Horse Year Baakadaynta Ulaha Fooxa by Bingran Zhao

Horse Year Baakadaynta Ulaha Fooxa by Bingran Zhao is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2026 Abaalmarinta Naxaasta ah ee A' Design Award in Naqshadeynta Xirmooyinka Competition Category.

NaxaasXirmooyin· 2026

Horse Year Baakadaynta Ulaha Fooxa

by Bingran Zhao

Client: BeiHang University

Abaalmarinta Naxaasta ah ee A' Design Award Winner in Xirmooyin Category

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Colors

The Design

About Horse Year Baakadaynta Ulaha Fooxa

Sanadka Faraska waa taxane baakadayn ah oo loogu talagalay ulaha fooxa. Naqshaddu waxay udub dhexaad u tahay xarafka Shiinaha ee farta shaabadda ee tilmaamaya faraska, oo lagu daray luqadda khadadka ee astaamaha Daoist-ka iyo naqshadaha qiiqa. Shan nooc oo kala duwan ayaa raacaya wareeg midab oo ku salaysan Shanta Curiye ee bir, biyo, alwaax, dab iyo carro. Shanta sanduuq waxaa is dhinac la dhigi karaa si ay u sameeyaan sawirka faras orday. Saxan gudaha ku jira ayaa la soo jiidaa si loo muujiyo fooxa iyo farriin duco ah. Warqad adag oo aan dahaarnayn, khadad ka samaysan soy iyo saxan ka samaysan warqad la qaabeeyey ayaa taageeraya dib u warshadaynta.

The Recognition

About the Abaalmarinta Naxaasta ah ee A' Design Award

Horse Year Baakadaynta Ulaha Fooxa waa guuleystaha Abaalmarinta Naxaasta ah ee A' Design Award, aqoonsi sharaf sare leh oo la siiyo naqshado aan caadi ahayn oo lagu garto hal-abuur, hal-abuur cusub iyo caqli. Guuleystayaasha Naxaasta waa shaqooyin xirfad buuxda leh iyo hal-abuur yaab leh oo xaqiijiya khibrad weyn, male-awaal iyo kartida naqshadeeyayaashooda. Horse Year Baakadaynta Ulaha Fooxa waa walax la filayo inay noqoto mid aad loo tixgeliyo, la ixtiraamo oo la jecel yahay, xirfad cad leh oo hal-abuur cusub leh. Naqshadahan ku guuleystay Abaalmarinta Naxaasta ah ee A' Design Award wuxuu ku darsadaa hab-dhaqanno ugu wanaagsan farshaxanka, sayniska, naqshadaynta iyo tignoolajiyada wuxuuna ku fiican yahay dhawrista tafaasiisha. Horse Year Baakadaynta Ulaha Fooxa si fiican ayay u buuxisaa baahiyaha, taabataa rabitaannada, soo jiidataa dareenka kicinayaanna xiisaha aqoonta.

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