Silver Graphics, Illustration and Visual Communication Design · 2025
Bon Vivant Information Magazine
- A' Design Award 2025 Silver Winner in Graphics, Illustration and Visual Communication Design
- Awarded April 15, 2025
- CLIENT: Bon Vivant / Credit union
- Estimated Number of Design Views: 27,190
- Verification code E918E73479 · Verify this award
About Bon Vivant Information Magazine
Bon Vivant is an information magazine distributed free of charge at credit union branches across Japan. Each bimonthly issue introduces local people, industries, regional products and tourist sites, connecting readers with the towns around them. The magazine measures 21 by 15 centimetres and contains about 15 pages. The cover illustration is hand drawn with brushes and acrylic paints on illustration board, using compasses, rulers and ruling pens, and is then refined in image editing software. Warm colours invite readers to take a copy home.
Bon Vivant Information Magazine by Kiyoka Yamazuki represents a distinguished achievement in contemporary editorial illustration that bridges traditional festival documentation with modern graphic design sensibilities, creating a visual language that honors cultural heritage while speaking to contemporary audiences. The work appears to draw upon the rich tradition of festival and matsuri depiction that has flourished in East Asian visual arts for centuries, from painted screens documenting seasonal celebrations to woodblock print series capturing the vibrant energy of popular gatherings. Yamazuki demonstrates exceptional command of compositional orchestration, managing dozens of individual figures without sacrificing either collective energy or intimate human detail, a technical accomplishment that speaks to sophisticated understanding of visual hierarchy and crowd dynamics in illustration. The chromatic choices reveal careful consideration of both aesthetic impact and cultural resonance, with the warm terracotta and vermillion palette evoking the materiality of traditional architecture while the strategic deployment of cool blues creates atmospheric depth and visual respite. The festival floats themselves emerge as remarkable pictorial inventions, their organic forms decorated with stylized wave patterns that simultaneously reference historical decorative arts and contemporary design aesthetics. The work invites contemplation of how communities mark time through collective celebration, how architectural forms create sacred space for gathering, and how visual artists across generations have sought to capture the ephemeral magic of festival moments. Viewers might consider how this contemporary interpretation participates in and extends long traditions of celebratory documentation while establishing its own distinctive visual voice.
Press Kit
- Unique Properties
- This magazine is available at credit unions across Japan and is available for customers to pick up at their convenience. She created it with warm, hand-drawn illustrations and eye-catching colors to make it easy for customers to pick up and take home.
- Dimensions & Packaging
- Used for the cover illustration of the magazine.
Magazine size: 21cm x 15cm, 1mm thick (B5 size), about 15 pages
Published bimonthly, this year's theme is "World Heritage Sites and Festivals."
The illustrations are mostly hand-drawn, but sometimes Photoshop is used. - Tags
- #142430 Graphic, Illustration and Visual Communication Design Category Silver Award / Kumano Kodo
- Production Technology
- My works are mainly hand-drawn illustrations using brushes, acrylic paints, illustration boards, compasses, rulers, ruling pens, etc., and some are retouched in Photoshop.
- Design Challenge
- She didn't know how the magazine actually got from store shelves to customers' hands. However, the magazine did receive feedback from readers. One such comment, "Looking at the illustration on the cover, I felt nostalgia and a sense of the season, and it reminded me of home," made her happy.She didn't quantify the actual effect, so she doesn't know, but it seems that this activity was effective.
- Project Duration
- She was commissioned to do this project by a planning and production company (BOON Corporation + Shinkumi Sogo Service Corporation). She produced six books per year for each month over five years (30 books) from January 2011 to April 2018. The project was supervised by the National Federation of Shinkin Banks.
- Operation Flow
- Installed at Shinkin Bank branches/
Distributed free of charge/Information and gifts
This information magazine introduces people, industries, local products, and tourist spots working hard in each region of Japan, helping to steadily connect people and cities. - Research
- This magazine is a pamphlet distributed free of charge by Shinkin banks nationwide. How do customers get it? We think it is important for customers to get to know the local people and towns. She created eye-catching illustrations that convey the warmth and nostalgia of the town. As a result, people visit the area (by buying local products, etc.) and learn about its good points. I think this has connected people and towns.
- Inspiration
- This project was created as an information tool that can be placed in the storefronts of Shinkin banks nationwide and can be freely taken home. It is also an information magazine based on the concept of "shinkumi," which energizes people and cities. The theme of the issue for which she was asked to illustrate was Hiroshima Summer. She created an illustration based on the theme of the Itsukushima Shrine Orchestra Festival, which energizes people and cities.
- Image Credits
- Main image is Image #1 Illustrator Kiyoka Yamazuki 2015
Optional image #1 Illustrator Kiyoka Yamazuki 2015
Optional image #2 Illustrator Kiyoka Yamazuki 2014
Optional image #3 Illustrator Kiyoka Yamazuki 2014
Optional image #4 Illustrator Kiyoka Yamazuki 2015 - Patents
- Copyright Kiyoka Yamazuki 2014
Colors of Bon Vivant Information Magazine
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G0E3 ShopDesign Interview about Bon Vivant Information Magazine
When creating a cover illustration, which is the face of a booklet, we want it to be an impactful illustration that makes the reader want to pick it up and read it.
If the theme we received is "festivals," we will incorporate the characteristics of the town and the feeling of the season as elements into the design and create the illustration.
If the theme we received is "festivals," we will incorporate the characteristics of the town and the feeling of the season as elements into the design and create the illustration.
Are the characteristics of the town well expressed in the illustration? Does it improve the town's image? If the theme is "festivals," I want the cover illustration to be fun and make people want to visit the town.
This work ended in 2017.
Therefore, I have no plans for the future.
If there is a request for such a work, I will be happy to create it. Also, the direction of the illustrations will not change, so I would like to continue creating illustrations of Japanese festivals, festivals around the world, world heritage sites, etc.
Therefore, I have no plans for the future.
If there is a request for such a work, I will be happy to create it. Also, the direction of the illustrations will not change, so I would like to continue creating illustrations of Japanese festivals, festivals around the world, world heritage sites, etc.
The production period is limited, so it takes 1-2 weeks for the idea and rough draft stage.
Production takes about 1 week to 10 days. If it's urgent, I will follow that.
Production takes about 1 week to 10 days. If it's urgent, I will follow that.
This design is an illustration that I was asked to create. (The theme is decided by the designer and the client.)
I am an illustrator, so I create illustrations that fit the theme (illustrations that show the charm of the area and make people want to visit).
I am an illustrator, so I create illustrations that fit the theme (illustrations that show the charm of the area and make people want to visit).
Of course, my illustrations can be produced and used by other companies. I will also produce new ones if requested. I also intend to produce some work myself.
When I became a freelance illustrator, I wanted to express my own unique style that other illustrators didn't have (or had never seen before), so I remembered the dyeing (tube painting and stencil dyeing) of washi paper I made as a student and created similar illustrations using acrylic paint.
I see a lot of different works, so I think I'm influenced by a lot of different things. If I had to say, it would be the late dye artist (Serizawa Keisuke), African patterns, Kel patterns, Japanese patterns, etc. As for illustrators, I learned the basics of illustration from Nishiguchi Shiro, who passed away last year.
I don't know who his designs are aimed at.
The target audience for this design is Bon Vivant's purpose is to "invigorate people and cities," so the target is the people, industry, and towns of Japan.
The target audience for this design is Bon Vivant's purpose is to "invigorate people and cities," so the target is the people, industry, and towns of Japan.
This booklet was produced by the Shinkin Bank with the theme of "Shinkumi (revitalizing towns and people)."
It is an information magazine created with the concept of being useful to the local community and its people.
It is full of information about the local attractions and specialties, as well as information to invigorate people.
It is an information magazine created with the concept of being useful to the local community and its people.
It is full of information about the local attractions and specialties, as well as information to invigorate people.
I don't know how this name was created or who came up with it.
I am simply an illustrator who was asked to create the cover illustration.
"Bon Vivant" is a booklet that introduces local specialties, festivals, gourmet food, etc. from around the country, with the theme of "living happily" for both individuals and regions, with the hope that people will live a fun and lively life.
I am simply an illustrator who was asked to create the cover illustration.
"Bon Vivant" is a booklet that introduces local specialties, festivals, gourmet food, etc. from around the country, with the theme of "living happily" for both individuals and regions, with the hope that people will live a fun and lively life.
I worked on this project from around 2011 to 2017. In the early days, I didn't use design tools much. Around 2017, I sometimes created illustrations in Photoshop, but they were mostly hand-drawn illustrations.
The illustrations are hand-drawn on illustration board with acrylic paint.
The illustrations are hand-drawn on illustration board with acrylic paint.
Nowadays, illustrations can be created using AI, but the most unique thing about my illustrations is that they are hand-drawn.
I created the cover illustration under the planning of the planning and production company Boon Co., Ltd. and Shinkumi Sogo Services Co., Ltd.
I created these illustrations between 2011 and around 2017.
I rarely used technology while creating them, although I did start using Photoshop around 2017.
Even now, my illustrations are still mostly hand-drawn.
I rarely used technology while creating them, although I did start using Photoshop around 2017.
Even now, my illustrations are still mostly hand-drawn.
My illustrations are mainly inspired by a theme and are then designed to make use of the characteristics of the region from the subject of the illustration.
I try to create colors that capture each individual's personality so that all of my illustrations don't have the same image.
In this day and age, we can use AI to draw illustrations, but I think hand-drawn illustrations have more warmth than beautifully drawn illustrations on a computer. I'm still exploring how to create illustrations that are unique to me.
In this day and age, we can use AI to draw illustrations, but I think hand-drawn illustrations have more warmth than beautifully drawn illustrations on a computer. I'm still exploring how to create illustrations that are unique to me.
I decided to submit this illustration to this contest because I submitted it in 2022.
I received a silver prize in 2022, but when I submitted this time, I mistakenly submitted my next nominated work. It seems to have caught the eye of the judges.
I received a silver prize in 2022, but when I submitted this time, I mistakenly submitted my next nominated work. It seems to have caught the eye of the judges.
I created this work around the time of the Lehman Shock and the Great East Japan Earthquake.
It was a period when the Japanese economy was on a downward trend and there was little vitality.
I would be happy if even a little of the warmth of this hand-drawn work can be conveyed and give people in Japan a little bit of energy.
Around 2017 I also started creating illustrations using Photoshop. Speaking of improvement, I think I've gotten a little better at creating works in Photoshop.
It was a period when the Japanese economy was on a downward trend and there was little vitality.
I would be happy if even a little of the warmth of this hand-drawn work can be conveyed and give people in Japan a little bit of energy.
Around 2017 I also started creating illustrations using Photoshop. Speaking of improvement, I think I've gotten a little better at creating works in Photoshop.
Nothing in particular.
Thank you.
Thank you.
Grand Interview about Bon Vivant Information Magazine
Itsukushima Shrine is a beautiful shrine, not only for its large torii gate, but also for the vermilion-painted pillars of the main shrine.A visit here cleanses the soul, and a solemn atmosphere permeates the air.It was registered as a World Heritage Site in 1996.I have visited twice, but unfortunately I have never participated in the Kangen Festival.The Kangen Festival, which is held in July at Itsukushima Shrine and surrounding shrines, is a maritime ritual that is said to have been started by Taira no Kiyomori during the Heian period.The moment when the royal boat passes under the great torii gate is said to be a spectacular sight. I would definitely like to visit during that time.
As part of my job, I have had many opportunities to draw local festivals and local shrines and temples.Also, because the illustrations are hand-drawn, I think they naturally convey the warmth and familiarity of hand-drawn art.It wasn't something I developed specifically.
The illustrations were created based on instructions from the designers and clients.The theme changes every year, with some years being flowers, others being festivals, and others being World Heritage sites.We aimed to create fun, nostalgic illustrations that would encourage people to pick up the magazine.
I draw my illustrations based solely on my own feelings. They may be primitive landscapes that you may or may not have seen when you were a child.They may not be something that I have personally experienced, but something common, like a fragment of someone's memory.I hope that these illustrations have touched a chord with readers' sense of the seasons and memories.
The reason I switched from hand-drawn illustrations to digital is that the way work is done has changed, and the Lehman Shock and the Tohoku earthquake and tsunami meant that there wasn't much money to spend on production.Producing illustrations the traditional way takes time and money. Also, nothing beats digital when it comes to digitizing your work.So, as someone who has always raved about the benefits of hand-drawn illustrations, I also tried my hand at digital production.I think I've been able to express things that I couldn't do by hand, and I've expanded my range of expression. But maybe the beauty of my illustrations has made them lose their warmth.
As well as illustrating for Bon Vivant Information magazine, I have also worked on illustrating Japanese festivals and World Heritage sites.This has given me many opportunities to look at a wide range of materials, and perhaps it is thanks to this that I am able to capture the essence and energy of these places.
By picking up the book and reading it, readers can learn more about the region's specialties and their charms through the region's traditional festivals and famous places.For this reason, we thought it was important that the cover illustration, which forms the face of the magazine, be visually appealing as well.It seemed that many readers looked forward to the monthly information magazine.
I have not received any reports that my cover illustration has directly led to increased tourism in the area or cultural understanding. I think it has been a catalyst for that.I have not received any specific reports that it has increased sales or the number of people visiting the area.However, there are letters from readers in the magazine, such as people who have framed the illustration of the outer skin and put it on display, who look forward to it every time, and who were happy to get the last volume in their hands.I have received letters saying things like, "I love the heartwarming cover illustration," and "I'm stocking up on copies of the magazine and not throwing them away."It seems that I have been able to contribute in that way.
My experience as an educator at Japan Designer Art Academy has allowed me to teach people to express things that are difficult to convey in words through illustrations, paintings, and designs, and to help them find the process of how to express their own individuality.
Proof of the enduring power of print media in the digital age?Whether it's a hand-drawn or digital illustration, the most important thing is that the subject matter depicted is appealing.When you consider time and costs, digital illustrations are quick and produce beautiful results, but sometimes they're so beautiful that they fail to convey the original emotion of the artist.