Bronze Packaging Design · 2026
East Bloom Tea Packaging
by Jiaqi Ding
- A' Design Award 2026 Bronze Winner in Packaging Design
- Awarded April 15, 2026
- Estimated Number of Design Views: 5,071
- Verification code B88544321D · Verify this award
About East Bloom Tea Packaging
East Bloom is a packaging design for instant freeze dried tea powder. The form is based on the traditional Chinese jade seal, including its square base and knob, and is finished in soft macaron colors. The main material is food grade polypropylene. The base of the box carries an intaglio engraved brand motif, so the package can also be used as a stamp. A nested box system offers combinations from 8 to 60 capsule units. The square profile lets the powder gather along the inner corners for controlled pouring.
Jiaqi Ding's East Bloom Tea Packaging operates within the rich visual traditions of luxury food and beverage presentation while drawing upon centuries of East Asian tea culture aesthetics and the enduring appeal of botanical still life composition. The work achieves remarkable compositional sophistication through its asymmetrical distribution of elements across the horizontal format, establishing visual hierarchy through selective focus, chromatic intensity, and geometric contrast between the pure cubic forms of the packaging and the organic irregularity of scattered botanical matter. The technical execution demonstrates mastery of product photography conventions, particularly in the handling of transparent materials where the glass vessel becomes both container and lens, refracting the rose-hued liquid into a luminous jewel that anchors the entire composition. The chromatic achievement warrants particular attention, as the saturated fuchsia-magenta of the packaging cubes establishes immediate shelf presence and brand recognition while harmonizing beautifully with the softer rose-pink of the brewed tea and the deep burgundy of dried rose petals, this progression of related hues creating chromatic unity across manufactured and natural elements. The inclusion of botanical subjects in multiple states, fresh white blossoms suggesting purity and vitality alongside desiccated roses embodying concentrated essence and the passage of time, enriches the visual narrative while providing textural and tonal variety that rewards sustained looking. The substrate choice, appearing to be naturally weathered stone or aged concrete bearing traces of moss and mineral deposits, grounds the composition in earthy authenticity while providing neutral-toned relief that allows the vibrant packaging and liquid colors to achieve maximum impact. This work explores themes of transformation and refinement, the alchemical journey from dried botanical material to clarified infusion, the preservation of natural essence through careful processing, and the elevation of daily ritual into aesthetic experience worthy of contemplation. The geometric packaging elements bearing embossed calligraphic characters suggest cultural continuity, honoring traditional tea practices while presenting them through contemporary minimal design language that speaks to global audiences. The careful attention to material differentiation, the interplay of transparency and opacity, smoothness and texture, geometric and organic, manufactured and natural, demonstrates sophisticated understanding of how visual contrasts create interest and communicate quality. One might observe how the image invites consideration of mindful consumption, the value of slowing down to appreciate sensory qualities often overlooked in hurried modern life, and the ways traditional wellness practices find renewed relevance when presented through design vocabularies that honor heritage while embracing contemporary aesthetic sensibilities.
Press Kit
- Unique Properties
- East Bloom instant freeze dried tea powder set adopts a square jade seal form combined with fresh macaron color tones, establishing a new visual identity for contemporary Chinese style tea beverages. The design conveys the elegance associated with Eastern culture while using vibrant color contrasts to reflect the lightness typical of small volume tea packaging.
- Dimensions & Packaging
- 24.87 mm x 24.87 mm x 24.17 mm
- Tags
- Tea Powder Packaging, Seal Form, Macaron Colors, New Chinese Aesthetics, Intaglio Technique, China Chic Design
- Production Technology
- The packaging uses food grade PP as the primary material, suitable for storing instant freeze dried tea powder. The base of the box features an intaglio engraved pattern of the brand motif. The package functions not only as a container but also as a usable stamp.
- Design Challenge
- A central challenge of the design was translating the solemn symbolism of the jade seal in Eastern culture into a lighthearted, modern consumer product, specifically a tea set appealing to young female users, without appearing rustic or generic. Achieving this balance between cultural gravity and commercial accessibility defined the core of the design process.
- Project Duration
- The project began in Xi An in May 2024, was completed in May 2025, and was first exhibited at the Shanghai International Design Week in June 2025.
- Operation Flow
- The product employs a nested box system, offering multi-unit combinations ranging from 8 to 60 individual capsule units. The outer and inner boxes share the same materials and design details, differing only in size. The outer box opens from the top, while the inner box opens from the bottom to facilitate pouring. Unlike conventional round packaging, the square form allows the tea powder to naturally collect along the inner corners, enabling more controlled and orderly dispensing.
- Research
- The jade seal form enhances product distinctiveness and memorability, functioning as a visual anchor that facilitates recognition within the saturated landscape of new media content. This reflects the commercial strategy of the designer, extending beyond purely visual aesthetics.
- Inspiration
- Inspired by the new Chinese aesthetic movement within the context of China chic culture, the design extracts the geometric form of the traditional jade seal, including its square base and knob structure, and incorporates it into tea packaging. The use of macaron colors tempers the formal weight of the seal form, balancing cultural depth with a modern, youthful character.
- Image Credits
- Jiaqi Ding