MUJI celebrates 25 years in Europe with traveling poster exhibition in London and Milan

MUJI, the Japanese brand known for minimalist, unbranded products, is marking its 25th anniversary in Europe with a traveling exhibition of 25 original posters. The show opens in London (October 18-23) at an unspecified venue, then moves to the MUJI store in Milan's Corso Buenos Aires (October 27-November 7). Each poster represents a campaign and a milestone in Japanese graphic design, reflecting the artistic direction of Ikko Tanaka and his successor Kenya Hara. Hara's 2003 'Horizon' campaign, featuring vast empty landscapes with tiny human figures, exemplifies the brand's philosophy. Founded in 1980 during Japan's economic boom, MUJI (short for Mujirushi Ryohin, meaning 'no brand, good quality') was created by founders including graphic designer Ikko Tanaka as a reaction against consumerism. Its first European store opened in 1991 at Liberty London. The wall-mounted CD player designed by Naoto Fukasawa in 1999 entered MoMA's permanent collection. Additional anniversary initiatives include a limited-edition postcard series by British artist Andrew Joyce.