A red envelope, or hongbao is a monetary gift given during the Chinese New Year. This project reinteprets the classic hongbao designs in a contemporary style and challenges the visual boundaries and conventions of “red” envelopes.
A red envelope, or hongbao is a monetary gift given during the Chinese New Year. This project reinteprets the classic hongbao designs in a contemporary style and challenges the visual boundaries and conventions of “red” envelopes.
In an eff ort of stripping away as far from the typical classical design that most red packets go for, hong(?) bao is greatly inspired by how modern art has been, and can be, increasingly abstract. In this sense, the image of the rooster, the zodiac animal of 2017, is influenced by the Memphis-style, using basic geometric and organic shapes with the combination of simple visual textures and solid colours to achieve a flat look, showcasing a modernized look that red packets could look like.
The multitude of colours used are curated based on the standard cultural acceptance that red packets, if not being entirely red, should at least fit the mood of the occasion. Despite its diverse colour palette, colour red is still used to somewhat stay true to the Chinese beliefs and of course, “red” packets.
