Predefine, Define, Redefine is a Japanese Kanji dictionary manifested from half-Japanese architectural designer, Koji Seow Takehira’s ethos of being curious, being rebellious, and then ultimately challenging the limits that “definitions” has set for us. Just as the modern roman alphabets we use today are a form of evolution of how they looked like centuries ago, the evolution of Kanji characters themselves are a form of redefinition developed from pictographs, redefining itself through different contexts of time – so how might we redefine them today?
Predefine, Define, Redefine is a Japanese Kanji dictionary manifested from half-Japanese architectural designer, Koji Seow Takehira’s ethos of being curious, being rebellious, and then ultimately challenging the limits that “definitions” has set for us. Just as the modern roman alphabets we use today are a form of evolution of how they looked like centuries ago, the evolution of Kanji characters themselves are a form of redefinition developed from pictographs, redefining itself through different contexts of time – so how might we redefine them today?
Being a curious child at heart, Koji loves questioning things, and so we thought, a dictionary would answer them. But far from that, Predefine, Define, Redefine poses more questions instead and asks the reader: how would you define this word, now? Wanting to challenge conventions from its very roots, Koji's ethos stems from challenging the very definition of all things, then redefining them in the current context in his work.
To juxtapose the convention of dictionaries as being large blocks of white paper with matter-of-fact-ly contents in them, void of any expression, the choice of colour of stock used for the covers and body pages are inverted, replacing the white pages with red instead. This design decision is justified by the publications purpose, being built upon the foundation of Koji's personal voice and manifesto, a strong declaration and expression in a message subjugated by his personal opinions and experiences, the complete opposite of how lifeless a typical dictionary is.
Taking inspiration from architectural grids, its content page is designed by using dots to allow contents to be linked to their pages through the merging of two different spaces (pages), in line with Koji's personal branding concept and style in his architectural work.
In line with the approach to the production of the book, a wabi-sabi aesthetic is stylized within the architectural illustrations through a stippled texture which is substantialized further through the tactile stock choice, adding a sense of imperfectionality onto the geometrically deconstructed structures.
