Yu Zhuang's "Wood and Tree": A Fusion of Classic and Modern Design

Winner of the Prestigious A' Design Award, the Poster Captures the Essence of Wood in a Modern Graphic Language

The poster was created for a seminar in Tokyo, Japan, focusing on the new possibilities of applying wood, a classic material, in modern architecture. Zhuang's design stands out for its unique use of modern graphic language to simulate the classic drawing of annual rings. The result is a visually striking design that is mathematical yet exudes a natural beauty.

Zhuang's inspiration stemmed from the vitality of wood. Despite being a lifeless material, wood carries a sense of life through its smell, texture, and the annual rings that serve as evidence of its past life as a tree. The designer has managed to capture this essence in the poster, creating a design that is as intoxicating as the curves of the annual rings themselves.

The creation of the poster involved the collection of hundreds of annual ring photos for reference. Adobe Illustrator was the primary software used to bring the design to life. The poster measures 210mm in width and 297mm in height, and its design elements are characterized by modern, mathematical, natural, minimal, and geometric tags.

The project, which started in August 2018 and concluded in September 2019, was exhibited in the gallery of Myojyuji Sarue in September 2018. Visitors could take small flyers to understand the theme of the exhibition. The design process involved extensive testing of the number, thickness, curvature, and color of the lines to accurately express the annual rings. The biggest challenge was simulating the natural shape of the annual rings using mathematical graphics while maintaining aesthetic appeal.

In conclusion, Yu Zhuang's "Wood and Tree" poster is a testament to the designer's ability to merge classic and modern design elements. The design not only captures the essence of wood but also showcases the new possibilities of its application in modern architecture. It's no surprise that this innovative design was awarded the Silver A' Design Award, a recognition given to designs that display outstanding expertise and innovation.