Press Release
Silver A' Design Award in Print and Published Media Design Goes to The Four Great Chinese Novels Publication Design by Xu Tang
The international grand jury of the 2024 - 2025 A' Design Award & Competition recognizes Xu Tang for print and published media design
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
COMO, Italy, April 18, 2025 /DesignNewswire/ A' Design Award & Competition has confirmed the Silver A' Design Award in the Print and Published Media Design category for The Four Great Chinese Novels Publication Design by Xu Tang, designed for Biejing Lab. The award was conferred within the 2024 - 2025 A' Design Award & Competition and was determined through blind peer review by an international grand jury panel of established academics, design professionals and press members, who evaluated anonymized entries against predetermined criteria.
About the Silver A' Design Award
The Silver A' Design Award celebrates top-tier designs that embody excellence and innovation. This award acknowledges creations that are not only aesthetically pleasing but also highly functional, reflecting the designer's deep understanding and skill. Silver A' Design Award recipients are recognized for their contribution to raising industry standards and advancing the practice of design. Their work often incorporates original innovations and elicits a strong emotional response, making a notable impact on the improvement of everyday life.
Regarding The Four Great Chinese Novels Publication Design
The Four Great Classical Novels are widely regarded as the ultimate representation of traditional Chinese literature and culture. This design abandons conventional methods, embracing a critic's perspective to present a fresh interpretation of these timeless works. The set features a split double-bookcase design with a one-centimeter gap that reveals a glimpse of the inner cover's artwork, evoking the sensation of peering through a slightly opened door, enticing readers to uncover the mysteries within.
About Xu Tang
Mr. Xu Tang is a book designer from China. He is widely acclaimed in the publishing industry for his minimalist yet dynamic design language. Advocating a return to the essence of the book, he upholds the philosophy that "less is more" and consistently rejects overdesign. He has established strong partnerships with many of China’s leading publishing groups, and has designed Chinese editions for numerous world-renowned authors. With over 500 titles to his name—all of them bestsellers— his works can be found in virtually every Chinese-language bookstore around the world.
Award Record
Xu Tang is a winner of 2 A' Design Awards, including this recognition. All of the awards belong to the 2024 - 2025 edition of the A' Design Award & Competition.
About the A' Print and Published Media Design Award
The A' Print Design Award is an international design competition recognizing good printed and published media by leading designers and brands worldwide. The competition is organized within the A' Design Award & Competition and is open to print designers, published media designers, graphic designers and typography experts from all countries. Entries typically include brochures, posters, magazines, catalogs, flyers and business cards. Awarded print designs are published at https://designers.org/design-category/print
About A' Design Award & Competition
A' Design Award & Competition is an international, juried design accolade organized annually since 2008. The competition is open to entries from all countries. The A' Design Award has a philanthropic mission to advance society through good design by recognizing and promoting superior products, projects and services that benefit society, and by creating a global awareness and appreciation for good design practices and principles. Entries are peer reviewed and anonymously evaluated by an international grand jury panel of established academics, design professionals and press members against predetermined criteria such as functionality, ergonomics, engineering, presentation, innovation, usability, sustainability and technology, with score normalization applied to remove biases. Awards are conferred at Platinum, Gold, Silver, Bronze and Iron levels. The A' Design Prize granted to eligible laureates includes the award trophy, the certificate of design excellence, the hardcover yearbook, a lifetime license to use the A' Design Award winner logo, exhibition of awarded works, an invitation to the gala night and award ceremony in Italy, inclusion in the World Design Rankings and Designer Rankings, and public relations and publicity services. Registration, the upload of a work and the preliminary score are free of charge, and Professional and Digital Edition laureates are not contractually obliged to pay further fees to claim the A' Design Prize. Further information is available at https://competition.adesignaward.com
Press Resources
- Winner Page: https://designers.org/164214
- A' Design Award Page: https://competition.adesignaward.com/164214
- Media Showcase: https://www.designnewsroom.com/!164214
- Laureate Profile: https://designers.org/d/358760
Media Contact
Giulia Ferrari, Press Office
Designers.Org
Via Leone Leoni 32, 22100 Como, Italy
press@designers.org
+39 031 4491953
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Fact Sheet
The Work
- Project
- The Four Great Chinese Novels Publication Design
- Function
- Publication Design
- Category
- Print and Published Media Design
- Discipline
- Communication Design
- Industry
- Branding & Advertising and Entertainment
- Colors
- Firebrick, Dark Slate Blue, Dark Olive Green, Maroon and Dark Slate Gray
- Images
- 5
- Client
- Biejing Lab
The Recognition
- Laureate
- Xu Tang
- Country
- China
- Recognition
- Silver A' Design Award
- Edition
- 2024 - 2025
- Design ID
- #164214
Design Details
- Unique Properties
- If One Set of Books were to Represent Traditional Chinese literature and culture, it would be the Four Great Classical Novels. In the design, Broke from traditional approaches by incorporating a critic's perspective, allowing a fresh view of these classics. The set features a split double bookcase design with a one-centimeter gap revealing part of the inner cover's design. It's like opening a crack in the door, waiting for you to explore the mystery inside.
- Inspiration
- Four Series of Ideas Dream of the Red Chamber: The bookcase mimics a red lion-headed door, slightly opened to reveal the mysterious life of the Jia family. Romance of the Three Kingdoms: Inspired by the "Borrowing Arrows" scene, the case depicts flying arrows, while inside, Zhuge Liang smiles calmly on the straw boat. Journey to the West: Draws from the "Havoc in Heaven" scene among the clouds. Water Margin: Reflects the "Outlaws of the Marsh" theme with waving flags of rebellion.
- Research
- China's Four Great Classical Novels are the most renowned native novels, and many people around the world have heard of them, such as the stories of Sun Wukong and Zhuge Liang, which originate from these novels. This indicates that these four books have spawned countless versions and designs over time. In designing this new edition of the Four Great Classical Novels, Researched hundreds of design versions from the Qing Dynasty to modern times over a span of 100 years, ultimately discovering a new concept that blends tradition with modernity, simplicity with depth, inviting readers to explore more.
- Challenge
- This set of the Four Great Classical Novels are characterized as a version with critiques from famous scholars. This means that in addition to the complete traditional stories, it includes comments and critiques from notable critics of the time, enriching the content and making it more complex. For the content layout design, Adopted a grid system and a two-color dual printing method to address reading issues and enhance the reading experience. In the design of the outer packaging, Incorporated the perspective of critics, viewing the book from a higher and more objective standpoint.
- Realization and Technology
- Paper: Specialty paper Pantone spot color printing Packaging: Paper mounting grey board hardcover Craftsmanship: Partial hot stamping
- Operation and Interaction
- Through the unique design, it brings readers a more valuable sense of collection and a better reading experience. With the opening of the book box, the story relates to the readers step by step, just like the curtain of a play slowly pulls open, which is fascinating.
- Project Duration and Location
- The project starts in January 2023 in Beijing, China and ends in April 2023 in Beijing, China, Officially published in April 2023 and available for sale
- Keywords
- China's Four Great Classical Novels Publication design innovate
