Konnichiwa!
In May of 2026, I spent two weeks studying abroad in Japan alongside 12 students and three professors, exploring Japanese culture and its influence on art, design, and everyday life. With a focus on package design, we experienced firsthand how thoughtful design is integrated into Japanese culture while traveling, exploring new cities, and staying together in a hostel. Going into the trip, I was unsure of what to expect and nervous about stepping so far outside of my comfort zone. By the end, it became one of the most meaningful and life-changing experiences I have had, giving me a new perspective on design, culture, independence, and the value of embracing unfamiliar experiences.
Tokyo Midtown Design Hub tour
Our travel group with members of Chiba University at Chair Chair Design Company.
During my study abroad experience in Japan, I had the opportunity to collaborate with students from Chiba University’s Sumida Satellite Campus on a cross-cultural packaging design project. Working in teams of one University of Cincinnati student and two Chiba University students, we examined unfamiliar Japanese and American products and tried to identify what they were based solely on their packaging, without additional context.
From there, we explored how cultural differences influence visual communication, branding, and consumer expectations. Each team then redesigned the product for the opposite market, transforming Japanese packaging for an American audience and American packaging for a Japanese audience.
This project challenged me to think beyond my own design perspective and showed me how culture can shape everything from typography and color to imagery, information hierarchy, and the overall way a product communicates with its audience.
