Kanpai: A Toast to Innovative Citrus Liqueur Design

Hui Tu's Kanpai Celebrates Taichung's Citrus with Unique Packaging

The city of Taichung, renowned for its citrus orchards, has found a novel way to honor its agricultural heritage. Hui Tu, a visionary designer, has ingeniously transformed the abundant local citrus into a sophisticated liqueur, aptly named Kanpai, which translates to "Bottoms Up" in Chinese. This initiative not only spotlights the region's produce but also introduces a unique beverage experience to the market.

What sets Kanpai apart is its distinctive packaging design, inspired by the geometric shapes of tankan and ponkan citrus fruits. The packaging is a tactile delight, featuring the texture of citrus skin achieved through advanced printing techniques such as partial glazing and punching. This attention to detail extends to the bottle's dimensions, meticulously crafted to measure 80 x 80 x 240 mm, ensuring that each aspect of Kanpai is a nod to the designer's commitment to excellence.

The creation of Kanpai was not without its challenges. Hui Tu and the team had to navigate the delicate balance between product identity and pricing strategy, ensuring that the packaging reflected the premium nature of the liqueur without alienating consumers accustomed to the affordability of local agricultural products. The solution lay in the packaging's ability to communicate quality and invoke a sense of celebration, aligning with the product's premium positioning.

The development of Kanpai was a rigorous process, grounded in design research and consumer feedback. The project team engaged with a diverse range of participants, from higher education institutes to local community centers and online surveys. The feedback was instrumental in refining the packaging design, emphasizing the importance of citrus geometric elements and color to create a visually appealing and marketable product.

From its inception in May 2022 to its completion in October of the same year, Kanpai has been a labor of love for Hui Tu, culminating in a successful launch in December 2022. The liqueur is a testament to the power of design in transforming a traditional product into a contemporary icon. As Kanpai makes its way to celebrations, it carries with it the spirit of Taichung and the ingenuity of its creator.

Hui Tu's Kanpai has not only captured the essence of Taichung's citrus fruits but has also garnered international recognition, earning the Iron A' Design Award in the Packaging Design category for 2024. This accolade is a testament to the design's practicality, innovation, and ability to evoke positive emotions, contributing to a better world through thoughtful design.