic design, and user interface design, Maeo has worked on various international and domestic projects, collaborating with prominent clients across industries. Recognized for thoughtful design approaches, Maeo’s work aims to address societal challenges and improve lives through innovative and strategic solutions. By combining attention to detail with a deep understanding of cultural and brand contexts, Maeo contributes to creating timeless designs that resonate globally.
Design and art, while distinct in their purposes, often overlap and influence one another. From my perspective, design is a problem-solving tool aimed at achieving specific goals, often for clients or users. It involves strategic thinking, functionality, and a focus on delivering value. Art, on the other hand, is a medium for self-expression and emotional communication. It asks questions, evokes emotions, and offers new perspectives to its audience.
Design has a clear purpose—it serves to make lives easier, more beautiful, or more efficient. Whether through branding, products, or spaces, its role is to create harmony between form and function. For example, a logo must represent a brand’s essence while being instantly recognizable and functional across various platforms. Design must remain accessible and practical, yet it also requires creativity to stand out and leave a lasting impression.
Art, in contrast, thrives on subjectivity. It is not bound by practical constraints but instead seeks to provoke thought or emotional responses. A piece of art might not have a “function” in the conventional sense, but it can challenge norms, spark conversations, or inspire innovation. This freedom is what makes art an essential counterpart to design—it complements design’s structure with boundless creativity.
Despite their differences, design and art are deeply interconnected. Design often borrows from art’s aesthetics, using beauty to enhance functionality and appeal. Conversely, art can adopt design principles, such as structure and balance, to create more cohesive and impactful works. This interplay expands the boundaries of both fields, enabling them to evolve in meaningful ways.
Personally, I see design as a tool for “creating and sharing value,” while art is a means to “provoke thought and provide fresh perspectives.” For me, the most compelling results arise when the two disciplines intersect. A well-designed product can evoke emotion like a piece of art, while a work of art can incorporate functional design elements to engage its audience more deeply.
In my work as a designer, I strive to balance the precision of design with the emotional depth of art. My philosophy of “universal and minimal design” reflects this approach. By removing the unnecessary and focusing on the essence, I aim to create work that is both functional and emotionally resonant.
Ultimately, both design and art serve as powerful tools for human connection. They transcend boundaries of language and culture, enabling people to share ideas, experiences, and values. Whether solving problems or inspiring reflection, both are integral to shaping a more thoughtful and creative world.
ORGANIZATION:
enhanced Inc.
NON-DESIGN OCCUPATION:
Illustrator Media, graphic, printing, culture, design
EXPERIENCE:
2014-Present, Tokyo/Japan, enhanced Inc.
2018-Creative Director, Tokyo/Japan, Spect
2015-2016, Board Director, Tokyo/Japan, Out and about Co., Ltd.
2008-2013, Tokyo/Japan, Real Age Inc.
2003-2008, Tokyo/Japan, Thinking of life Inc.
2000-2003, Hiroshima/Japan, Networks Inc.
EVENTS:
2015, ADOBE ico-D Mentorship Program, Mentor, Montreal Quebec/Canada
AWARDS:
2017, Acquia Engage Awards, Winner at Pharmaceutical Category, MA/USA
2017, A' Design Award &Competition, Silver A' Design Award at Graphics and Visual Communication Design Award Category, Como/Italy
2016, Design For Asia Awards 2016, Silver Award, Hongkong/China
2015, International Design Awards 2014, Honorable Mention, CA/USA
2013, Behance Japan Portfolio Review #4, First Prize, Tokyo/Japan
BOOKS:
2021, “ICONISM Icon Pictogram Design in the World” PIE International, Tokyo/Japan, ISBN9784756254856
2020, “Iconism: Designing Modern Icons and Pictograms” Sandu Publishing Co., Limited, Hong Kong/China, ISBN9783943330526
2020, “Colors Perfect - Color Matching for Brand Design” Sendpoints Publishing Co.,Ltd., Guangzhou/China, ISBN9789887928447
2019, “Symbols in Graphic Design” Sendpoints Publishing Co.,Ltd., Guangzhou/China, ISBN9789887757252
2017, “Logoism: Contemporary Logo Design” Sandu Publishing Co., Limited, Guangzhou/China, ISBN9781584236542
2017, “LESS IS MORE”, DESIGNERBOOKS, Beijing/China, ISBN9789881378293
2017, “Branding Element LOGOS 4”, Sendpoints Publishing Co.,Ltd., Guangzhou/China, ISBN9789881294371
2017, “Symbols in Graphic Design”, Sendpoints Publishing Co.,Ltd., Guangzhou/China, ISBN9789887757252
2017, “Shapes: Geometric Forms in Graphic Design”, Sandu Publishing Co., Limited, Guangzhou/China, ISBN9788416504541
2016, “Optical Illusions”, Sandu Publishing Co., Limited, Guangzhou/Cjina, ISBN9788416504503
2016, “Logo Decode: From Logo Design to Branding”, Sandu Publishing Co., Limited, Guangzhou/China, ISBN9789887757252
2016, “IdN v23n2: Logos, Branding and Identities”, IdN Magazine, Hong Kong/China, ISSN10294805
2016, “GALLERY THE WORLDS BEST GRAPHICS VOL.34”, Chois Publishing Inc., Shanghai/China, ISBN9781611750775
2016, “DOTTED VISUALS - POLKA DOTS IN CONTEMPORARY GRAPHIC DESIGN”, Sendpoints Publishing Co.,Ltd., Guangzhou/China, ISBN9789881470317
2016, “Inspire Vol.3”, 意念文創股份有限公司, Taiwan/China,
2015, “Logo Talks III”, ARTPOWER International Publishing Co., Ltd. Shenzhen/China,
LANGUAGE SKILLS:
Japanese (Native)
English (Pre-Intermediate)
COMPUTER LITERACY:
Adobe Illustrator, Expert
Adobe Photoshop, Expert
Figma, Expert
Adobe XD, Expert
JURY MEMBERSHIPS:
2015, Behance Japan Portfolio Reviews #7, examiner, Tokyo/Japan
2014, Behance Japan Portfolio Reviews #6, examiner, Tokyo/Japan
HOBBIES:
Read manga, Cooking, Drinking, Running
WEB SITE:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/enhanced/
PORTFOLIO URL:
https://www.behance.net/enhanced_hiromimaeo
REGISTRATION DATE:
2014-01-27 10:53:27
COUNTRY/REGION:
Japan
ACCOUNT TYPE:
Agency
Awards received by Hiromi Maeo
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Mtrl Kyoto Visual Identity Silver A' Design Award Winner for Graphics, Illustration and Visual Communication Design Category in 2016 Hiromi Maeo - enhanced Inc. for Mtrl Kyoto |
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