MioBar Editorial Design by Naoya Katagami Wins the Bronze A' Design Award in Graphics, Illustration and Visual Communication Design

Naoya Katagami acknowledged for graphics, illustration and visual communication design by the international grand jury of the 2025 - 2026 A' Design Award & Competition

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

COMO, Italy, April 22, 2026 /DesignNewswire/ MioBar Editorial Design by Naoya Katagami has been granted the Bronze A' Design Award in the Graphics, Illustration and Visual Communication Design category, A' Design Award & Competition has announced. The award was conferred within the 2025 - 2026 A' Design Award & Competition and was reached through blind peer review by an international grand jury panel of established academics, design professionals and press members, who evaluated anonymized entries against predetermined criteria.

The Bronze A' Design Award Explained

The Bronze A' Design Award is given to outstanding designs that showcase a high degree of creativity and practicality. It recognizes the dedication and skill of designers who produce work that stands out for its thoughtful development and innovative use of materials and technology. These designs are acknowledged for their professional execution and potential to influence industry standards positively. Winning this award highlights the designer's ability to blend form and function effectively, offering solutions that enhance people's lives and wellbeing.

About MioBar Editorial Design

This project presents the renewal of MioBar into Gran Caffe Mio after thirteen years of operation. The design outcome includes a leaflet, a photo book, and a custom typeface that express the refined yet approachable atmosphere of the transformed interior. Inspired by Italian cafe culture, the project uses architectural curves as typographic motifs and integrates photography to document spatial qualities and human presence. It frames the cafe as a space for social interaction within its local context.

About Naoya Katagami

Naoya Katagami is a visual designer and photographer based in Hiroshima, Japan. Working across poster design and monochrome film photography, his practice explores how visual language can articulate emotional depth and distill complex realities. Katagami focuses on expressing essential truths through form, contrast, and silence—pursuing clarity without simplification. His work has been recognized by international design institutions and featured in exhibitions that explore social narratives and visual culture.

Award Record

With this recognition, Naoya Katagami is a winner of 2 A' Design Awards. The awards were granted between the 2024 - 2025 and the 2025 - 2026 editions of the A' Design Award & Competition.

About the A' Graphics, Illustration and Visual Communication Design Award

The A' Graphic Design Award is an international graphic design competition recognizing good graphic designs by best creative agencies and designers worldwide. It is organized within the A' Design Award & Competition and is open to graphic designers, communication designers, graphic artists and illustrators from all countries. Typical entries include logos, posters, infographics, brochures, packaging designs and business cards. The awarded graphic designs are published at https://dezigners.org/design-category/graphics

About A' Design Award & Competition

Organized annually since 2008, A' Design Award & Competition is an international, juried design accolade. The competition is open to entries from all countries. The philanthropic mission of the A' Design Award is to advance society through good design, by recognizing and promoting superior products, projects and services that benefit society, and by creating a global awareness and appreciation for good design practices and principles. Nominations are peer reviewed and evaluated anonymously by an international grand jury panel of established academics, design professionals and press members against predetermined criteria such as functionality, ergonomics, engineering, presentation, innovation, usability, sustainability and technology, with score normalization applied to remove biases. Awards are conferred at Platinum, Gold, Silver, Bronze and Iron levels. Eligible laureates receive the A' Design Prize, which includes the award trophy, the certificate of design excellence, the hardcover yearbook, a lifetime license to use the A' Design Award winner logo, exhibition of awarded works, an invitation to the gala night and award ceremony in Italy, inclusion in the World Design Rankings and Designer Rankings, and public relations and publicity services. Registration, uploading a work and receiving a preliminary score are free of charge, and Professional and Digital Edition laureates are not contractually obliged to pay further fees to claim the A' Design Prize. More information is available at https://competition.adesignaward.com

Press Resources

Winner Page: https://dezigners.org/176803
A' Design Award Page: https://competition.adesignaward.com/176803
Media Showcase: https://www.designnewsroom.com/!176803
Laureate Profile: https://dezigners.org/d/347763
Further Information from the Laureate: https://www.instagram.com/miobar_hiroshima/

Media Contact

Giulia Ferrari, Press Office
Designers.Org
Via Leone Leoni 32, 22100 Como, Italy
press@designers.org
+39 031 4491953

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Fact Sheet

The Work

Project: MioBar Editorial Design
Function: Editorial Design
Category: Graphics, Illustration and Visual Communication Design
Discipline: Communication Design
Industry: Branding & Advertising and Arts
Colors: Crimson, Dark Slate Gray and Tomato
Images: 5

The Recognition

Laureate: Naoya Katagami
Country: Japan
Recognition: Bronze A' Design Award
Edition: 2025 - 2026
Design ID: #176803

Credits

Image Credits: Naoya Katagami

Design Details

Unique Properties: This project marks the transformation of MioBar into Gran Caffe after 13 years. The brochures and photography were designed to convey the refined atmosphere of the renewed space, inspired by the elegance of historic Italian cafes. A custom typeface, subtly echoing the bar's architectural curves, reinforces the identity. More than a place to drink coffee, it aspires to embody the cultural essence of cafes as timeless spaces for reflection and connection.
Inspiration: Editorial Design The inspiration came from the transformation of MioBar into a "Gran Caffe," envisioned as a cultural space rather than just a coffee bar. The aim was to express the spirit of its refined yet welcoming interior through graphic design. Drawing from the curved architectural details, I created the original typeface Rinata, complemented with photography to capture both atmosphere and story. The result is a design that not only informs but also evokes the essence of cafe culture.
Research: Research for this project focused on the cultural and spatial role of cafes, particularly the transition from a neighborhood bar to a Gran Caffe. The objective was to explore how architecture, typography, and visual communication shape atmosphere and memory. Methods included observing Italian cafe traditions and analyzing spatial curves, which inspired the custom typeface Rinata. Findings indicated that careful design can elevate daily experiences and reinforce cultural identity.
Challenge: The main challenge was translating the essence of a Gran Caffe into visual communication without reducing it to decoration. Balancing historical references with contemporary sensibility required close study of architectural curves and cultural symbols. Limited resources and alignment with the client's renovation vision added complexity, but addressing these constraints resulted in a design that resonates authentically with both space and community.
Realization and Technology: The project combined custom typography, editorial design, and photography. An original typeface was created, inspired by the curved architectural features of the renovated cafe interior. The leaflet was realized through color photography shot with Leica equipment, while the photo book LULTIMOGIORNO was produced using monochrome film that I photographed and self-developed. This hands-on process, from capture to refinement, ensured a unified and authentic visual identity aligned with the Gran Caffe's ambience.
Operation and Interaction: This project goes beyond a simple restaurant renovation, aiming to convey the essence of a Gran Caffe to the local community. The leaflet serves as an accessible guide, while the photo book offers a reflective experience of the renewed space. Combined with custom typography, these elements invite people in Hiroshima to engage with the cafe and the cultural heritage it represents.
Project Duration and Location: The project began in March 2025 in Hiroshima, Japan, with the renovation of MioBar into Gran Caffe Mio. The design work, including leaflet, photo book, and custom typography, was completed by June 2025 in Hiroshima, and officially presented to the public at the cafe's reopening in July 2025.
Specifications: Leaflet: A6, 8 pages, folded brochure. Menu: A3, single-sheet. Photo book LULTIMOGIORNO: B5, 124 pages. Typeface Rinata: custom original type created specifically for MioBar. All elements feature original photography by the designer.
Keywords: Hiroshima, Gran Caffe, Italian Cafe Culture, Graphic Design, Leaflet, Photography, Book Design, Custom Typeface, Visual Communication, Branding