Mount Fuji from Experience Japan Pictograms (c) Nippon Design Center
Design your own pictogram to feature in our next exhibition
- 29 April - 19 May 2025
- The Hall, Japan House London, 101-111 Kensington High Street, London, W8 5SA
- https://www.japanhouselondon.uk/whats-on/design-your-own-pictogram-to-feature-in-our-next-exhibition/
- +44 (0)20 7932 7100
- info@japanhouselondon.uk
- Tweet
Take part, and your creation could be featured in an exhibition at Japan House London!
Pictograms are simple and easy-to-understand symbols – they help us all find our way around without the need for written signs. Japan has played an important role in the development of pictograms. Japanese designers created the first fully comprehensive set of pictograms for sports and services for the 1964 Tokyo Olympic Games so that people from all around the world who spoke different languages could understand what to see and where to go. Later, Japan also helped shape the way we communicate online with the first set of emoji created by Kurita Shigetaka, now used by people all over the world.
My London Pictogram competition challenges you to design your own pictogram representing an aspect of London that is important to you. From transport and food to cultural landmarks or iconic symbols of the city such as black cabs or double-deckers, what element of London would you like to show off? Can you design a pictogram that can communicate your chosen view of London across different languages?
Winning designs will be professionally refined by top graphic designers from Nippon Design Center and featured in Pictograms: Iconic Japanese Designs, a major exhibition at Japan House London, opening on 30 July 2025.
Who can enter the competition?
The competition is open to young people between the ages of 7 to 16, resident in the UK. All entries must be approved and supported by a parent or legal guardian.
How to enter
- Download Grid template and Guidelines.
- Read the Guidelines carefully and following the instructions, design your London pictogram, drawing it on the Grid template.
- To submit your design, scan or take a picture of your completed work and send it to pictograms@japanhouselondon.uk along with the scan or picture of the Entry Form filled in and signed by your parent or legal guardian. Remember to keep your original drawing as winners may be asked to submit it to Japan House.
Submissions will be accepted until 23:59 (BST) Monday 19 May 2025. Winners will be contacted directly by Japan House London via email.
Read full Terms and Conditions and the Japan House London Privacy Policy.
Good luck!
To learn more about pictograms for Japan and see hundreds of examples, visit the Experience Japan Pictograms website.
The competition is organized with the help of The Japan Society.
Competition open to young people aged 7 to 16, based in the UK
