Iced Hop Gin Involucrum by Michael Held is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2025 Praemium A' Design Award Aeneum in Designatio Involucri Competition Category.

AesInvolucrum· 2025

Iced Hop Gin Involucrum

by Michael Held

Client: Michael Held

Praemium A' Design Award Aeneum Winner in Involucrum Category

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Verified Award Winner

Verify Award Status for #163667

View at A' Design Award Press Release Award Badge

Colors

The Design

About Iced Hop Gin Involucrum

Sapor gini, per infusionem lupuli et menthae creatus, in identitate eius visuali reflectitur. Conus lupuli congelatus cum noctua intuente coniunctus essentiam frigidam acremque potus capit. Dominatio menthae in involucro externo per umbras caeruleas floresque glaciales stilizatos resonat. Hoc thema frigidum purum in lagena vitrea pruinosa continuatur, ubi titulus metallicus impressionem glacialem auget. Formae subtiles pruinae accentusque crystallorum nivis in superficie impressi sunt, thema recens confirmantes. Quodque elementum characterem refrigerantem gini sustinet.

The Recognition

About the Praemium A' Design Award Aeneum

Iced Hop Gin Involucrum victor est Praemii A' Design Award Aeneum, honoris multum aestimati formis egregiis, creandi ingenio, sollertia et acumine insignibus dati. Victores Aenei opera perita et mire creandi sunt, quae experientiam, imaginationem et solertiam auctorum suorum confirmant. Exspectatur Iced Hop Gin Involucrum rem multum aestimatam, admiratam et carissimam, notabiliter professionalem et novam fore. Haec forma Aeneo victa optimas consuetudines artis, scientiae, formandi rationis et technologiae amplectitur et in cura minutiarum excellit. Iced Hop Gin Involucrum necessitates egregie explet, cupiditates tangit, sensus capit et curiositatem allicit.

Behind the Design

Press Kit

Credits, team members and technical details provided by the designer.

Unique Properties: The frozen hop cone paired with a mystic owl visually reflects the gin's unique flavor profile, dominated by spicy hops and refreshing peppermint. The coolness of mint shapes the overall impression, mirrored in the outer packaging with cool blue tones and ice flowers. This frosty theme extends to the frosted glass bottle, with a metallic label enhancing the icy feel. The recurring owl emblem adds a sense of freshness and determination, highlighting the gin's direct, strong taste.
Dimensions & Packaging: 72 mm x 72 mm x 193 mm
Tags: Gin, Infused, iced, owl, hop,
Production Technology: In cooperation with the founder, we created the Gin packaging totally from scratch including the material mix. Through these well-chosen and simple materials like the frosted glass and the reflective label the design visually prepares the customer for the upcoming fresh and crisp taste experience.
Design Challenge: At first, I experimented with different bottle types i.e. brown beer bottles with crown caps or bow closure. Also, I went for a green color theme for the label with classical Blackletter typography. This has led to, a direction of traditional Franconian craft beer design. The idea of peppermint infusion was not directly visible.
Research: Not applicable
Inspiration: The packaging is inspired by handcrafted beer using design elements often seen in craft brewing, like the detailed image of a hop cone. This connects to the idea of quality and care in making the product, similar to how craft beers are made. The frosted glass bottle and metallic label add to this handmade feel, showing that the gin, like craft beer, is made with attention to detail and tradition.
Project Duration: The project began in November 2023 and was completed in March 2024. The selection of a suitable mix of materials was especially challenging, as the small production volume meant that an attractively priced paper had to be used for the label and outer packaging.

The gin is produced in a small town in Franconian Switzerland and is sold purely locally in the farm store of the small fruit farm.
Operation Flow: The fine feel of the velvety, smooth bottles with their fine structure is reminiscent of the feathers of an owl. The asymmetrical label design visually highlights the unconventional character.
Team Members: Michael Held
Image Credits: Images: Photographer tm studios visuelle medien GmbH, 2024.