Research - Eye magazine and Pictoplasma

Source: http://www.eyemagazine.com/feature/article/emotion-graphics

eye magazine -

 Is character design a fount of rich, contemporary visual codes . . . or just a cop-out for over-stressed kidults?

But the characters are doing what semiotic theory could never do on its own, which is to establish a precious and instantaneous emotional bond between each creation and its audience.

The Second Pictoplasma Conference (11-14 October 2006) brought together designers, animators, illustrators and artists who are involved with what the organisation claims is ‘a new breed of character design’ and the ‘birth of a language beyond all cultural boundaries’. 

The process of reducing characters to their essentials increases their expressive ability. Such abstraction also increases identification. Codes are learnt and manipulated in order to communicate ever more subtle data and social signals: characters draw attention to a visual language in flux.

Though the final panel topic was ‘narration’, there was no discussion of how narratives are built through systems of signs, no mention of semiotics or communication theory. If characters are, as Pictoplasma claims, a new international visual language, the tools we use to analyse the way language works will surely help us learn how characters work. Semiotic theory would give this movement a way to understand how meaning is constructed

pictoplasma - https://pictoplasma.com

Pictoplasma is the world’s leading platform for contemporary character design and art. The project pushes forward interdisciplinary discussion, development and promotion of a new breed of visual vocabulary—from illustration to animation, game to interactive design, urban to graphic arts. 

was founded in 1999 to investigate possibilities and limitations of current character representation. Pictoplasma holds an annual festival and conference in Berlin, a second conference in New York, offers programs for further education, undertakes research into anthropomorphic design, curates museum exhibitions, and consults brands and companies. The focus is on how reduced and minimalist design can evoke maximal empathy—and help create meaningful interaction beyond the constrictions of narration.

Over the years, brands have turned to Pictoplasma for support on their character based projects, be it communication companies such as Nokia for the launch of their N8 mobile phone, or apparel firms such as Japanese Uniqlo for their introduction to the German market. Nike collaborated with Pictoplasma to develop a unique character to serve as recognizable trans-media identity from graphics to costumes, promoting the relaunch of their Air Max 360. In 2017, Adobe Project 1324 teamed up with Pictoplasma to launch artistic challenges for emerging talents


Ken Belson (USA, New York Times) is the co-author of “Hello Kitty: The Remarkable Story of Sanrio and the Billion Dollar Feline Phenomenon”, the only book in English ever to be published about Japan’s most famous cat. In his talk at the Pictoplasma Conference 2009 he explains how Sanrio, the company behind Hello Kitty, turned a cute cartoon cat into a multi-billion dollar global commodity, plastered on over 22,000 different products and sold in more than 40 countries.


hello kitty 

a minimalist format and message can have is many meanings - culture is transmitted across boundaries 

no media and no advertising 
almost no story 
japanas gift giving culture
sony/panasonic overseas 
animal boom - miffy, snoopy
sanrios strategy - collectable - tsuji founder (Sanrio) - he did insurance work actuarial work - liked Disney and hallmark cards