Zilong Chen · CLIENT: City University of Macau
Mei Tao Wan is a visual identity and wayfinding system for a cultural park on a historic ceramic site in Foshan, China. The design abstracts the structural lines of the Nanfeng Ancient Kiln district into a geometric skeleton. This skeleton forms a custom typeface of 26 letters and the numbers 0 to 9, together with geometric icons. The signage is made of high transparency acrylic and stainless steel with a black copper finish. Integrated LED lighting at the base keeps the text legible at night. The system links the history of the site with its new cultural function.
Press Kit
- Unique Properties
- MEITAOWAN transforms the historic ceramic site in Foshan into a cultural hub. The design extracts the architectural structure of the Nanfeng Ancient Kiln historic district. This architectural DNA is rigorously applied to the wayfinding system evolving into a custom 3D typeface comprising 26 English letters and numbers 0 to 9. Distinct from traditional signage the implementation uses black glazed ceramics fired at 1800 degrees Celsius. This approach integrates the material soul of the site into the visual identity creating a system where every character is not just a sign but a durable eco friendly piece of ceramic art.
- Dimensions & Packaging
- Primary Physical Application Banners and Posters 600mm x 900mm. Wayfinding Totem 600mm x 1800mm x 150mm. Wall Signage 400mm x 400mm. Main Logo Application Variable sizes adapted to building facades. Materials Acrylic Stainless Steel with Black Copper Finish LED components.
- Tags
- Visual Identity, Wayfinding System, Foshan Shiwan, Ceramic Culture, Architectural Typography, Urban Renewal, Industrial Heritage, Branding.
- Production Technology
- To contrast with the rough texture of the historic red brick buildings the signage system employs modern industrial materials high transparency acrylic and stainless steel with a black copper finish. A key technical innovation is the integrated LED lighting at the base which allows the text and icons to appear as if floating in the dark. This ensures maximum legibility for night time navigation while minimizing light pollution achieving a balance between safety guidance and artistic atmosphere.
- Design Challenge
- The main challenge was to modernize traditional cultural symbols without losing their historical gravity. We needed to avoid cliché representations of ceramics while ensuring the wayfinding was functional. The solution lay in the strict geometric abstraction of the architecture converting physical building forms into a flexible typographic system that works across various scales and materials.
- Project Duration
- The project started in December 2023 in Foshan, China and finished in August 2024. The project is located in Shiwan, Foshan, Guangdong Province, China.
- Operation Flow
- Visitors navigate the park using intuitive geometric icons derived from the brand architectural logic. The signage acts as a silent guide linear patterns on glass surfaces create a rhythmic visual play between transparency and privacy mimicking the stacking of ceramic tiles. This immerses visitors in the ceramic culture atmosphere immediately upon entry making wayfinding an integral part of the artistic experience rather than just a functional necessity.
- Research
- The project addresses the challenge of revitalizing an industrial ruin into a modern cultural landmark. Research focused on the visual semantics of Shiwans ceramic history. By analyzing the structural lines of local heritage buildings the team developed a visual grammar that unifies the disparate spaces of the park. This approach ensures the brand identity is not just a label but a continuation of the site historical narrative providing a platform for artists to create and exhibit.
- Inspiration
- The inspiration is deeply rooted in the Nanfeng Ancient Kiln a living fossil of Foshan ceramic history. We analyzed the structural logic of the kiln sloping roofs and the surrounding historic brick buildings. By extracting these architectural lines we designed a geometric skeleton that forms the basis of the 26 letters and 0 to 9 digits. The choice of black glaze ceramic as the medium is a direct tribute to the site production heritage symbolizing the transformation of mud into eternal art through fire.
- Image Credits
- Image #1-5 : CHEN ZILONG
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