Why Design Ah is a Must-Watch for Creatives
Design Ah blew my mind with its sleek visuals, clever ideas, and playful tone. It’s a kids’ show—but creatives of all ages will be inspired!
"Design Ah" is a Japanese children's TV show that originally aired on NHK Educational TV. It was recently rebranded as "Design Ah Neo", but the core concept remains the same—introducing kids to the fun and comfort of design in their everyday surroundings through stylish music and visuals.
Here’s a glimpse of Design Ah Neo! A must-watch for anyone who loves design, creativity, and clever visuals.
Even though it's a children's show, it's something adults can enjoy just as much!
What makes it so captivating is how mesmerizing every segment is.
Some of my favorite segments include:
- "Kaisan!" (Dismantle!) – where everyday objects are completely taken apart.
- "Mon" (Emblems) – a segment that explains how traditional Japanese iconographic designs, which depict all things in nature using only a drawing compass, are created.
"Design Ah" wasn’t around when I was a kid, but about 7–8 years ago, when I was working at an NHK-affiliated TV station, I stumbled upon it—and I was instantly hooked.
At the time, I was just starting to study graphic design, and this show felt like a goldmine of inspiration. Even now, that feeling hasn’t changed—I even bought the DVD!
I'm attending a stained glass workshop soon, and I need to come up with a design to bring with me. So today, I think I'll rewatch my Design Ah DVD to spark some ideas!