Project Overview

The Xiangyu the Conqueror Vintage-plus Liquor is a liquor packaging design integrating the Jing-Chu culture of China with modern minimalist aesthetics. Featuring a design concept of "Reconstructing Classics", this design draws inspiration from the solemn Ding (a ritual bronze tripod cauldron) and the dramatic opera mask of Xiang Yu, the Western Chu Overlord, and transforms these elements into a geometric language that is simple yet powerful. Adhering to minimalist aesthetics, the design adopts minimalist lines and shapes to retain only the most essential cultural symbols and functional elements without redundant decorations. This approach not only blends tradition and modernity but also presents Eastern aesthetics in a more accessible and intuitive way.

Organisation

HUBEI SHIHUA LIQUOR CO.,LTD

Team

Cao Lubo, Hu Xiaoqiang, Dai Pengfei

Project Brief

The Xiangyu the Conqueror Vintage-plus Liquor draws inspiration from the essence of the Jing-Chu culture of China, seamlessly blending the solemn Ding (a ritual bronze tripod cauldron) with the dramatic opera mask of Xiang Yu, the Western Chu Overlord.

The bottle boasts a reconstructed Ding shape with minimalist lines, using precise angular transitions that correspond to the brow ridge, cheekbones, and jawline of Xiang Yu's opera mask. This design preserves the ritualistic essence of bronze artifacts while adding a sense of sharpness. In terms of colour, black and gold, which symbolise nobility and power, are chosen as the primary tones, crafting a unique and cool appearance. The interplay of light and shadow makes the bottle more three-dimensional and eye-catching, enhancing the vibe of solemnity and majesty.

Project Innovation/Need

This packaging design strikes a balance between tradition and modernity. Combining the solemn Ding (a ritual bronze tripod cauldron) shape and the dramatic opera mask of Xiang Yu, the Western Chu Overlord, the bottle applies minimalist lines to reconstruct the shape, injecting new vitality into traditional elements.

The design not only preserves the ritualistic essence of bronze artifacts while adds a sense of sharpness. Additionally, the bottle employs minimalist geometric lines, with precise angular transitions that highlight the characteristics of the opera mask, making it visually three-dimensional and enhancing grip comfort. The ingenious combination of historical symbols presents Eastern aesthetics in a universally accessible way.

Design Challenge

The challenge we faced was how to incorporate the cultural elements of both the bronze artifact and opera mask into a modern, minimalist geometric form. The Ding (a ritual bronze tripod cauldron) symbolises solemnity and authority, while the opera mask of Xiang Yu, the Western Chu Overlord, exudes dramatic tension. Combining these two elements required finding a visual balance—preserving the core characteristics of traditional elements while avoiding too complex or outdated designs.

To this end, through refinement of these traditional elements, we reconstructed the shape of the Ding using minimalist geometric lines that precisely correspond to the brow ridge, cheekbones, and jawline of the opera mask. With clean yet powerful lines, we outlined the main body of the bottle, skillfully integrating the two cultural elements. Moreover, the symmetrical concave patterns on the front and back of the bottle harmonise visually with both the opera mask motif and the Ding shape while ensuring a comfortable grip for pouring, well balancing aesthetics and functionality.

Effectiveness

The overall design creates a unique and awesome appearance, accented with several historical symbols, allowing users to visually associate the brewing technique with historical inheritance. This design can evoke users’ association with the rich cultural connotations behind the wine when appreciating the wine bottle, providing a natural and fluid visual experience.