Signs and symbols play an ever-growing role in our increasingly complex society. In this respect, Japan — the "empire of signs," as French semiologist Roland Barthes called it back in 1970 — strikes and confounds the foreign visitor with a vast array of alphabets, shapes and designs.
This incongruity of signs played no small part in luring Ian Lynam to Japan. "I was actually looking forward to the cacophony," the American graphic designer said.
"One of my favorite projects in school was an analysis of Roland Barthes' work in typographic form, and I couldn't wait to be dropped into that metaphoric land, even if just for a little while!"