Centre is a design office. Its work focuses on identity and creative direction for people, institutions and brands guiding the trajectory of contemporary culture.
Yoshihisa Tanaka
Founder of Centre Inc. / Member of a Alliance Graphique Internationale and Japan Graphic DesignAssociation Inc. / Part-time lecturer at Tokyo University of the Arts.
Born in Shizuoka, Japan in 1980. Yoshihisa Tanaka graduated from the Department of Scenography, Space and Fashion Design at Musashino Art University and completed a Master’s degree in Policy and Media at Keio University Graduate School of Media and Governance. In 2022, he founded centre Inc.
Through collaborations with public institutions, educational organizations, and private companies, he researches and implements contemporary design practices by expanding the possibilities of visual language within printed media. His major projects include visual identity programs for the Tokyo Photographic Art Museum, the 58th International Art Exhibition of La Biennale di Venezia, TOKYO ATLAS International Art Exhibition, Aichi Triennale 2022, POST, and TOKYO ART BOOK FAIR, as well as art direction for Takeo Paper Show and ISSEY MIYAKE.
Tanaka is also active as a member of the artist duo Nerhol. Major solo exhibitions include Turning the Horizon at Chiba City Museum of Art, Sowing Seeds and Crows: Misreading Righteousness at the Museum of Modern Art, Saitama, Beyond the Way at the Leonora Carrington Museum (Mexico), Index at Foam Photography Museum (Amsterdam), and Promenade at the 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art, Kanazawa.
In 2025, Nerhol received the New Artist Award from the Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology at the 75th Minister of Education’s Art Encouragement Prizes.
His major works include:
The Tokyo Art Book Fair 2015 – present
The Tokyo Photographic Art Museum 2016
Thomas Ruff Touring Exhibition in Japan 2016 – 2017
Art Fair Tokyo 2018 – present
Takeo Paper Show 2018
Kengo Kuma: a LAB for materials 2018
Japan Pavilion at the 58th International Art Exhibition –La Biennale di Venezia 2019
The Aichi Triennale 2022
TOKYO ATLAS 2026 etc.
staff
Yoshihisa Tanaka, Art Director
Misaki Nishikura, Graphic Designer
Yoshiko Tanigawa, Art Director
Kana Furusho, Graphic Designer
Taiki Murakami, Graphic Designer
Fuya Yasunaga, Graphic Designer
Awards
PhotobookAwards / Aperture Foundation
The Best Photobooks / TIME Magazine
JAGDA New Designer Award
JAGDA Award
BACON PRIZE
PromaxBDA DESIGN GLOBAL EXCELLENCE AWARDS / SILVER
red dot award
TDC Prize Nominee work
CS Design Award / SILVER
Foam Tallent Call
VOCA grand prix
Best streamlining: Wallpaper* Design Awards
New Artist Award from the Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology at the 75th Minister of Education’s Art Encouragement Prizes
Book
IDEA No.381 / Transboundary Design — Perspective of Yoshihisa Tanaka
One and Three Books / limArt