Ifeza Ipaki · 2026
Edible Heritage Primary Function: Agapfundikizo k'Impano
by E G Sain
- Igihembo cya A' Design Award cya Ifeza 2026 in Ipaki
- CLIENT: E G Sain
- Estimated Number of Design Views: 16,671
- Verification code 802A2146E9 · Verify this award
Colors
About Edible Heritage Primary Function: Agapfundikizo k'Impano
Book Text: Uyu mushinga w'igishushanyo mbonera uhuza umurage w'ikinyejana cya 18 n'umuco w'impano ugezweho. Ushingiye ku Nyandiko ya Sinkang yo mu 1774, uyu murimo winjiza ururimi rw'Ikihokkien ruri mu kaga ko kuzimira mu gapfundikizo k'impano ka honey castella. Binyuze mu gusobanura ubushya inyandiko z'akahise no gupfundikiza mu buryo burambye, iki gishushanyo gihuza ubucuruzi bwa kera bwo mu nyanja n'ubuhanga bwo gukora ibiryo. Mu gushyira inyandiko ku buso bwa keke ubwabo, gihindura inyandiko z'amateka mu bunararibonye bufatika. Kongeramo abagore bahamya b'amateka bishyiraho isano nshya hagati y'impapuro z'ubutaka za kera n'ubuzima bwa buri munsi.
About the Igihembo cya A' Design Award cya Ifeza
Edible Heritage Primary Function: Agapfundikizo k'Impano ni uwegukanye Igihembo cya A' Design Award cya Ifeza, ishimwe ridasanzwe ry'agaciro gakomeye ritangwa ku bishushanyo byo ku rwego rwo hejuru, byiza kandi bikora ku mutima. Abegukanye Ifeza ni ibihangano by'ubuhanga bukomeye kandi bifite guhanga kwinshi, bigaragaza ubuhanga bwimbitse, impano n'ubushishozi bw'ababihanze. Edible Heritage Primary Function: Agapfundikizo k'Impano biteganyijwe ko izaba igihangano cy'icyitegererezo, gifite ubunyamwuga bukomeye n'udushya twimbitse. Iki gishushanyo cyegukanye Ifeza ni igihangano kizwi kandi gishimwa, gifasha kugura imbibi z'ubuhanzi, ubumenyi, ubushushanyo n'ikoranabuhanga. Edible Heritage Primary Function: Agapfundikizo k'Impano ni igihangano benshi bifuza, gikangura ibyifuzo, gitanga amarangamutima meza kandi gitera igitangaza.
Press Kit
- Unique Properties
- This cultural gift set imprints endangered Taiwanese Hokkien directly onto food, turning language into a sensory experience that can be seen, tasted, and shared. Transparent stickers placed on the cake can be kept and applied to daily objects, allowing language and emotion to continue after the dessert is gone. The packaging uses FSC-certified paper and plant-based inks to support responsible production.
- Dimensions & Packaging
- Outer box: approx. 240 x 200 x 75 mm. Contains two honey castella cakes, 186g each, total 372g. The inner box includes two mother-tongue stickers and the outer box includes a Mother's Day greeting card. Main materials include FSC-certified paper, plant-based inks, transparent sticker film, and honey castella baked with traditional wooden-box technique.
- Tags
- Taiwanese Hokkien, endangered language, honey castella, Castella, language revival, Siraya, cultural gift, food heritage, sustainable packaging
- Production Technology
- Materials: FSC-certified paper, plant-based inks, and natural pine wood boxes. Craftsmanship: Following traditional methods, the cake is baked in a pine wood box to retain moisture and infused with natural longan honey.
- Design Challenge
- The main challenge was translating a historically significant manuscript into a contemporary gift set while balancing historical authenticity, emotional warmth, and commercial appeal. Another challenge was turning the serious issue of mother-tongue loss into an experience that feels approachable, giftable, and memorable rather than remaining an abstract cultural slogan.
- Research
- This project combines historical research, linguistic inquiry, and material study. Research focused on Sinkang Manuscripts, the history of language writing in Taiwan, Siraya culture, sugar trade routes, the link between Taiwanese sugar and Castella, and the use of FSC-certified paper and plant-based inks. The key insight was that language preservation could enter everyday life through food, gifting, and sensory interaction.
- Inspiration
- Inspired by a rare 1774 Sinkang Manuscript preserved for generations in the Creative Director's family. Written in Romanized Indigenous language, it provides an early historical basis for language writing in Taiwan. The land recorded in the deed once grew sugarcane, later refined into sugar and shipped to Nagasaki for Castella. This honey cake continues that craft lineage as a contemporary cultural translation.
- Project Duration
- This project was launched in Tainan at the end of 2025 to conduct linguistic research AND concept development. In January 2026, Taipei continued to conduct archival research, creative refinement, packaging design, and prototyping. From historical research to commercial photography, the project was completed in March 2026 and combined 250 years of heritage with contemporary design in just over three months.
- Operation Flow
- Upon opening, users find two mother-tongue stickers and honey cake imprinted with phrases. Through sight and taste, the mother tongue enters the senses. The transparent stickers can be applied to notebooks or daily objects, allowing the blessings and language to linger in everyday life and extending a brief culinary moment into a lasting cultural connection.
