Yamagiwa International Competition for Lighting Fixtures Exhibition

This poster was created by Yusaku Kamekura for the exhibition Yamagiwa International Competition for Lighting Fixtures in 1968. The principal image presented on the poster is the black silhouette of a light bulb placed in the center and surrounded by layers of different colors: purple, blue, green, and yellow. 

Yusaku Kamekura is the well-known Japanese graphic designer, who was active during the postwar period. His work was inspired by the principles of Bauhaus and modernist design and he became one of the founders of the Nippon Design Center.

The reason why I find this poster attractive is that Kamekura manages to express the notion of light with such a simple image. I particularly appreciate the way colorful figures surrounding the black light bulb create the illusion of light spreading. Despite the simplicity of the design, its bright colors add energy and visual interest to the poster. I believe that the simplicity of the composition makes the poster comprehensible to perceive.