Post Magazine, known in Japan as Shukan Post (週刊ポスト), is a weekly general-interest magazine published by Shogakukan. It launched on August 22, 1969, with the subtitle “the opinion weekly for men.”[1][2]
Design and History
The magazine’s 1969 launch logo has been attributed to Japanese graphic designer Shigeo Fukuda (1932-2009), a leading figure in postwar Japanese graphic design known for his optical illusions and simplified forms.[3] Fukuda was active in magazine design during this period, having created cover designs for IDEA magazine in 1968 and contributing to Japanese graphic design publications throughout the 1960s.[4]The New York Times described Fukuda’s posters as having “distilled complex concepts into compelling images of logo-simplicity,” a characterization that reflects the graphic economy of his approach.[5] His commercial work in 1969 included the official poster for the Osaka World Exposition and pictograms for the exposition grounds.[6][7]Meaning and Symbolism
Documented descriptions of the specific Post Magazine logo mark are scarce in available sources. Fukuda’s broader design philosophy, however, is well documented: he was known for combining simplified forms with trick-art techniques to create cynical, witty designs.[3] His method centered on the visual pun treated as a formal discipline, frequently employing reversible figure-ground illusions.[8]Typography and Design
No verifiable documentation of the specific typography, color palette, or construction method used in the original Post Magazine logo has been located in the available research. The magazine’s English title treatment “Post” appeared alongside its Japanese name in library catalog records from its first issue.[1]Logo Index is an independent educational archive covering logos, visual identities and graphic design history. All trademarks and brand assets remain the property of their respective owners.
