80s Style Design | Eizin Suzuki and Hiroshi Nagai
ART > JAPANESE DESIGN CLUB > EIZIN SUZUKI AND HIROSHI NAGAI
Eizin Suzuki and Hiroshi Nagai: Masters of 80s Japanese Graphic Design
Eizin Suzuki (鈴木英人) and Hiroshi Nagai (永井博) are two of the most influential graphic designers of 1980s Japan. Their work, deeply intertwined with the City Pop music scene, captures the essence of a bygone era.
Eizin Suzuki began his career as a graphic designer and art director, transitioning into illustration in the early 1980s. His vibrant, nostalgic summer scenes evoke a sense of warmth and tranquility, often depicting idyllic beach settings, classic cars, and sun-soaked landscapes. Suzuki's work is characterized by clean lines, bold colors, and a meticulous attention to detail.
Hiroshi Nagai, also a graphic designer and illustrator, started his artistic journey in the 1970s. His illustrations are known for their serene and surreal quality, often portraying dreamlike scenes of pools, palm trees, and minimalist architecture. Nagai's work perfectly complements the City Pop sound, embodying the genre's laid-back, urban sophistication.
Both artists seamlessly blend organic and digital elements in their creations, resulting in timeless pieces that continue to inspire designers and artists today.
Originally published in 2020, updated in 2025