Designing Moments · Part 1: From Chic Chili Sauce to Festive Fashion 從產品設計尋根 【 壹 】

English 英: Deborah Lau-Yu · Chinese 中: Keira O
Curated By The Fête Chinoise Editorial Team
Photos provided by & reposted from respective brands and photography by Fête Chinoise where noted.

 

Photo by Ruizhou Li, fête Chinoise

T he beauty of Chinese heritage is a fascinating source of inspiration for designers across disciplines. Modern design has the ability to rejuvenate cultural heritage and traditional handcrafts, connecting today’s dialogue with the past. In this editorial, we introduce some interesting designs and products that are inspired by Chinese cultural elements, preserving heritage with design.
 

packed in culture

CHIC CHILI: HOLY DUCK CHILI OIL
Design: Dorothy Tsang
「潮爆」辣椒油・設計:dorothy Tsang

Photo reposted from Facebook @holyduckchili

From its naughty brand name celebrating irreverent Cantonese humour to the branded calligraphy font and graphics, the design approach behind Holy Duck Chili is a nod to the founders’ Hong Kong heritage, encapsulating the essence of the city’s grassroot aesthetics with references to the late King of Kowloon (九龍皇帝) - Tsang Tsou Choi’s 55,000 calligraphy graffiti works, which had been washed away, painted over or torn down by the authorities and real estate developers as the “Fragrant Harbour” transformed into a cosmopolitan city.

Photo reposted from Facebook @holyduckchili

Photo reposted from Facebook @holyduckchili

Photo reposted from Facebook @holyduckchili

從其調皮的商標到充滿港式幽默感的書法字體和圖形,好得鴨油辣椒 (Holy Duck Chili)的招紙設計,表現出品牌創辦人的香港根和香港情。設計參考了已故「九龍皇帝」曾灶財的55,000個塗鴉遺作,他的「墨寶」盡顯了地道街頭藝術的精髓。可惜,隨着城市的發展與變遷,他的街頭塗鴉已被逐一沖洗,漸漸消失。

early character design sketch by dorothy tsang.
photo reposted from the website of holy duck

calligraphic works by Tsang Tsou Choi.
photo reposted from the website of holy duck

 
 

CONTEMPORARY HEALING: TEA BOX
Design: Five Seasons TCM
時尚養生・設計: Five Seasons TCM

photo provided by five seasons tcm

An avant-garde aesthetic is employed to represent the principles of Traditional Chinese Medicine and its healing properties at this wellness brand. The package design for its tonic bags with specially tuned recipes are in a modern cube, with minimalist facades and touches of strokes and word forms from both the East and West and in blocks of colour that wrap around 4 sides of the cube — an unexpected and refreshing way to present healing remedies rooted in centuries of history.

品牌採用前衛的設計來代表傳統中醫的養生理念。特別配方的藥膳茶包,以富現代感的立方體包裝,並用了東西薈萃的文字圍繞立方體,配上簡約線條, 令人耳目一新,使數百年曆史的養生療法更顯時尚。

photo reposted from instagram @fiveseasonstcm

photo provided by five seasons tcm

 

FESTIVE FASHION

VANCOUVER CANUCKS LUNAR NEW YEAR JERSEY
Design: Trevor Lai
溫哥華加人冰球隊農曆年球衣・設計: 賴嘉晟

photo provided by Trevor Lai

The first Chinese-Canadian designer to change the Vancouver Canucks’ iconic orca logo and jersey in honour of Lunar New Year, Trevor Lai created a fitting Tiger graphic that resounded with hockey fans. Jerseys and limited editions were sold out in record time. The Canucks donated part of the proceeds to a community group #Elimin8Hate, that strives for racial equity and an inclusive society for all Asian Canadians.

首位加籍華裔設計師把溫哥華加人冰球隊球衣上原本虎鯨隊徽變為老虎,再配上紅色和金黃色為主調,以慶祝農歷新年。這件限量版虎年特別球衣創下了最短銷售時間記錄,球衣部份收益捐予社區團體#Elimin8Hate,希望為所有亞裔加拿大人爭取種族平等和包容的社會。

photo provided by Trevor Lai

photo provided by Trevor Lai

photo provided by Trevor Lai

 

TIGER CAPSULE COLLECTION BY NOBIS
Design: Nobis & Fête Chinoise
Nobis 虎年系列・設計:Nobis 及 Fête Chinoise

photo by justin wu
攝影:吳一縉

photo by justin wu
攝影:吳一縉

The Nobis limited edition capsule collection was centered around the iconic custom patterned bucket hat and jacket detailing. The design weaves together the past and the contemporary. Captivating in its literal aesthetic, tiger-stripes appear simultaneously alongside poetic tree branches holding thousands of little plum blossoms — representing strength and growth. Together Nobis and Fête Chinoise transpose cultural traditions by deconstructing the visual elements of the tiger and auspicious plum blossoms to create a one-of-a-kind, culturally-rooted design.

photo by justin wu
攝影:吳一縉

交織着過去與現代,Nobis限量版虎年系列以特製圖案作為漁夫帽和外套設計重點。巧妙地以老虎斑紋描繪出滿滿詩意的梅花樹枝,萬千小梅花綻放 —— 代表著力量和成長。Nobis 與 Fête Chinoise 攜手重新解構老虎和吉祥梅花兩個傳統文化視覺元素,編織出一種獨一無二的文化圖案。

photo by justin wu
攝影:吳一縉

 

CARDS FOR ALL OCCASIONS

CHINATOWN IN CARDS
Design 設計:Donna Seto

Cards designed by donna seto

Whimsical-and-almost-rickety depictions of historical buildings in Vancouver's Chinatown can be collected in these notecards that celebrate Chinese-Canadian cultural heritage. The charming illustrations of the Sun Ah Hotel, the Business Building in Bamboo Village and the Commercial building in Shanghai Alley are featured on a white background and enveloped with a brown paper envelope.

溫哥華唐人街或是老土、悶氣,但在 Donna 的筆下變得色彩繽紛、神奇有趣。以異想天開手法描繪的唐人街歷史建築為主體的記事卡,給人另一角度欣賞溫哥華歷史的同時,亦是向華裔加拿大文化致敬。

photo reposted from twitter @donnaseto

photo reposted from twitter @donnaseto


Click here for Part 2 of Designing Moments.

 

SPonsored by FERRIS WHEEL PRESS

 

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