Celebrating its 70th anniversary in 2024, Kirin Kindergarten has sincerely dedicated itself to the vital work of early childhood education. Through repeated discussions with Mr. Inoue of Inoue Sogo Printing, who oversees the kindergarten’s branding, our goal became a design that would be “cherished as part of the townscape for years to come.”
We designed a simple, symbolic “giraffe-patterned” that blends into Fukuoka’s scenery, so that not only those connected to the kindergarten but also passersby would recognize it as the “Giraffe Bus.” The diamond shape, inspired by giraffe patterns, carries the meaning of “light” illuminating the children’s futures. We meticulously arranged the design so that when viewed head-on, the entire bus resembles a giraffe’s face. Anticipating future replacements of buses for different routes, we added each route’s color (pink for Bus No. 2 this time) as an accent on the rear. We also incorporated a “surprise” element: the kindergarten’s mascot character subtly hidden on the roof, allowing the design to be enjoyed even from high vantage points like apartment buildings. The immense joy expressed by the principal and all involved parties was our greatest encouragement. Although the design posed significant construction challenges, we extend our heartfelt gratitude once again to Inoue Sogo Printing and the construction team for their wonderful execution.