About Manji
MANJI [mahn-jee], n. Charms, symbols of good luck and signs of benediction used by Jains and Buddhists — mostly found in ancient Persia, India, China, Japan and among tribes of the Americas.
About Brandon
I’m an award-winning graphic designer with 8+ years of design experience — not including the time spent teaching myself HTML. Well before I knew how to drive, I built three of my own websites and established Manji Designs as the creative force behind them.
My biggest creative inspiration comes from paper, photography, Japanese craftsmanship, Swiss design methods and Spanish typography. In my rare spare time, I enjoy cooking, shooting photography, painting, traveling and genealogical research. The interests and more make up my multidisciplinary work practice.
I'm currently taking on a limited amount of freelance work, but if you think I would be a good fit for your project, I'd love to hear from you. In the meantime...
Find me on LinkedIn and Behance or visit my blog called "Design Daruma." You can also follow @Respctiquette for etiquette hints or like Manji Designs on Facebook.
The Manji Philosophy
The meaning behind the word "manji" describes an ability to bring luck and benediction to those who use it. The octagonal logo represents an energy map, often known as a "bagua" [bah-gwah] in some Asian cultures. These maps are used to identify key areas in a given space that can be improved or enhanced.
The eight lines, or "trigrams," that encircle the center correspond to several major areas of life: prosperity; fame/reputation; relationships; health; creativity; children; knowledge; career; friendship.
"People ask about the 'Asian theme,' but I don't really have an answer. I find inspiration in many things, Asian aesthetics being the most prominent. They're colorful, geometric and simple — exactly how my work turns out."
The yin yang represents balance and change. Both must occur for things to improve because they give rise to each other in turn. Otherwise, things will lie stagnate — hence, a purple yin yang (the color of wealth) should give rise to prosperity.
When you put all of this together, some of the most profound theories of Feng Shui [fung-shway] — an ancient Chinese system of aesthetics — are empowered through the use of design, color and typography. Perhaps a little bit of luck won't hurt either!
