The National Culture Identity Of MUJI Design

As a national brand, Muji Japan’s product designs swept the globe. Although it adhering to the "Go to the tab" concept, Muji’s design still contains profound influence of Japanese culture, and can not simply be attributed to modern design features like functionalist or minimalist. Analyzing Muji’s national culture from the perspective of design style has a certain academic and practical value for the future development of modern design.In order to reveal the origins of the traditional Muji design, first comb background and cultural background Muji generated interpretation "Muji" sentiment in Japanese original meaning, dialysis convey the literal meaning of its corporate philosophy, and Muji has a brief overview of developments.Secondly, summarizing Muji’s basic design principles by studying the physical characteristics and psychological impact on people of the product from the design. the use of simple and natural form can be seen in Muji’s design, streamline manufacturing processes, and stylish packaging deliberately kept a distance, all above features create a return to natural relaxed feeling and intimacy of traditional crafts.Thirdly, through the analysis of the product could demonstrate the formation of the designer’s thought. In the history of Muji’s development there are three important designers have an impact on each of the different stages of Muji design. One of the founders of Muji——lkkoTanaka, who laid a foundation of Muji’s social ideal that to create a beautiful, economical, social and environmental friendly lifestyle for the public. Naoto Fukasawa’s designs combine aesthetic function and use of functions, his designs could mobilize users’ emotions through a simple but meaningful way. Kenya Hara is Muji’s incumbents design director, he deepen the aesthetic charm in Muji’s design, not only concerned with the expression of traditional culture, but also emphasized the promotion of technological innovation and globalization products.Next, you can see the designer’s work is not only to meet the needs of the users, but also reflects the understanding of the essence of Japanese culture. Therefore, in order to further understand the impact of the traditional culture of the Muji’s design, it is needed to analyze the relation between the origin of Japanese aesthetics and spirit of the traditional process analysis as well as identify its association with Muji design. The base of traditional Japanese culture is from the Japan’s native Shinto culture and absorption and transformation of Chinese classical culture, and Zen Buddhism became the core of traditional Japanese aesthetics. Zen Japanese aesthetics as the aesthetics concept aristocracy, showing simple and natural but elegant intellectual aesthetic features, it not only guid the Japanese craft a simple style advocating natural way, but also lead to the spiritual pursuit of the ultimate Japanese craftsmen staff person culture.Finally, back to conclusion of the Muji design style. Under the national aesthetic psychological perspective, Muji meets the aesthetic needs and Japanese people’s psychological expectations nationalization design by introducing traditional culture into it’s design. On a view of cultural heritage, to meet the modern people’s lifestyle Muji highly summarized and refined spirituality of traditional aesthetics and technology culture. Its design reflects the unity of the Nationality and Modernity.All in all, the analysis of the national culture Muji could provide a wide range of design inspiration. Mechanized production is the basis of modern design, but it should not be the only criterion aesthetic and cultural connotation of the design, the traditional culture and the return and reconstruction of spirit of contemporary craft could boost modern design national brand towards the world stage.