“Dezain” is the Japanese word for design. And “Crush” is preferably encountered in emotionally charged formulations like “I have a crush on her” – “I have a crush on her.” In love with the design scene in Düsseldorf are Lilly Friedeberg, Kiyo Matsumoto, and Alexandros Michalakopoulos, the organizers of the exhibition “Dezain Crush,” which will be presented over three weekends on the upper floor of the NRW-Forum.

Eleven graphic designers and illustrators have invited them to their inventory. In addition to Takumi Ogata, Yu Miyama, and Yui Takada, who were already involved in last year's German-Japanese design presentation at the NRW Forum, Roman Klonek, the Düsseldorf-based Miho Nozaki and Takumi Ogat, Florian Schommer, and Jill Senft are now also showcasing their works. From Japan, among others, Kakomaki, Shun Sasaki, Toru Kase, and Arata Kubota are represented.

Poppy, colorful, cheerful, and distinctly childlike – this is how most of the exhibits appear. Miho Nozaki, who moved from Tokyo to Düsseldorf in 2023, especially delights a very young audience with her cuddly stuffed animals. Toys, plastic products, and sweets dominate the motif world of Kakomaki. The graphic design of Shun Sasaki, Yu Miyama, or Toru Kase is less flashy. However, their works undoubtedly possess eye-catching qualities as well. This is also true for the German designers participating in "Dezain Crush."

Alongside the exhibition, there is a mobile shop at the NRW-Forum, designed in collaboration with the Düsseldorf design office Studio Mudio. Visitors who wish to take a piece of Japanese design home with them can expect a T-shirt edition and various items related to the themes of Japan, illustration, and design.