The G Mark, the symbol of Japan’s Good Design Award, is a 1957 logo by Japanese graphic designer Yusaku Kamekura. It was created for the Good Design Products Selection System, the predecessor of today’s Good Design Award, and has remained in continuous use without any change to its design since the award began that same year.[1][2]
Design and History
The Good Design Products Selection System was established in 1957 by Japan’s Ministry of International Trade and Industry (MITI).[3] The scheme was originally intended to encourage Japanese designers to produce original designs rather than imitate foreign products.[3] Kamekura designed the G Mark in 1957, the same year the system began.[1] The mark could be applied to products following their recognition as design exemplars by the selection system.[3]
Since its introduction, the system has been popularly known as the “G Mark System,” and the mark itself has become familiar to the public as a proof of trust between industry and everyday life.[1] The G Mark is a registered trademark and intellectual property of the Japan Institute of Design Promotion, and its use is restricted to works that have received the Good Design Award.[1]
Meaning and Symbolism
The G Mark functions as a symbol of winning the Good Design Award and as a communication mark connecting society with design practice.[1] According to a survey conducted in February 2020, 81.0% of respondents in Japan said they knew the G Mark, and users recognized products bearing the mark as attractive, user-friendly, and high quality.[1]
Typography and Design
The G Mark is a geometric symbol featuring the letter “G” set within a circular form. The mark was designed by Yusaku Kamekura, described by the Good Design Award’s official website as “a Japanese legend designer” who left a major mark on Japanese design history.[1] Kamekura (1915-1997) was a founding member of the Nippon Design Center in 1960 and received numerous major awards in Japan and internationally throughout his career.[1]
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