Education

Sugiura
Design Methodology
Courses

Leading designers all over Asia have now begun to re-interpret design with an Asian sensibility, as an alternative to international modernism, to re-invigorate the world of Art and Design.

Format
Six one-week workshops. Book all six or individual workshops subject to availability.
Participants
Limited to 12 individuals, first-come basis — due to the personalised attention assignments require.
Location
Villa Appavou, Puducherry. In-person only.
Fee
₹25,000 per module. Includes course material, lunch, and refreshments. Does not include accommodation.
Faculty
Prof Kirti Trivedi. Sugiura's recorded material used in teaching.

Seats will be allotted on a first-come basis. An advance of Rs 5000/- will be payable to confirm the booking for a particular workshop, the balance to be paid at the commencement of the workshop.

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Master Teacher

Kohei Sugiura
Born 1935

The Master leading the way forward – both through his work and his writings – is Prof Kohei Sugiura of Japan. He is the greatest book designer ever in human history, taking the practice of designing books to heights never achieved before, through the unbelievable output, breadth and depth of his work. His work draws upon the entire visual culture of mankind; and takes it to a grand finale, as we approach the end of an era which began with the ‘Gutenberg Bible’, and now is poised to give way to digital media with new horizons opening up for future forms of the book.

Kohei Sugiura
Sugiura exhibition
Sugiura exhibition — Bangalore International Centre
Sugiura books and posters
Sugiura — books, posters, and publications from six decades

A series of six one-week workshops will be conducted by Prof Kirti Trivedi, on the Design Methodology of Prof Sugiura. The courses will give professional Book and Publication Designers an insight into Prof Sugiura’s methods; which gives his design works such extraordinary vitality.

All workshops will be conducted through explanatory material, examples of actual books, videos of Prof Sugiura explaining his own design process, and design assignments to internalize the methodologies and the concepts.

The number of participants in each workshop is limited to 12 only; to ensure personalized attention to all participants. It will be possible to attend all modules by booking in advance or take individual modules depending on the availability of seats.

All workshops will be conducted at Sri Aurobindo Kala Sangam in Puducherry.

The Six Modules

2026–2027 Schedule
1

The Book as a Three-dimensional Object

Though a single piece of paper is a two-dimensional surface, when folded and bound together in sequence, it becomes a three-dimensional object with six sides, with each side having its unique characteristics and potential. Seen from this perspective, book design becomes much more than just doing layout of the cover and individual pages. It involves giving a physical form to verbal content which is self-evident and designed to be seen from all sides.

Duration
One week
I
Date
12–16 October 2026
2

One as Two, Two as One

The inherent duality of the cosmic order, where two opposites combine as the basis of creation, is the basic theme of this workshop. Through numerous examples of duality in the world phenomena, and examples of the use of this principle in Prof Sugiura's design works; the workshop will enhance understanding of ‘unity in duality and duality in unity’ and provide numerous new ways to structure content.

Duration
One week
II
Date
16–20 October 2026
3

Variation Programs

The idea of variation as a generative design tool — with the exploration of a set of rules that produce different outcomes depending on how they are applied; is one of the major methods used by Prof Sugiura in his works. This module studies variation programs drawn from natural and mathematical structures, and their application in book design, grid construction, and information layout.

Duration
One week
III
Date
14–18 December 2026
4

Magazine Design

The magazine as a design form is distinct from the book in its relationship to time, to seriality, to the coexistence of many different voices and content types within a single visual system, and the need to sustain interest in a given framework by the next volume always appearing new and different. This module studies magazine design as a sustained typographic and editorial problem — drawing on Sugiura's own extensive work in Japanese magazines.

Duration
One week
IV
Date
11–15 January 2027
5

The Asian Way of Design

The traditional Asian Way of Designing, developed over 5000 years through the collective ideas of three major Asian cultures: Indian, Chinese and Persian; is a treasure trove of ideas for contemporary design. How these have been assimilated and further taken forward in Prof Sugiura's work will be the basic theme of this workshop.

Duration
One week
V
Date
15–19 February 2027
6

Information Diagrams

Prof Sugiura's extensive body of work in the area of visual information diagrams is without parallel: opening new possibilities and perspectives to explain different phenomena. From ‘Time-distance Maps’ to ‘3D Maps of the Constellations’ – each work opens another way of presenting information which explains with greater clarity some world phenomena.

Duration
One week
VI
Date
15–19 March 2027
Villa Appavou

Puducherry — Villa Appavou

All six modules take place at Villa Appavou, a 143/1 Periyar Nagar Main Road, Manaveli, Ariankuppam, Puducherry 605007. The space was chosen for its relationship to the broader Puducherry creative community and its proximity to the Sri Aurobindo Ashram.

Getting here

By air
Chennai International Airport (MAA) is the nearest major airport — approximately 160km. Regular taxi services and buses connect to Puducherry.
By train
Puducherry Railway Station. Direct trains from Chennai, Bangalore, and other cities.
Accommodation
Participants arrange their own accommodation in Puducherry for the duration of the module. A range of options is available near Villa Appavou — guesthouses, Ashram guest rooms, and the French Quarter — and guidance will be provided with acceptance confirmation.
Nearby
Sri Aurobindo Ashram · Auroville / Matri Mandir · Puducherry French Quarter · local music, dance, yoga, and craft practice.
Explore Puducherry →

Apply

Ready to apply?

Applications to be made using the Sugiura workshop booking form, indicating the courses one would like to attend. The team will review and confirm your seat.

Apply for courses  →
Currently
Sugiura Workshops — Module I, 12 October 2026
Applications open — PG Program 2026
Fellowship — Joining 1 October 2026