Dou Gong Àwòkẹ́wọ̀ Àkọ̀tọ́ by Shanghai Kuyekuye Technology Co., Ltd is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2026 Àmì-ẹ̀yẹ Idẹ A' Design Award in Àpẹẹrẹ Àwòrán, Àpèjúwe àti Ìbánisọ̀rọ̀ Ojú-Ìwòran Competition Category.
IdẹÀwòrán· 2026
Dou Gong Àwòkẹ́wọ̀ Àkọ̀tọ́
by Shanghai Kuyekuye Technology Co., Ltd
Client: Kuyekuye
Àmì-ẹ̀yẹ Idẹ A' Design Award Winner in Àwòrán Category
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- Verified Award Winner
- Verify Award Status for #181648
The Design
About Dou Gong Àwòkẹ́wọ̀ Àkọ̀tọ́
Àwòkẹ́wọ̀ Àkọ̀tọ́ Dou Gong túmọ̀ ìkọ́lé igi ìbílẹ̀ Ṣáínà padà gẹ́gẹ́ bí ètò àwòkọ̀wé. Tí a ṣe àwòkọ́ṣe lára ìsopọ̀ mortise àti tenon, wọ́n ń ṣe àwọn lẹ́tà nípasẹ̀ àwọn ìlà tí ó so ara wọn pọ̀ tí ó sì ń ṣiṣẹ́ gẹ́gẹ́ bí àwọn èròjà ìkọ́lé modular. Àpẹẹrẹ náà gbòòrò sí àwọn ìlò onídìí mẹ́ta àti àwọn ìlò onítòórí, tí ó so ìkọ́lé àti àwòkọ̀wé papọ̀. Ó mú ọ̀nà tí ó dá lórí ìlànà wá tí ó yí ìmọ̀ ìkọ́lé padà sí èdè awòran tí ó rọ̀ tí ó sì bá àkókò yìí mu.
The Recognition
About the Àmì-ẹ̀yẹ Idẹ A' Design Award
Dou Gong Àwòkẹ́wọ̀ Àkọ̀tọ́ 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 Dou Gong Àwòkẹ́wọ̀ Àkọ̀tọ́ 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. Dou Gong Àwòkẹ́wọ̀ Àkọ̀tọ́ 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
- Inspired by Dou Gong, the ancient Chinese timber bracket system, this typeface translates structural intelligence into typography.
Built without nails or glue, Dou Gong relies on interlocking mortise-and-tenon joints. The typeface follows this logic: strokes interlock, overlap, and brace rather than simply connect.
Each glyph acts as a modular framework, reflecting the spatial rhythm and load-bearing logic of traditional architecture.
Structure becomes form. Form becomes language. - Dimensions & Packaging
- The character set includes letters, numbers, punctuation, and core Chinese glyph prototypes. Built on a modular grid system with consistent stroke ratios. Initial release includes Regular weight.
- Tags
- Structural Typography, Brand Identity System, Mortise-and-Tenon Logic, Sustainable Design Thinking, Architectural Inspiration, Corporate Typeface, Parametric Construction
- Production Technology
- The typeface was developed using a structural construction methodology inspired by traditional mortise-and-tenon logic. Stroke intersections are designed as interlocking nodes rather than overlapping paths. Kerning was iteratively refined, and a grid-based proportional system was applied for optical corrections. Variable-weight prototypes were used to test structural balance and consistency.
- Design Challenge
- The main challenge was translating three-dimensional architectural compression logic into both three-dimensional and two-dimensional typographic construction while maintaining legibility. Balancing historical structural principles with digital font production constraints required multiple iterations. Vector geometry and optical correction limitations added further refinement challenges.
- Research
- Type of Research: Practice-based design research.
Research Objectives: To translate architectural structural logic into a typographic system.
Methodology: Structural analysis, modular prototyping, iterative testing.
Data and Tools: Architectural documentation review, vector modeling, grid simulation.
Participants: Internal design team testing brand applications.
Results: A modular, interlocking type system.
Insights and Impact: Confirmed that structural intelligence can inform type design.
Effect: Advanced brand system thinking and sustainable design methodology. - Inspiration
- Inspired by Dou Gong, the iconic bracket system of traditional Chinese timber architecture.
Originating in the Western Zhou Dynasty and flourishing through the Tang and Song periods, Dou Gong functioned as a structural, seismic, ornamental, and symbolic element in Chinese architecture for over 3,000 years. Built entirely without nails or glue, it relies on precise mortise-and-tenon interlocking joints—each component bearing weight through compression and balance. - Project Duration
- The project started in March 2024 in Shanghai and was completed in May 2025 in Beijing. Structural research was conducted concurrently with brand development, and the typeface was implemented across corporate visual identity applications upon completion.
- Operation Flow
- The typeface functions as a modular system. Designers can assemble letters using interlocking principles to create mutually supportive visual structures. Structural relationships remain stable at any scale, allowing flexible application across posters, brand identity, and environmental graphics. The structural rhythm enhances visual impact while maintaining legibility. The system enables consistent and dynamic brand expression.
- Team Members
- Xusong Wang
Xiao Dong
Yi An
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