Children Picture Books from ChinaExhibition Visuals by Blend Design
The Chinese Children's Book Exhibition organized by Confucius Institute headquarters was displayed to the public at the children's hall of the Frankfurt Book Fair. The exhibition showcased a selection of 197 original works from 500 Chinese publishers, highlighting the unique beauty of Chinese picture books on the international stage.
The exhibition visuals for "Children Picture Books from China" were designed by Blend Design, with inspiration drawn from traditional Chinese ink paintings. The designers aimed to create a visual style that would not only meet the exhibition's demands but also capture the essence of Chinese culture.
The main challenge was to strike a balance between the elegance of traditional ink paintings and the need for strong colors and graphics to attract the attention of the audience. To overcome this, the designers extracted elements of ink dots from the paintings of Liang Peilong, a renowned Chinese illustrator, and incorporated them into the visual design. By strengthening the saturation of red and yellow colors, the designers created a visually striking and captivating exhibition.
The exhibition visuals were realized using high-quality printing and exhibition techniques. The ink-jet paintings required special production and paper to accurately reflect the level of ink absorption and natural ink-jet. The printing materials, including the LCD screen background color, were carefully chosen to showcase the gentle oriental charm and detail characteristics of the design. The little notebook, a part of the exhibition, used the traditional Chinese red rope binding method to further emphasize the Chinese cultural elements.
The design's unique properties lie in its versatility. The composition of ink points allows for flexible application in both 2D and 3D spaces, making it suitable for various sizes and formats.
The success of the exhibition design relied on careful planning and coordination with the German exhibition builder. The proportion, scale, layout, and detail processing of the exhibition stand were adjusted multiple times to achieve a harmonious and effective presentation of the graphic and exhibition content information.
The "Children Picture Books from China" exhibition made its debut in October 2016 and has since been presented by Confucius Institutes and other partners around the world. It serves as a testament to the rich cultural heritage and artistic talent found in Chinese children's literature.
Image Credits: Blend Design, 2016; Peilong Liang, 2010; Confucius Institute Headquarters, 2016
Award: Bronze A' Design Award in Graphics, Illustration, and Visual Communication Design, 2020
Project Details and Credits
Project Designers: Blend Design
Image Credits: Main Image: (Design) Blend Design, 2016
Image#1: (Design) Blend Design, 2016; (Illustration) Peilong Liang, 2010
Image#2: (Design) Blend Design, 2016; (Illustration) Peilong Liang, 2010
Image#3: (Design) Blend Design, 2016; (Illustration) Peilong Liang, 2010
Image#4: (Photography) Confucius Institute Headquarters, 2016
Project Team Members: Concept and Planning: Yonghong Ma
Art Director: Fang Ge
Illustration: Peilong Liang
Project Name: Children Picture Books from China
Project Client: Blend Design