Horse Year Q'apaq K'aspikunapaq Churana Wakichiy by Bingran Zhao

Horse Year Q'apaq K'aspikunapaq Churana Wakichiy by Bingran Zhao is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2026 A' Design Award Burunsi Premiu in Pilluchina Kamay Competition Category.

BurunsiPilluchina· 2026

Horse Year Q'apaq K'aspikunapaq Churana Wakichiy

by Bingran Zhao

Client: BeiHang University

A' Design Award Burunsi Premiu Winner in Pilluchina Category

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Colors

The Design

About Horse Year Q'apaq K'aspikunapaq Churana Wakichiy

Horse Year nisqaqa q'apaq k'aspikunapaq (incienso) huk churana wakichiy hunt'achiymi. Kay ruwayqa "caballo" nisqa chinakunaq ñawpa seal script qillqasqan chawpinpi churakun, Daoísta talismán siq'ikunaq siq'i siminwan hinallataq q'usñi siq'ikunawan huñusqa. Pichqa laya ruwaykunam huk llimp'i muyuyta qatinku, Pichqa Elementokunaman hina: metal, unu, k'ullu, nina, allpa ima. Chay pichqa cajakunata kuskachaspa churaptinchikqa, huk phawaq caballoq rikch'aynin rikhurin. Ukhu bandejata aysariptinchik, q'apaq k'aspikuna huk saminchay willakuywan kuska rikhurin. Mana laqasqa cartulina, soya llimp'ikuna, hinallataq ñit'isqa pulpamanta bandeja ima recicladota yanapanku.

The Recognition

About the A' Design Award Burunsi Premiu

Horse Year Q'apaq K'aspikunapaq Churana Wakichiy A' Design Award Burunsi Premiu mishak kan, jatun yupaychay, kayta mana shuk shina, mushuk yuyaypi, yuyaypi shinallatak chaskik kaypi riksishka diseñukunaman kun. Burunsi mishak kashkakunaka ruray ushayta charik shinallatak mancharina mushuk rurashkakunami, paykunata rurakkunapak achka yachayta, yuyayta shinallatak ruray ushayta rikuchinku. Horse Year Q'apaq K'aspikunapaq Churana Wakichiy sinchi yupaychashka, kuyashka shinallatak riksishka shuk ruray kanata munanku, ruray yuyaywan shinallatak mushuk yuyaywan. Kay Burunsi Premiu japishka diseñuka arti, siensia, diseñu shinallatak tekinolojíapi ashtawan alli ruraykunata tantachin shinallatak ima ukumanta rikuypi sumak kan. Horse Year Q'apaq K'aspikunapaq Churana Wakichiy mañaykunata alli paktachin, munaykunata llankan, shunkuta kuyachin shinallatak yachayta munayta kallarichin.

Behind the Design

Press Kit

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

Unique Properties: This packaging series transforms the seal script Chinese character for Horse and the linear language of Daoist talismans into a contemporary visual system tailored for incense products. Through a color cycle derived from the generative logic of the Five Elements and the subtle integration of flowing 2026 curves the five variants are unified into a coherent narrative regarding time and blessing. The design merges ritual sensibility emotional experience and everyday usability enabling users to intuitively select incense according to their emotional state rather than engaging with the packaging merely as a decorative container.
Dimensions & Packaging: Width 160 mm × Depth 40 mm × Height 70 mm
Tags: Incense packaging, Year of the Horse, Chinese zodiac, Five Elements, Daoist talisman
Production Technology: The packaging employs uncoated paperboard soy based inks and restrained hot stamping to emphasize the seal script visual while ensuring recyclability. Constructed through die cutting and folding the design utilizes a molded pulp inner tray instead of plastic. The graphic system is developed by vectorizing strokes from seal script and Daoist talismanic lines refined through rigorous prototyping and color calibration.
Design Challenge: The primary challenge lies in translating specific cultural elements like seal script the Five Elements and Daoist motifs into a contemporary global packaging language avoiding stereotypical Oriental imagery. Research balanced historical literature with youth aesthetic preferences selecting motifs that convey cultural depth without religious misinterpretation. Execution complexity arose from controlling fine lines on uncoated paper using soy based inks. Multiple proof iterations ensured both environmental sustainability and visual precision.
Research: This qualitative design study seeks to reintegrate traditional incense and Daoist culture into the daily lives of younger audiences. The research methodology synthesized literature reviews on Five Elements symbolism with competitive market analysis. Interviews and user testing with participants aged 20 to 35 investigated specific habits and aesthetic preferences. Findings revealed that minimalist narrative driven and emotionally expressive designs are preferred for gifting purposes. These insights directly informed decisions regarding the final form color system and copywriting strategy.
Inspiration: Inspired by Chinese incense culture this project celebrates the 2026 Year of the Horse through the Five Elements. The design condenses Eastern philosophy into packaging by blending the seal script horse character with Daoist talismans and smoke patterns. Hidden curves subtly form the number 2026. The color system follows the generative cycle of Metal Water Wood Fire and Earth. This chromatic logic connects five variants inviting users to select a fragrance and an auspicious intention for the day.
Project Duration: The project started in May 2025 in Beijing China and finished in November 2025.
Operation Flow: Users may first align the five individual boxes side by side to assemble a complete image of a galloping horse, and then select the incense corresponding to a particular color and Five Elements attribute according to their current mood or usage scenario. The packaging is opened by pulling out an inner tray, through which the incense and its associated blessing message are revealed simultaneously. This deliberately slowed opening action creates a brief "pre-ritual" moment before the act of lighting the incense.
After use, the outer boxes can be retained as modular desktop storage units or framed as decorative panels, allowing the packaging to continue functioning beyond a single-use context. In this way, the interaction extends beyond one-time consumption and encourages sustained engagement with the product and its cultural narrative.
Patents: Bingran Zhao
Image Credits: Image #1：Bingran Zhao
Image #2：Jiuxiao Cui
Image #3：Zhou