Moon and Tea Mid Autumn: A Gift Box with a Twist

Chenxiang Xi's Innovative, Eco-Friendly Packaging Design for Mid-Autumn Festival

Chenxiang Xi's inspiration for the "Moon and Tea Mid Autumn" gift box stems from the traditional Chinese celebration of the Mid-Autumn Festival. The box, elegant and distinctly Chinese, contains moon cakes and Pu-erh tea. The bamboo box body and white porcelain tea plate, when opened, transform into a tea tray. The box also serves as a soft lamp, enhancing the experience of drinking tea under the moonlight.

What sets this design apart from others is its unique properties. The gift box, created for Vanke for the full-moon festival, adheres strictly to environmentally-friendly principles. Made from natural materials like bamboo, ceramics, and wheat straw, the box is not only sustainable but also functional. Each component serves a distinct purpose, with the outermost layer functioning as a ceramic tea tray. This tray has undergone a slow-flow water treatment process to ensure longevity and promote continuous use.

The design process involved overcoming challenges in reimagining traditional packaging designs to enhance reusability and functionality. The team had to ensure material sustainability and environmental performance. They faced difficulties in data collection and analysis, requiring diverse research tools for accurate results. Despite these challenges, they successfully developed an innovative, eco-friendly packaging design.

The design team's research explored an alternative approach to eco-friendly design. They aimed to transform packaging products from single-use items with limited functionality to long-term, sustainable solutions. Their findings revealed that consumers were more likely to reuse packaging when it offered added value beyond its initial purpose. This research holds the potential to reduce waste and encourage sustainable packaging design practices.

The "Moon and Tea Mid Autumn" gift box is not just a design marvel but also an award-winning creation. It was awarded the Golden A' Packaging Design Award in 2023, a prestigious accolade granted to outstanding and trendsetting creations that advance art, science, design, and technology. This award is a testament to the designer's prodigy and wisdom, and the design's extraordinary excellence and significant impact on the world.