Huong Incense Ìdánimọ̀ Àmì-ọjà, Àpẹrẹ Ìṣàkópọ̀ by Huy Nguyen Tran

Huong Incense Ìdánimọ̀ Àmì-ọjà, Àpẹrẹ Ìṣàkópọ̀ by Huy Nguyen Tran is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2026 Àmì-ẹ̀yẹ Idẹ A' Design Award in Àpẹẹrẹ Ìpolówó, Títajà àti Ìbánisọ̀rọ̀ Competition Category.

IdẹÌpolówó· 2026

Huong Incense Ìdánimọ̀ Àmì-ọjà, Àpẹrẹ Ìṣàkópọ̀

by Huy Nguyen Tran

Client: Huong

Àmì-ẹ̀yẹ Idẹ A' Design Award Winner in Ìpolówó Category

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Colors

The Design

About Huong Incense Ìdánimọ̀ Àmì-ọjà, Àpẹrẹ Ìṣàkópọ̀

Huong jẹ́ iṣẹ́ àmì-ọjà àti ìṣàkópọ̀ fún àmì-ọjà tùràrí Vietnam ti òde òní. Àpẹrẹ náà tún ìjọsìn àwọn baba ńlá túmọ̀ gẹ́gẹ́ bí ààtò ìmọ̀lára tí ó dákẹ́ jẹ́ẹ́ fún àwọn ìran ọ̀dọ́. Àwọn àwọ̀ tẹ̀lé Àwọn Ohun Alákọ́kọ́ Márùn-ún, ìgbékalẹ̀ ìṣàkópọ̀ náà sì wá láti inú Ìbámu Mẹ́fà àti ilé oníyàrá mẹ́ta ìbílẹ̀. Àkójọpọ̀ náà ní àpótí olórí onígun mẹ́fà, àpótí tùràrí mẹ́fà tí ó wà nínú rẹ̀, ohun ìgbé tùràrí méjì àti àwọn ohun èlò tí a tẹ̀ jáde. Ojú-òpó wẹ́ẹ̀bù alábàákẹ́gbẹ́ tí a ń pè ní Gap fa ètò ìwòye kan náà gùn sí i, tí ó ń jẹ́ kí àwọn àlejò lè bá àwọn òjìji àwọn baba ńlá tí a ṣẹ̀dá láti inú òjìji ara wọn ṣe àjọṣepọ̀.

The Recognition

About the Àmì-ẹ̀yẹ Idẹ A' Design Award

Huong Incense Ìdánimọ̀ Àmì-ọjà, Àpẹrẹ Ìṣàkópọ̀ jẹ́ olùborí Àmì-ẹ̀yẹ Idẹ A' Design Award, ìdánimọ̀ olókìkí gan-an tí a fún àwọn àwòṣe tó tayọ tí wọ́n yàtọ̀ nípasẹ̀ ìṣẹ̀dá, àrékérekè àti ọgbọ́n inú. Àwọn olùborí Idẹ jẹ́ àwọn ohun èlò tó ní ìjáfáfá gan-an tí wọ́n sì ní ìṣẹ̀dá tó yani lẹ́nu tí wọ́n ń ṣe ẹ̀rí ìrírí gbígbòòrò, ìrònú àti ọgbọ́n àwọn olùṣàwòṣe wọn. A retí pé Huong Incense Ìdánimọ̀ Àmì-ọjà, Àpẹrẹ Ìṣàkópọ̀ yóò jẹ́ ohun tí a kà sí gidigidi, tí a gbóríyìn fún tí a sì nífẹ̀ẹ́, tó jẹ́ ti ọ̀jáfáfá lọ́nà tó ṣe pàtàkì tó sì ní ìmúṣẹ̀dá tuntun. Àwòṣe tó borí Àmì-ẹ̀yẹ Idẹ A' Design Award yìí ń kó àwọn ọ̀nà tó dára jùlọ nínú iṣẹ́ ọnà, sáyẹ́ǹsì, àwòṣe àti ìmọ̀-ẹ̀rọ jọ, ó sì tayọ nítorí àfiyèsí rẹ̀ sí àwọn àlàyé kékeré. Huong Incense Ìdánimọ̀ Àmì-ọjà, Àpẹrẹ Ìṣàkópọ̀ ń tẹ́ àwọn ohun tí a nílò lọ́rùn lọ́nà àgbàyanu, ó ń fọwọ́ kan àwọn ìfẹ́ inú, ó ń gbà ọkàn ó sì ń fa ìfẹ́ láti mọ̀ mọ́ra.

Behind the Design

Press Kit

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

Unique Properties: Huong (Scent) is a contemporary incense brand that reinterprets Vietnamese ancestor worship for younger generations through a refined sensory-wellness ritual. Distinctive strengths include a heritage-led identity system, Five Elements color logic, and packaging architecture derived from Six Harmonies and traditional three-compartment house typology. The project is extended by Gap (Meet), an interactive platform where users’ shadow-based ancestral silhouettes connect personal memory with collective lineage.
Dimensions & Packaging: The set includes 1 hexagonal master box, 6 inner incense boxes, 2 incense holders, and supporting printed materials (brochure, leaflet, instruction card). The structure is based on Six Harmonies and a three-panel opening inspired by traditional Vietnamese altar-house layouts. The package combines symbolic storytelling and practical usability, while the Gap (Meet) website extends the same visual system into an interactive digital ritual journey.
Tags: Renovative, Original, Respect, Nostalgic, Mythical
Production Technology: We developed Huong through a research-led creative process that blends cultural storytelling with contemporary brand execution. The system includes identity design, pattern development, structural packaging prototyping, 3D visualization, and interactive web design. From logo to layout, each element was refined through iterative testing to keep the experience meaningful, clear, and emotionally engaging across print, object, and digital touchpoints.
Design Challenge: The hardest part was modernizing a sacred tradition without reducing it to decoration. We needed to balance spiritual authenticity with contemporary aesthetics across language, form, and interaction. Another challenge was building one coherent narrative across packaging and digital media. Through repeated cultural review and design iteration, we achieved a system that feels both respectful and relevant to younger audiences.
Research: This project uses qualitative cultural and design research. Our objective was to renew Vietnamese ancestor worship for younger generations. We combined desk research, visual analysis, and iterative prototyping, using historical references, folklore symbols, packaging mockups, and interaction wireframes. Team critiques and user readability checks guided refinement. The result is a clear, heritage-led brand experience that strengthens cultural continuity and makes ritual practice more approachable in modern life.
Inspiration: Huong was inspired by Vietnam’s fading tradition of ancestor worship and the profound symbolism of incense as a bridge between worlds. Through cultural research on Vietnamese rituals, Vietnamese Gods, Spiritual Deities, Five Elements Theory, and the Yin–Yang philosophy, the project reinterprets these heritage elements into modern packaging and digital experiences—reviving spiritual values and reconnecting younger generations with their ancestral roots.
Project Duration: The project started in April 2025 and finished in November 2025 in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
Operation Flow: The experience begins as users open the hexagonal master box, revealing six incense sets arranged like chapters of a story. Each box unfolds smoothly, guiding the user through layers of discovery—from lighting incense, uncovering its meaning, knowing more about Ancestral Worshipping and Vietnamese Incense Village.

The Gap (Meet) website extends this ritual digitally, letting users interact with ancestral silhouettes inspired by their own shadow—turning a simple act into a personal, spiritual reunion.
Team Members: Director: Huy Nguyen
Designer: Linh Bui
Designer: Thanh Nguyen
Motion Designer: An Do
Copywriter: Mai Phuong Le
Copywriter: Thien My Bui
Motion Designer: Thanh Dang
3D Supervisor: Thu Pham
3D Designer: Khanh Nguyen
Instructor: Ha Van Minh