Silver Graphics, Illustration and Visual Communication Design · 2025
24 Solar Terms And Gods Graphic Design
- A' Design Award 2025 Silver Winner in Graphics, Illustration and Visual Communication Design
- Awarded April 15, 2025
- CLIENT: Nanji E-Commerce Co., Ltd.
- Estimated Number of Design Views: 74,756
- Verification code 7AE32CD2A8 · Verify this award
About 24 Solar Terms And Gods Graphic Design
24 Solar Terms and Gods is an illustration series that pairs each of the 24 Chinese solar terms with a traditional deity. The artworks draw on mythological figures from ancient Chinese classics and on petroglyph forms, using fine detail and a red and black palette. Each illustration measures 594 by 420 millimetres and is prepared for both print and digital display. A QR code in the lower right corner of each illustration links to a website with solar term explanations, deity stories and agricultural knowledge.
Chen Zhao's 24 Solar Terms And Gods Graphic Design presents a remarkable visual compendium that bridges ancient cosmological wisdom with contemporary illustration practice, creating an accessible yet intellectually rich exploration of traditional seasonal markers and their associated mythological figures. This systematic series demonstrates exceptional formal discipline through its unwavering commitment to a restricted triadic palette of vermillion, black, and white, a chromatic decision that simultaneously honors historical printing limitations of traditional almanacs while asserting bold modernist graphic sensibilities. The designer appears to engage thoughtfully with the challenge of representing complex cultural narratives through radically simplified visual means, achieving an emblematic quality that transforms each deity or spirit figure into an immediately recognizable icon without sacrificing individual character or narrative specificity. Technical accomplishment manifests in the consistent application of flat color fields with decisive edges, the harmonious integration of bilingual typography, and the strategic deployment of red accents that guide viewer attention toward significant iconographic details. The series suggests familiarity with diverse visual traditions including traditional woodblock printing, mid-century poster design, contemporary pictographic systems, and folk art illustration conventions, synthesizing these influences into a distinctive visual language. Thematically, the work celebrates the enduring human impulse to mark time through observation of natural cycles and to populate the cosmos with meaningful figures who embody seasonal transformations, agricultural concerns, and spiritual aspirations. Each poster functions both independently as a contemplative object and collectively as chapters in a larger visual narrative exploring humanity's relationship with natural rhythms. One might consider how such systematic design approaches can serve as bridges between cultural heritage and contemporary audiences, inviting viewers to discover traditional wisdom through fresh visual interpretation.
Press Kit
- Unique Properties
- This illustration series centers on 24 solar terms, artfully reinterpreting their associated deities through modern design. The artworks reveal natural and cultural essence, merging tradition with modernity to revitalize ancient Chinese seasonal heritage in fresh visual forms. Meticulously crafted with intricate details and harmonious color palettes, this series cultivates an atmosphere that balances mystical allure and modern elegance.
- Dimensions & Packaging
- 594mm × 420mm
- Tags
- Illustration Design, 24 Solar Terms and Traditional Deities, Petroglyph form, Modern Design, Website Interaction Design
- Production Technology
- The illustrations take inspiration from the petroglyph form, balancing meticulous detail with vivid hues to recreate Stone Age authenticity, effectively enhancing mythological immersion. Designed for adaptability across different media, they also ensure the optimal visual impact across both printed materials and digital displays while maintaining artistic coherence.
- Design Challenge
- The core challenge lies in artistically integrating 24 solar terms with deity imagery through modern design. These divine figures are hybrids of human, animal and mythological traits, embodying both natural charm and cultural identity. A striking red and black palette creates mystical and modern aesthetics, while the QR codes bridge physical and digital realms, enabling intuitive interaction and facilitating easy exploration of traditional culture.
- Project Duration
- The design and development of this project started in China, in 2021.
- Operation Flow
- To facilitate cultural exploration of 24 solar terms and traditional deities, each illustration features a QR code at the lower right corner. By scanning the code, viewers can access a dedicated website featuring rich content, including detailed solar term explanations, deity stories, and agricultural wisdom. All presented through vivid images and text, this interactive approach makes traditional cultural discovery both accessible and enjoyable.
- Research
- As a traditional festival system, the 24 solar terms reflect celestial patterns and natural cycles. Ancient Chinese relied on this calendar to guide activities, forming a cultural cornerstone of classical folk traditions. This illustration series reimagines traditional deities associated with 24 solar terms through modern design. By reinforcing their cultural connections, this series fosters both cultural accessibility and heritage transmission.
- Inspiration
- Drawing inspiration from mythological figures in ancient Chinese classics like Classic of Mountains and Seas, this series transforms folkloric imagery brimming with fantasy and mystique into contemporary art. The designer conducted profound research to extract essential cultural elements, then innovatively reinterpreted them through the lens of 24 solar terms. The resulting works preserve traditional charm while breathing modern vitality into each character.
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