Stort Interview
Castanea Nectar Honningemballage · 10 spørgsmål
I love combining watercolor with fine black ink lines. Watercolor conveys softness and transparency, while lines add graphic precision. This duo creates harmony between spontaneous color and structured form.
Your innovative watercolor illustration technique in Castanea Nectar Chestnut Honey beautifully captures the essence of Kyiv's chestnuts - could you share the creative journey that led to this distinctive visual approach?
I love combining watercolor with fine black ink lines. Watercolor conveys softness and transparency, while lines add graphic precision. This duo creates harmony between spontaneous color and structured form. Since art school and university, I combined these techniques, which shaped my unique approach in Castanea Nectar Chestnut Honey, expressing both the delicacy of nature and the structured beauty of design.
The symbolism in Castanea Nectar Chestnut Honey's logo design, from the viscous lines representing honey to the strict shapes reflecting the chestnut tree's resilience, is remarkably thoughtful - how did you develop these meaningful design elements to tell the story of both the product and the city?
Each logo element carries meaning: flowing lines symbolize thick, rich honey, while geometric forms represent the chestnut tree’s strength. The small bee unites the product and Kyiv’s spirit. The process was experimental and poetic; I refined lines and shapes until balance emerged between lightness and structure, natural and graphic, so the logo tells both the product’s story and the city’s essence.
As Castanea Nectar Chestnut Honey earned recognition with a Bronze A' Design Award in Packaging Design, how did you balance the challenge of creating a gift packaging that conveys both exclusivity and natural authenticity?
I aimed to create simple, familiar packaging that conveys warmth and nature. Delicate watercolor, fine lines, and geometric forms balance the honey’s authenticity with premium gift presentation. This packaging is easy to perceive, evokes emotional connection, and highlights the product’s value and uniqueness.
The integration of Kyiv's cultural heritage into Castanea Nectar Chestnut Honey's design is particularly moving - could you elaborate on how you translated the city's spirit and history into visual elements while maintaining modern appeal?
During a walk in Kyiv, I noticed a beautiful tree near my favorite fountain, inspiring the idea to create honey reflecting the city and its symbol — the chestnut. The project combines love for Kyiv, nature, and warmth. I wanted the design to feel clear, contemporary, and convey the city’s spirit, serenity, and beauty through the Castanea Nectar Chestnut Honey packaging.
What inspired your decision to incorporate the small bee as a connecting element in Castanea Nectar Chestnut Honey's logo, and how does this detail contribute to the overall narrative of your packaging design?
The small bee in the logo, created in my favorite engraving technique, symbolizes diligence and care. It highlights the process, like a tiny artist creating honey. The chestnut and bee add emotional symbolism, connecting the product with nature and Kyiv, forming a warm and meaningful story the consumer can relate to.
The harmonious color palette of Castanea Nectar Chestnut Honey seems carefully chosen to evoke warmth and comfort - could you walk us through your color selection process and its relationship to the product's identity?
For the color palette, I chose a white box and a honey-colored jar with a yellow lid, a white label with a black logo, and semi-transparent watercolor elements. White flowers, delicate pink blossoms, and green chestnut leaves add lightness, transparency, and natural freshness. This combination conveys warmth, coziness, and the product’s natural quality, emphasizing the brand identity and the aesthetic harmony of Castanea Nectar Chestnut Honey.
How did your background in interior design influence your approach to creating Castanea Nectar Chestnut Honey's visual identity, particularly in terms of spatial composition and visual hierarchy?
Although my diploma is in interior design, I’ve always loved graphic design. My experience gives me a refined sense of composition, hierarchy, and spatial relationships. I apply balance, rhythm, and proportion principles, structuring projects step by step. This ensures elements — watercolor, chestnut, bee, typography — guide the viewer naturally and create a harmonious visual narrative.
Could you share insights into how you developed Castanea Nectar Chestnut Honey's packaging dimensions and materials to create an optimal gift presentation while ensuring product protection?
The packaging is a simple cube of natural cardboard with a matte finish, highlighting the honey’s natural warmth. Inside, the jar is securely fixed for protection. A small square card serves as a symbolic reminder of the project’s idea — sincerity, care, and love for Kyiv. This packaging combines simplicity, aesthetics, and function, creating a harmonious gift presentation.
What role did your experience as a design mentor play in shaping the creative decisions for Castanea Nectar Chestnut Honey, and how might this project inspire future designers?
As a teacher at Kyiv Academy of Applied Arts, I share my experience, showing students how ideas evolve from concept to realization. I guide them in structuring projects, balancing creativity with functionality, and telling stories through design. Castanea Nectar Chestnut Honey demonstrates how to create emotional connections between product and audience, inspiring students to develop their own creative solutions.
Looking ahead, how do you envision Castanea Nectar Chestnut Honey's design influencing future packaging projects that aim to celebrate local heritage through contemporary visual language?
Castanea Nectar Chestnut Honey shows how modern design can celebrate local heritage. Simple forms, warm colors, and symbolic details convey the region’s story, character, and spirit. I hope it inspires designers to find ideas in their city’s culture and nature, creating packaging that combines beauty, authenticity, and modernity, making products unique and emotionally meaningful.
