Mei Tao Wan Identitate vizuală, sistem de orientare spațială by Zilong Chen

Mei Tao Wan Identitate vizuală, sistem de orientare spațială by Zilong Chen is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2026 A' Design Award de Bronz in Design Grafic Competition Category.

BronzGrafică· 2026

Mei Tao Wan Identitate vizuală, sistem de orientare spațială

by Zilong Chen

Client: City University of Macau

A' Design Award de Bronz Winner in Grafică Category

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Verified Award Winner

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View at A' Design Award Press Release Award Badge

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The Design

About Mei Tao Wan Identitate vizuală, sistem de orientare spațială

Mei Tao Wan este o identitate vizuală și un sistem de orientare spațială pentru un parc cultural situat pe un sit ceramic istoric din Foshan, China. Designul abstractizează liniile structurale ale districtului Cuptorului Antic Nanfeng într-un schelet geometric. Acest schelet formează un font personalizat de 26 de litere și cifrele de la 0 la 9, împreună cu pictograme geometrice. Signalistica este realizată din acril cu transparență ridicată și oțel inoxidabil cu finisaj de cupru negru. Iluminarea LED integrată la bază menține textul lizibil pe timp de noapte. Sistemul leagă istoria sitului de noua sa funcție culturală.

The Recognition

About the A' Design Award de Bronz

Mei Tao Wan Identitate vizuală, sistem de orientare spațială a câștigat A' Design Award de Bronz, o recunoaștere extrem de prestigioasă acordată designurilor remarcabile care se disting prin creativitate, ingeniozitate și istețime. Câștigătorii Bronzului sunt artefacte din plin pricepute și izbitor de creative, care atestă experiența vastă, imaginația și resursele designerilor lor. Se așteaptă ca Mei Tao Wan Identitate vizuală, sistem de orientare spațială să fie un obiect foarte apreciat, admirat și prețuit, remarcabil de profesionist și inovator. Acest design câștigător al A' Design Award de Bronz încorporează cele mai bune practici din artă, știință, design și tehnologie și este excelent prin atenția la detalii. Mei Tao Wan Identitate vizuală, sistem de orientare spațială satisface splendid nevoile, atinge dorințele, vrăjește sentimentele și stârnește curiozitatea.

Behind the Design

Press Kit

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

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.
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.
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.
Team Members: Designer：CHEN ZILONG
Image Credits: Image #1-5 : CHEN ZILONG