NY-based Kendall Henderson distils the visual complexity of Tokyo

Kendall Henderson fulfilled a lifelong ambition to visit Japan late last year. During his trip the graphic designer documented as much as he could, focusing on colour, shape and Japanese typography. “I spent weeks working with a translator,” says Kendall. “The goal is to provide a snapshot of the city for those who have visited before, or those who aspire to visit.”

This personal project, For the Love Of Tokyo, has three parts. A film, a limited-edition offset poster and a series of 24-page notebooks. Kendall’s project simplifies and distils the visual complexity of the Tokyo streets to provide a lexicon of shape and colour that will evoke a feeling of familiarity to anyone who has visited the beguiling metropolis. Kendall, who includes Chelsea FC, Nike and Warner Brothers Records among his clients, has created a visual map of a city that could evolve over time as the design language of Tokyo evolves.