Soda Grocery

Graphic Packaging Design by Lan Shenfan and Xu Jingwen

The special history and culture of Macau created firecrackers with historical characteristics, but they suddenly disappeared after the industrial transformation. Lan Shenfan and Xu Jingwen, the designers behind Soda Grocery, summarized and sorted out representative packaging graphic languages from the past and updated them with modern graphic languages. The result is a bold and vibrant packaging design that pays homage to the local heritage while appealing to contemporary aesthetics.

The design team adopted bold colors and converted the original functions of the firecracker products into new packaging. The packaging paper was carefully chosen, and other production materials were scheduled accordingly. The design was brought to life through processes such as printing, filming, embossing, UV treatment, bronzing, and die-cutting. The final product is a visually striking packaging that showcases the unique characteristics of Macau's graphic design history.

The Soda Grocery packaging measures 185mm in width, 145mm in depth, and 55mm in height. Its dimensions are carefully crafted to provide a functional and visually appealing packaging solution for the products it contains.

By incorporating the graphic language of old Macau firecracker packaging, Soda Grocery stands out as a design that successfully combines tradition with modernity. The illustrations on the packaging depict four elegant women, transformed into contemporary illustrations that capture the essence of Macau's culture. These illustrations are used across four types of Macau tourism commemorative food packaging designs, creating a cohesive and visually captivating collection.

The Soda Grocery design project started in Macau in March 2020 and was completed in June 2020. Throughout the project, the designers faced challenges in retaining the regional characteristics of Macau while incorporating modern design language and adapting the packaging from firecrackers to special tourist food. Despite these challenges, the designers successfully created a design that preserves the historical essence of Macau while appealing to modern aesthetics.

Soda Grocery's innovative and visually appealing packaging design has been recognized with the Iron A' Design Award in 2021. This prestigious award is given to well-designed, practical, and innovative creations that meet professional and industrial requirements. The Soda Grocery design stands out for its integration of industry best practices, competent technical characteristics, and its contribution to a better world through fulfilling and positive design.