Neutral Colors Issue 5: Language

Neutral Colors is the independent magazine of the Japanese design studio and riso printer of the same name run by Katoh Naonori. The magazine stands out because of its mix of offset and risograph printing.

The fifth issue of Neutral Colors takes on “language” as its theme. Language, the editors claim, is a notion that cannot be communicated. In pursuit of a modern-day Rosetta Stone, the magazine is fully designed to express the essence of language through visual imagery and concepts. From tracing traditional Indonesian scripts, onomatopoeia, and the Japanese dance theatre known as butoh, to cephalopods and seeking a father’s language, this issue’s contents are as varied as the appearance of the magazine’s pages. ‘Neutral Colors’ is an independent Japanese publication featuring vibrant offset and Risograph printing combined with a saddle-stitched binding.