Yin Yi Hu 品牌形象 by Xi'an Academy of Fine Arts

Yin Yi Hu 品牌形象 by Xi'an Academy of Fine Arts is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2026 A' Design Award 铁奖 in 平面、插画与视觉传达设计 Competition Category.

铁平面· 2026

Yin Yi Hu 品牌形象

by Xi'an Academy of Fine Arts

Client: Xi'an Academy of Fine Arts

A' Design Award 铁奖 Winner in 平面 Category

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Colors

The Design

About Yin Yi Hu 品牌形象

"隐逸壶"是为一款当代金酒打造的品牌形象与包装设计。该设计将宜川剪纸这一民间艺术转化为几何视觉系统,并应用于标志、标签与包装之上。纹样以参数化网格为基础构建,当酒瓶竖直放置时,各部分纹样对齐并汇聚成一个完整的符号。瓶身容量为500毫升,采用高透明度的燧石玻璃制成。标签以胶版印刷工艺呈现,配以哑光覆膜与局部上光。设计意图在于将黄河的文化底蕴与现代设计语言相连接。

The Recognition

About the A' Design Award 铁奖

Yin Yi Hu 品牌形象是 A' Design Award 铁奖得主，这是授予满足人们对设计精良的创作所期待的专业与工业要求的优良设计的声望认可。铁奖得主展现出其创作者的高超技艺、高度专业化、专家级的理解力和创造能力。预计Yin Yi Hu 品牌形象将成为一件备受推崇、令人钦佩且被珍爱的创作，既实用又创新。这件赢得 A' Design Award 铁奖的设计整合了行业最佳实践，并拥有与专业知识和才华相结合的称职技术特性。Yin Yi Hu 品牌形象因其严谨而受到尊重，旨在提供有助于让世界变得更美好的生活品质改善。

Behind the Design

Press Kit

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

Unique Properties: Yinyi Hu is a contemporary brand rooted in the cultural heritage of the Yellow River. It transforms the traditional art of Yichuan paper cutting into a refined geometric visual system expressed through its logo, packaging, and brand environment. Unlike conventional gin brands, it integrates regional storytelling with modern aesthetics. Its strength lies in turning intangible cultural heritage into a distinctive, premium identity that unites craftsmanship, culture, and contemporary design.
Dimensions & Packaging: Bottle capacity 500 ml. Bottle dimensions 75 mm x 75 mm x 230 mm. Glass thickness 3.5 mm, high clarity flint glass. Aluminum screw cap 30 mm diameter with tamper evident seal. Label 210 mm x 90 mm, 120 gsm coated art paper with matte lamination and selective UV. Secondary carton 160 mm x 80 mm x 260 mm, 350 gsm FSC certified board. Transport carton 400 mm x 330 mm x 280 mm, double wall corrugated board.
Tags: Yellow River Culture, Contemporary Gin, Cultural Branding, Packaging Design, Yichuan Paper Cutting, Geometric Visual System, Premium Spirits, Heritage Innovation
Production Technology: The visual system was developed through parametric grid construction and modular geometric reduction derived from Yichuan paper cutting motifs. Vector based refinement ensured scalability across formats. Packaging utilizes CMYK plus spot color offset printing with high density inks, combined with matte lamination and selective UV varnish to enhance contrast. Structural packaging prototypes were tested using digital mockups and 3D render validation prior to mass production.
Design Challenge: The primary challenge was translating profound Yellow River cultural symbolism into a contemporary gin brand without falling into superficial decoration. Historically and socially, the risk lay in misinterpreting intangible heritage or reducing it to visual ornament. Externally, constraints included alcohol packaging regulations, production tolerances, material limits, and cost control. Balancing cultural authenticity, premium positioning, structural feasibility, and scalable manufacturing required continuous refinement and cross disciplinary coordination.
Research: Cultural and design driven applied research. Research Objectives: To translate Yellow River heritage into a contemporary gin identity. Methodology: Visual analysis and iterative prototyping. Data Collection and Research Tools Used: Field studies, archival review, sketches and digital modeling. Participants or Experiments: Designers and local cultural references. Results: A coherent visual and structural system. Insights and Impacts: Heritage can drive premium branding. Effect: Strengthened cultural value in business and design practice.
Inspiration: The project was inspired by the cultural heritage of the Yellow River, particularly the folk art of Yichuan paper cutting. I aimed to transform traditional cultural symbols into a contemporary beverage brand that integrates taste and visual experience. My motive was to create a cultural carrier that connects tourism with local identity, allowing consumers to experience regional culture through modern design and packaging.
Project Duration: The project commenced in March 2025 in Xi'an, China, and was completed in January 2026 in Xi'an. All phases, including cultural research on Yellow River heritage, concept development, visual system construction, packaging engineering, prototyping, and production supervision, were carried out locally. The final outcome was prepared for professional presentation and industry exhibition in 2026.
Operation Flow: The Design is designed for an intuitive and engaging experience. The bottle opens with a smooth twist cap and a controlled pour neck to ensure precise serving. The visual system guides interaction, as the geometric motifs align when the bottle is held upright, creating a complete cultural symbol. The structured gift box unfolds in layers, revealing the bottle gradually, enhancing anticipation. This layered interaction elevates ritual, strengthens brand memory, and creates a refined tasting experience.
Patents: Copyrights belong to Lan Ma

Trademark (2026) Xi'an Academy of Fine Arts.

Patent Pending. Patent Holder: Xi'an Academy of Fine Arts. 2026. China.
Team Members: Lan Ma, Guangyi Tang, Yinghua Wang, Lianfa Xu, Wanhui Huang, Jinyuan Zhang, Xinyan Shen, Wenjie Zhong and Aiwen Shen
Image Credits: Image #1: Designers Ma Lan and Jinyuan Zhang (Product Designer / Visual Designer), Zhanlu Sweet and Moisturizing Tea Main Packaging, 2026.

Image #2: Designers Wang Yinghua and Huang Wanhui (Illustrator / Graphic Designer), Botanical and Han Inspired Illustration Series, 2026.

Image #3: Designers Xu Lianfa, Xinyan Shen and Tang Guangyi (Packaging Engineer / Visual Designer), Light Luxury Gift Box Structure and Visual System, 2026.

Image #4: Designers Ma Lan, Wang Yinghua, Wenjie Zhong, Aiwen Shen and Huang Wanhui (Product Designer / Illustrator / Graphic Designer), Ingredient Visualization and Cultural Motif Development, 2026.

Image #5: Designers Ma Lan, Tang Guangyi, Xu Lianfa (Product Designer / Visual Designer / Packaging Engineer / Design Coordination), Integrated Packaging and Structural Realization, 2026.