Utsuroi 清酒包裝 by Maho Sekizuka is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2025 A' Design Award 銀獎 in 包裝設計 Competition Category.

銀包裝· 2025

Utsuroi 清酒包裝

by Maho Sekizuka

Client: Takeda Shuzo Co., Ltd.

A' Design Award 銀獎 Winner in 包裝 Category

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Verified Award Winner

Verify Award Status for #165941

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Colors

The Design

About Utsuroi 清酒包裝

呢套三支陳年大吟釀清酒樽採用狹縫動畫包裝，結合日本傳統工藝。移動標籤展示釀造年份—2004年、2012年同2019年—而打開酒盒象徵住清酒嘅熟成過程。透明光油同銀箔封條突顯每個年份嘅琥珀色調。設計平衡咗極簡美學同成本效益，突顯清酒嘅天然美態，留低深刻印象。

The Recognition

About the A' Design Award 銀獎

Utsuroi 清酒包裝是 A' Design Award 銀獎得主，這是授予頂級、華美而令人印象深刻的設計的極為崇高的認可。銀獎得主是極其卓越、極具創造力的作品，展現出其設計師傑出的專業技能、才華與敏銳。預計Utsuroi 清酒包裝將成為一件出色的典範之作，兼具非凡的專業性與深刻的創新性。這件贏得 A' Design Award 銀獎的設計是一項備受矚目、令人欽佩的發明，造福並拓展藝術、科學、設計和技術的界限。Utsuroi 清酒包裝是一件令人羨慕的創作，它喚起渴望，帶來積極的情感，並激發驚嘆與讚嘆。

Behind the Design

Press Kit

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

Unique Properties: This set of three Daiginjo aged sake bottles features innovative slit animated packaging with changing logos to indicate the brewing years 2004, 2012, and 2019. Opening the box reflects the flow of time. The bottle seal highlights the progression of years using varnish and silver foil. The design emphasizes the amber color of sake, deepening with each vintage, adding a new layer of enjoyment to the sake experience.
Dimensions & Packaging: Width 300 mm x Depth 232 mm x Height 64 mm
Tags: GraphicDesign, Utsuroi, PackageDesign, Branding, Sake, VintageSake, Katafune, Joetsu, Niigata, Japan
Production Technology: Specifications: Double printed with black ink + OP varnish. Gift box: Double printed with black ink + OP varnish. Material: PP transparent 0.25. Gift box: CB 270g/EF (single-sided white, C5).
Design Challenge: Achieving new concepts involved trial and error, applying slit animation to evoke the passage of time. Cost management balanced high-end design and budget limitations through careful material selection. The box design ensures ample white space and durability. Offset printing with double sumi ink achieved deep black sleeve animation. Bottle seal varnish highlights the vintage's amber beauty, fine-tuned for gloss. Packaging focuses on enriching the user’s luxurious sake experience.
Research: This research explores innovative packaging that transcends traditional boundaries, enriching the sake experience. Slit animation symbolizes time's passage upon opening, with varnish and silver foil on bottle seals highlighting the amber beauty of vintages. Stripping away decorations, the design emphasizes sake’s intrinsic charm. By balancing costs with luxury, it delivers exclusivity, ideal for gifting and creating memorable moments.
Inspiration: This product, limited to just 100 sets, aims to create a striking package that avoids classical styles and remains free from conventional constraints. It is designed to allow sake enthusiasts to focus on the tasting experience and fully enjoy a luxurious time for themselves. The package subtly communicates that it contains a set of sake from three different vintages. Despite keeping printing and processing costs low, the package maintains a significant presence suitable for gifting. These conditions, including the naming, were all carefully considered in the design.
Project Duration: This product was released on Friday, November 19, 2021, in a limited edition of 100 sets by Takeda Shuzo in Ogata, Joetsu City, Niigata Prefecture.
Operation Flow: Using the principle of slit animation, opening the sleeve showcases the brewing years shifting from 2004 to 2012 and then to 2019. This conveys the concept of the passage of time from the moment the box is opened. The seals on the bottles represent the flow of time through the use of varnish and silver foil. The design eliminates decorations to emphasize the amber color of the sake, which becomes richer with each vintage.
Image Credits: Image #1: Maho Sekizuka, 2021.
Image #2: Maho Sekizuka, 2021.
Image #3: Maho Sekizuka, 2021.
Image #4: Maho Sekizuka, 2021.
Image #5: Maho Sekizuka, 2021.
Video Credits: Maho Sekizuka, 2021.