Press Release
Zhanlu Tea Brand Design by Xi'an Academy of Fine Arts Is Granted the Bronze A' Design Award in Graphics, Illustration and Visual Communication Design
Xi'an Academy of Fine Arts acknowledged for graphics, illustration and visual communication design by the international grand jury of the 2025 - 2026 A' Design Award & Competition
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
COMO, Italy, April 17, 2026 /DesignNewswire/ A' Design Award & Competition has confirmed the Bronze A' Design Award in the Graphics, Illustration and Visual Communication Design category for Zhanlu Tea Brand Design by Xi'an Academy of Fine Arts. The result belongs to the 2025 - 2026 A' Design Award & Competition and was decided 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.
The Bronze A' Design Award Explained
The Bronze A' Design Award is given to outstanding designs that showcase a high degree of creativity and practicality. It recognizes the dedication and skill of designers who produce work that stands out for its thoughtful development and innovative use of materials and technology. These designs are acknowledged for their professional execution and potential to influence industry standards positively. Winning this award highlights the designer's ability to blend form and function effectively, offering solutions that enhance people's lives and wellbeing.
Regarding Zhanlu Tea Brand Design
Zhanlu is a brand and packaging design for a herbal tea created for the Mausoleum of the Yellow Emperor. The concept draws on the image of morning dew in classical Chinese poetry, suggesting purity and light nourishment. The blend combines monk fruit, licorice, ophiopogon, raspberry, and Solomon's seal, following the traditional principle that sour and sweet flavors together help generate moisture. Each 5 g tea bag is sealed in a moisture proof sachet. Coated paperboard cartons use offset printing and hot stamping with Han inspired graphics.
About Xi'an Academy of Fine Arts
Born in Xi'an, Shaanxi in November 1982, graduated from the Animation Department of Xi'an Academy of Fine Arts in July 2005, and obtained a Bachelor's degree. In July 2008, graduated from the Interior Design Department of Xi'an Academy of Fine Arts and obtained a Master's degree, and remained at the school to teach. A member of the Shaanxi Design Arts Committee. International Awards: In 2006, three poster works, "FIGHTFLU-Protectyourself, Protectthem," were successfully shortlisted for the "FIGHTFLU" (Protect Health and Fight the Flu) poster competition hosted by the Public Relief Bureau of Paris, France, with one of them winning the Grand Prize.
Award Record
This recognition makes Xi'an Academy of Fine Arts a winner of 2 A' Design Awards. All of the awards belong to the 2025 - 2026 edition of the A' Design Award & Competition.
About the A' Graphics, Illustration and Visual Communication Design Award
The A' Graphic Design Award is an international graphic design competition recognizing good graphic designs by best creative agencies and designers worldwide. The competition is organized within the A' Design Award & Competition and is open to graphic designers, communication designers, graphic artists and illustrators from all countries. Entries typically include logos, posters, infographics, brochures, packaging designs and business cards. Awarded graphic designs are published at https://designers.org/design-category/graphics
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/182018
- A' Design Award Page: https://competition.adesignaward.com/182018
- Media Showcase: https://www.designnewsroom.com/!182018
- Laureate Profile: https://designers.org/d/353321
- Further Information from the Laureate: https://reurl.cc/DbNanQ
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
- Zhanlu Tea Brand Design
- Function
- Brand Design
- Category
- Graphics, Illustration and Visual Communication Design
- Discipline
- Communication Design
- Industry
- Branding & Advertising and Arts
- Colors
- Black, Silver, Gainsboro, Lavender and Yellow Green
- Images
- 5
The Recognition
- Laureate
- Xi'an Academy of Fine Arts
- Country
- China
- Recognition
- Bronze A' Design Award
- Edition
- 2025 - 2026
- Design ID
- #182018
Credits
- Team
- Lan Ma, Guangyi Tang, Yinghua Wang, Lianfa Xu, Wanhui Huang, Zhifei Fu, Shunfeng Zhang and Jinyuan Zhang
- Image Credits
- Designers Ma Lan and Tang Guangyi (Product Designer / Visual Designer), Zhanlu Sweet and Moisturizing Tea Main Packaging, 2026.; Designers Wang Yinghua, Jinyuan Zhang, Shunfeng Zhang and Huang Wanhui (Illustrator / Graphic Designer), Botanical and Han Inspired Illustration Series, 2026.; Designers Xu Lianfa and Tang Guangyi (Packaging Engineer / Visual Designer), Light Luxury Gift Box Structure and Visual System, 2026.; Designers Ma Lan, Wang Yinghua and Huang Wanhui (Product Designer / Illustrator / Graphic Designer), Ingredient Visualization and Cultural Motif Development, 2026.; Designers Ma Lan, Tang Guangyi, Xu Lianfa and Zhifei Fu (Product Designer / Visual Designer / Packaging Engineer / Design Coordination), Integrated Packaging and Structural Realization, 2026.
Design Details
- Unique Properties
- Zhanlu is inspired by the idea of light nourishment and the purity of morning dew. Created for the Mausoleum of the Yellow Emperor, it blends monk fruit, licorice, ophiopogon, raspberry, and Solomons seal, following the traditional principle that sour and sweet together help generate moisture. Warm, gentle, and balanced, it offers visitors a moment of natural comfort and a quiet connection to ancient wisdom.
- Inspiration
- The inspiration for Zhanlu comes from the image of morning dew in ancient Chinese poetry, pure, quiet, and life giving. It draws from the sacred atmosphere of the Mausoleum of the Yellow Emperor, especially the ancient cypress trees that have endured for millennia. The concept of light nourishment and the traditional principle that sour and sweet create moisture shaped the formula, expressing harmony between nature, heritage, and gentle self care.
- Research
- This project explores how traditional Chinese wellness philosophy can be translated into contemporary cultural product design. Based on the principle that sour and sweet flavors generate moisture, the formula blends monk fruit, licorice, polygonatum, ophiopogon, and raspberry to support gentle hydration. Inspired by classical poetry and Han aesthetics, the packaging reinterprets traditional symbolism in a modern tea product, linking heritage, health, and mindful self care.
- Challenge
- The challenge was translating traditional wellness philosophy into a contemporary product without losing cultural depth. Rooted in classical theory, the concept had to remain clear and appealing to modern users. The key was balancing herbal efficacy, taste, symbolism, and packaging in one refined and coherent design.
- Realization and Technology
- Zhanlu is made with selected herbs that are cleaned, low temperature dried, and finely cut to preserve aroma and quality. The blend is packed into 5 g food grade tea bags and sealed in moisture proof sachets. Cartons and rigid gift boxes use coated paperboard with offset printing and hot stamping to present refined Han inspired graphics.
- Operation and Interaction
- Open the outer carton or gift box and remove one individually sealed sachet. Tear open the moisture proof wrapper and place one 5 g tea bag into a cup. Add approximately 250 to 300 ml of hot water and steep for 3 to 5 minutes. The tea gradually releases a gentle sweetness and light herbal aroma. After touring the mausoleum, visitors hold the warm cup, pause, and sip slowly. The interaction is simple and intuitive, open, brew, inhale, taste, creating a quiet ritual that connects body, breath, and cultural memory in a brief moment of nourishment.
- Project Duration and Location
- The project was completed on February 18, 2026. The client is based in the Yangtze River Delta region of China. Concept development, herbal formulation research, and packaging design were carried out in Xian, Shaanxi Province, China. The project integrates regional cultural resources with contemporary design practice, bridging eastern market demand and northwestern cultural heritage context.
- Specifications
- Each bag contains 5 g of blended herbs, with 50 g per box. Individual sachets are sealed in moisture proof laminated film to ensure freshness and hygiene. Packaging includes a coated paperboard carton and a premium rigid gift box with specialty paper wrapping and inner tray. Suitable for hot water brewing, one sachet per cup. Store in a cool, dry place.
- Keywords
- Light Nourishment, Herbal Tea, Moisturizing Formula, Brand Design
