Happy Town: A Calendar That Builds Joy

Katsumi Tamura's Award-Winning Design for NTT EAST

The "Happy Town" calendar is a unique creation by Katsumi Tamura, a renowned designer known for his innovative approach to everyday items. This design was inspired by the integral role NTT EAST, a national telecommunications company, plays in supporting every Japanese town. The calendar is a visual representation of this relationship, featuring a townscape on top of each page.

What sets this design apart from others is its ability to bring the message of NTT East Japan Corporate Sales Promotion to life. The upper part of the calendar sheets features cut-outs of colorful buildings. As the sheets overlap, they form a vibrant and happy town. It's a design that invites the user to change the scenery of the line of buildings each month, fostering a feeling of joy throughout the year.

The calendar's dimensions are 178(w) x 120(h) x 55(d)mm, making it a compact yet impactful addition to any desk. The design team behind this project includes Creative Director Takuya Okamoto, Account Executive Eri Ito, Designer Takahiro Sugawara, Copywriter Toshiyuki Nagamatsu, and Printing Director Osami Gondaira.

The "Happy Town" calendar was launched in January 2014. Since then, it has been recognized for its exceptional design and creativity. In 2014, it was awarded the Golden A' Design Award in the Graphics, Illustration, and Visual Communication Design category. This prestigious award is given to designs that reflect the designer's prodigy and wisdom, embodying extraordinary excellence and significantly impacting the world with their desirable characteristics.

In conclusion, Katsumi Tamura's "Happy Town" calendar is more than just a tool to keep track of dates. It's a design masterpiece that brings joy, changes scenery, and builds towns, embodying the message of NTT East Japan Corporate Sales Promotion. It's a testament to the power of design in transforming everyday items into sources of joy and inspiration.