Though we all know the culturally impenetrable vision of Tokyo from Sophia Coppola's Lost in Translation was more than a little unfair, CLASKA, a very fine designers hotel in the Meguro district has undertaken a project to capitalise on the 'outsider looking in' theme.
Fourteen of the UK’s pioneering graphic designers were invited to Tokyo and charged with creating a poster based on their experiences. Individuals (James Goggin, Daniel Eatock and Adam Hayes) and studios (Bibliotheque, OK-RM and Spin to name a few) interpreted the city in their signature graphics and the results were shown in an exhibition at CLASKA in December.
CLASKA’s motivation behind the exercise, as well as introducing the crème de la crème of the UK graphic design scene to Tokyo, was to compile a guidebook for creative visitors, highlighting the outsider’s view of the city. The book, published by the hotel, is nearly finished and will be on sale in Japan and the UK. In the meantime we’ve got a selection of the posters and photographs of the process from Studio Kanna, who curated the exhibition.
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Wallpaper* Best Use of Material 2026: Beit Bin Nouh, Saudi Arabia, by Shahira FahmyBeit Bin Nouh by Shahira Fahmy is a captivating rebirth of a traditional mud brick home in AlUla, Saudi Arabia - which won it a place in our trio of Best Use of Material winners at the Wallpaper* Design Awards 2026
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Wallpaper* Design Awards: Boghossian’s gem wizardry dazzles in high jewelleryBoghossian's unique mix of craftsmanship and modern design is behind the edgy elegance of its jewellery – a worthy Wallpaper* Design Awards 2026 winner
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Out of office: The Wallpaper* editors’ picks of 2025Much of the life of a Wallpaper editor* is, inevitably, spent behind a screen. Yet the stories that truly resonate are found beyond it. As we stride into 2026, our team reflects on the last year, and the out-of-office adventures that shaped it
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Out of office: The Wallpaper* editors’ picks of the weekIt’s been a week of escapism: daydreams of Ghana sparked by lively local projects, glimpses of Tokyo on nostalgic film rolls, and a charming foray into the heart of Christmas as the festive season kicks off in earnest
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Deathmatch wrestling’s behind-the-scenes moments and bloody gloryA new limited-edition book explores the intersection between art and deathmatch wrestling at a sold-out show held in Tokyo
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Reclaim the Earth, urge artists at Paris’ Palais de TokyoWe discover the group exhibition ‘Reclaim the Earth’, a wake-up call for humans to reconsider our relationship with the planet (until 4 September 2022)
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teamLab: how a Tokyo art collective pioneered an immersive art boomWith an operatic intervention and a show at Pace Geneva, teamLab, the now-700-strong Tokyo-based collective that blazed a trail for experiential, tech-fuelled art, continues to value ‘physical interaction in physical space’
