The Rice of Friendship

Packaging Design for Wuchang Rice by Xiaoning You

This is a packaging design for Wuchang Rice, one of the most famous rice varieties in northeast China. The founder and designer, Xiaoning You, aimed to provide the public with high-grade and quality products. The packaging design for rice needed to have a unique style, and thus, "The Rice of Friendship" was created.

The design of "The Rice of Friendship" packaging is inspired by the founders' desire to convey a sense of close friendship and shared ideals. The imagery depicts two figures on the banks of the Larin River, looking at each other and symbolizing the unity and collaboration needed to protect the "Rice Mountain."

The packaging design stands out from others in the market with its simplicity and elegance. The gift box is made of 115g Earl paper, featuring a beige color and four-color single-side printing with a hot silver process. The inside of the box is made of 350g Earl paper, also in beige, with four-color single-side printing.

The dimensions of the gift box are 287*183.5*88mm, while the inside box measures 85.5*175*43.5mm. The package can hold 3kg of rice, divided into six small boxes, each containing 500g. This allows users to open only the required number of boxes for each meal, making it convenient to store the remaining unopened boxes.

The design incorporates a hidden magnet structure in the box body and the opening and closing parts, providing a secure lock and preventing scratches on other products during transportation. The feedback from users has been positive, with praise for the excellent taste of the rice and the simple yet elegant packaging.

The project started in May 2015 in Harbin and was completed in January 2016 in Beijing. It was later exhibited at KunShan University in Taiwan in November 2017. The design was based on extensive research on the packaging design of Wuchang Rice in China, with a focus on creating a high-end gift of food that expresses the friendship associated with rice.

"The Rice of Friendship" packaging design by Xiaoning You successfully combines traditional Chinese cultural elements with modern aesthetics. The design reflects the long history and culture behind the product, as well as the friendly gesture of local farmers. It was awarded the Bronze A' Design Award in 2021, recognizing its outstanding creativity and contribution to quality of life improvements.