Rui Deng · CLIENT: Universiti Putra Malaysia
Jiangnan Collection is a visual identity inspired by the water towns of southern China. The design reinterprets traditional architecture, rivers and everyday scenes through geometric composition and a modern color system. Cultural imagery is transformed into a scalable graphic system that adapts to lifestyle products such as silk scarves, paper cups, bookmarks and fridge magnets. The artwork was created with a digital illustration workflow and prepared in CMYK for accurate printing. The intent is to make regional heritage part of modern daily life.
Press Kit
- Unique Properties
- Jiangnan Collection is a contemporary visual identity inspired by the poetic landscapes of southern China. It reinterprets traditional water-town architecture, rivers, and everyday life through a modern compositional language and color system. The design transforms cultural imagery into a scalable visual system for lifestyle products such as silk scarves, paper cups, bookmarks, and souvenirs.
- Dimensions & Packaging
- The core artwork was created at a master resolution of 3600 × 3600 pixels at 72 DPI in CMYK color mode. The visual system is scalable and adaptable to multiple product formats. Standard application sizes include silk scarves at 900 × 900 mm, paper cups at 90 × 140 mm (wrap layout), bookmarks at 50 × 150 mm, and fridge magnets at 60 × 80 mm. All outputs follow ISO print standards to ensure consistent reproduction quality.
- Tags
- Jiangnan culture, cultural illustration, modern Chinese design, visual identity, souvenir design, lifestyle products, graphic system, heritage reinterpretation
- Production Technology
- The design was created using a digital illustration workflow based entirely on Adobe Photoshop. The composition was developed through layered construction, modular deconstruction of traditional forms, and geometric abstraction to reinterpret architectural and landscape elements into a contemporary visual language. Color grading and tonal harmony were refined through adjustment layers and blending modes. High-resolution, print-ready files were prepared in CMYK to ensure accurate reproduction for silk scarves, paper cups, bookmarks, and souvenir products.
- Design Challenge
- The main challenge of this project was balancing cultural authenticity with contemporary visual appeal. Translating traditional Jiangnan architecture and poetic landscapes into a modern graphic system required careful deconstruction and restructuring of classical forms without losing their cultural meaning. Another challenge was ensuring visual consistency and scalability across multiple product formats. Technical limitations in color reproduction and print compatibility were addressed through iterative testing and color calibration. The project required resolving tensions between heritage preservation, modern aesthetics, and industrial feasibility.
- Project Duration
- The project started in March 2025 in Shaoxing, China, and was completed in June 2025. The design development, visual research, and digital production were carried out by the design team, and the final artworks were prepared for application across multiple lifestyle products, including silk scarves, paper cups, bookmarks, and souvenir items.
- Operation Flow
- Users experience the design through everyday objects such as silk scarves, paper cups, bookmarks, and fridge magnets. The visual elements guide the eye through layered landscapes, creating a calm, story-like flow inspired by traditional water towns. As the design appears across different products, it transforms daily activities into moments of cultural reflection. The interaction encourages emotional connection, allowing users to engage with heritage aesthetics while enjoying modern lifestyle rituals.
- Research
- Jiangnan Collection reinterprets the poetic landscapes of Southern China through a contemporary lens. By deconstructing water-town architecture and river rhythms into a modern geometric and color system, the design revitalizes regional heritage. This scalable visual identity seamlessly adapts to lifestyle products, from silk scarves to stationery, bridging traditional aesthetics with modern daily life.
- Inspiration
- Jiangnan Collection was inspired by the poetic landscapes of southern China and the desire to reinterpret traditional water-town culture for contemporary life. The project draws from classical Chinese architecture, riverside scenes, and everyday local imagery, translating them into a modern visual language through geometric composition and color design. The motivation was to bridge heritage aesthetics with modern lifestyle products, making cultural memory more accessible.
- Image Credits
- Image #1: Illustrator Deng Rui
Image #2: Illustrator Zhang Chencan
Image #3: Illustrator Deng Rui
Image #4: Illustrator Zhang Chencan
Image #5: Illustrator Deng Rui - Patents
- Copyrights belong to Deng Rui and Zhang Chencan, 2025.
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