Iron Graphics, Illustration and Visual Communication Design · 2021
Chinese Zodiac Typography
by Mengyu Cao
- A' Design Award 2021 Iron Winner in Graphics, Illustration and Visual Communication Design
- Awarded April 15, 2021
- CLIENT: YiQi Hanzi
- Estimated Number of Design Views: 12,468
- Verification code CE9029CBAB · Verify this award
About Chinese Zodiac Typography
The Chinese Zodiac typography includes 12 characters. Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Goat, Monkey, Rooster, Dog, Pig. It combines Chinese calligraphy and Chinese traditional watercolor drawing. With design thinking, it breaks the original calligraphy forms and adds creative drawings to it harmoniously to show the meaning of each character within itself. Chinese characters always look like complicated drawings to people who don't know Chinese. The purpose of this project is to make the Chinese characters understandable to everyone to spread Chinese culture.
Press Kit
- Unique Properties
- The Chinese Zodiac project combines Chinese calligraphy and watercolor drawing to present each character with its meaning. With design thinking, it breaks the traditional Chinese calligraphy forms and adds creative drawings to it harmoniously to show the meaning of each character. Chinese characters always look like complicated drawings to people who don't know Chinese.This project is aimed to make it understandable to everyone to spread Chinese culture.
The 12 Chinese zodiac includes Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Goat, Monkey, Rooster, Dog, Pig. - Dimensions & Packaging
- This typography set can be used as culture posters as I shown with the images.
- Tags
- graphic design, Typography, creative drawing, Chinese Zodiac, Chinese culture, calligraphy, watercolor drawing, poster, posters
- Production Technology
- Chinese traditional calligraphy, Chinese traditional watercolor drawing
- Design Challenge
- Ideation is the hardest part of this project. How to merge animals form into the characters harmoniously that makes the most sense. It shouldn't break the traditional beauty of Chinese calligraphy. And it should enhance the beauty to show the meaning of the character in a fun way.
- Project Duration
- This project started in January 2020 in San Francisco and finished in August.
- Operation Flow
- This typography set can be used as physical or digital posters to promote Chinese culture. People can understand the meaning of each Chinese character when seeing the typography only without reading the description.
- Research
- Researched on Chinese calligraphy form of beatuy, Chinese traditional watercolor techniques, and culture behind Chinese Zodiac.
- Inspiration
- At the beginning of my design journey, I learned a lot of Chinese traditional culture. I was taught to have the mission to deliver valuable Chinese traditional cultures to the modern world, to enhance and spread it to the nation and the world.
I also found out there were not many creative creations around Chinese calligraphy compare to English lettering. I want to use my ability to design and drawing to explore more possibilities of the traditional assets, Chinese characters.