Pictogram Workshop | Draw, Design, Discover

To celebrate the exhibition, JAPAN HOUSE Los Angeles presents a special hands-on workshop inviting guests to create their very own pictograms. As a fun creative outing for design lovers and families alike, participants will take home their completed pictogram and will receive exclusive pictogram badges, serving as a unique souvenir of the event and the exhibition spotlighting this design legacy.

Pictograms are an integral part of everyday life, appearing everywhere on street signs, in train stations, and across digital platforms such as computers and smartphones. They are visual icons that are designed to communicate information across languages and cultures. Japan has played a pivotal role in the development of pictograms, including introducing the first full set of Olympic pictograms for the 1964 Tokyo Olympic Games and the first emoji, which is now used globally as a universal visual language.

This workshop will be led by Daigo Daikoku, Art Director and CEO and Kosuke Tsurube, Senior Designer of Nippon Design Center. The program will open with an educational presentation introducing Nippon Design Center (NDC)’s extensive body of work, followed by an overview of the history and development of pictograms within the field of visual communication.

After this fascinating introduction, participants will be guided through a design session to make their own pictograms. Daikoku will conduct a live sketching demonstration to show how to create a pictogram step-by-step, sharing professional tips and design guidelines. Using specially prepared worksheets modeled after those used by NDC when creating pictograms for the Experience Japan Pictogram project, guests will be prompted to create pictograms that focus on wide-ranging themes including culture, food, landmarks, nature, and transportation, allowing them to personalize their designs.

The program will conclude with a show-and-tell where guests can share their creations, fostering dialog and creative engagement amongst the attendees.

The workshop will be held twice (with same content in each program) and is open to guests ages 10 and up. Participants under the age of 14 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.

*Subject to change

Tue April 14, 2026

• 7:00 PM - 7:15 PM | Opening Remarks & NDC Presentation
• 7:15 PM - 8:15 PM | Workshop
• 8:15 PM - 8:20PM | Pictogram Worksheet Show-and-Tell
• 8:20 PM - 8:30 PM | Q&A

Sat April 18, 2026

• 11:30 AM -11:45 AM | Opening Remarks & NDC Presentation
• 11:45 AM -12:45 PM | Workshop
• 12:45 PM -12:50PM | Pictogram Worksheet Show-and-Tell
• 12:50 PM-1:00 PM | Q&A

After graduating from Kanazawa College of Art, Daigo Daikoku began working at Nippon Design Center (NDC) in 2003. He is now a Board Member of the company and currently serves as the CEO and Art Director of Nippon Design Center USA. Working across multiple areas of design, Daikoku has extensive experience in creating graphics as well as motional, spatial, and experiential projects. In 2011, he founded his own in-house design studio, Daikoku Design Institute at NDC, and leads many creative projects for cultural, corporate, and educational clients. With a specialty in blending traditional Japanese aesthetics with a global perspective, his work features human-centered design with clear, elegant communication. This artistic focus allows Daikoku to bring Japan’s design heritage to audiences around the world.

Kosuke Tsurube graduated from the Department of Information Design at Tama Art University in 2017 and joined Nippon Design Center the same year. He has contributed to major corporate projects for clients including Toyota, Asahi, and Isetan Department Store, developing design solutions that bridge strategy and visual communication. He is currently based at NDCLA, where he leads the Experience Japan Pictogram project, overseeing the development and touring of the traveling exhibition.

Pictograms: Iconic Japanese Designs explores how Japan has shaped the global use of pictograms as a universal visual language. Used daily in transportation, technology, and public spaces, pictograms communicate across cultures through clarity and simplicity. The exhibition highlights Japan’s design tradition, focused on precision, balance, and refinement, and its lasting influence on visual communication worldwide.

Dates: Thu February 12, 2026 – Sun May 3, 2026

Times: Mon-Fri | 11:00 AM – 7:00 PM

Sat-Sun | 11:00 AM – 8:00 PM

Location: JAPAN HOUSE Gallery, Level 2

Fee: Free

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