Revolutionizing Debate Branding: Zhu Wenhao's Award-Winning Design

Unveiling the Unique Visual Language of the Mandarin Debating Competition 2016

Zhu Wenhao's design inspiration stemmed from the structure of Chinese characters. He sought to incorporate this design into the branding of the Mandarin Debating Competition, using key elements of debating to create a new visual language. The result is a design that is both unique and symbolic, reflecting the intense atmosphere of a debating competition.

The key visual language of Wenhao's design is the Chinese character of “Bian”, which means debating. This character is constructed with the basic shapes of “plus”, “minus” and “zero”, symbolizing the three important roles of Proposition, Opposition and Judge in a debating competition. The Chinese and English standard typeface designs all adopt the square and circle concept, following a strict grid arrangement and scaling. This design intends to represent the intense atmosphere of a debating competition.

The branding visual system includes many different elements, such as a font system, printing materials, souvenirs, and advertisements. Each part uses different printing methods and materials, making the design versatile and adaptable. The red logo and its flexible application leave a strong impression, enhancing the brand's visibility and recognition.

The project started in January 2016 and was completed in April 2016 in Nanjing, China. The design process involved extensive research, including questionnaires and communication with the organizing committee. The challenge was to convey an enthusiastic and logical feeling from a Chinese symbol, which was successfully achieved by finding the connection between the Chinese character "Bian" (debate) and the graphics of the plus, minus, and zero signs.

Wenhao's design for the Mandarin Debating Competition 2016 has been recognized with the Silver A' Design Award, a testament to its creativity, professional excellence, and innovation. This award is given to top-of-the-line designs that demonstrate outstanding expertise and innovation, and introduce positive feelings, amazement, and wonder.