Chinese Zodiac Red Packets: A Blend of Tradition and Modern Art

Yuanyuan Wu Transforms Traditional Red Envelopes into Artistic Keepsakes

Red envelopes, traditionally given as gifts during the Chinese New Year, are known to bring good luck. They always contain money, but they no longer must be red. Yuanyuan Wu's design combines geometric shapes and various colours to illustrate a vivid and vigorous visual image. Each pig has a different shape and gesture, with the inspiration of the simplified shapes and colours coming from the Nordic nature and merging with Chinese elements and tradition.

Each design represents a Chinese idiom about pigs and is printed on French genuine art paper, giving a delicate and dynamic touch experience. The new design adds value to the red envelopes: They are no longer used only to deliver money and wish good luck. They transformed from an article of stationery to an object of art that is worth to keep and cherish.

The realization of this design involved spot colour + CMYK colour printing, gold foil, hot foil stamping, and embossing on Curious matter paper. The packaging box is handmade. The unique design, genuine art paper, and the printing techniques turn the red envelope into a unique product on the market. The Chinese zodiac red envelope can be purchased in art and design stores, lifestyle shops, art galleries, and museums.

The project started in August 2018 and was completed by November 2018 in China. It is now on exhibit and selling in lifestyle shops, book stores, art galleries, and online designer stores in many cities in China including Shanghai, Beijing, Hangzhou, Guangzhou, and Ningbo.

Yuanyuan Wu faced challenges in creating 6 unique pig illustrations with geometric shapes and colours and associating them with Chinese idioms about pigs. After more than a month of creating numerous illustrations, changing their shapes, expressions on the face, colours, gestures, and observing people's reactions to the design, the illustrations were finalised. It was also a complicated and long process to select and test the paper and printing techniques to achieve the best result.

The design was awarded Silver in A' Graphics, Illustration, and Visual Communication Design Award in 2019. This award is given to top-of-the-line, creative, and professionally remarkable designs that illustrate outstanding expertise and innovation. These designs, admired for their strong technical characteristics and splendid artistic skill, showcase a remarkable level of excellence and introduce positive feelings, amazement, and wonder.