![for strip background better final bottle bamboo 1920x1080_edited.jpg](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/e9b0eb_80e152bc52a64b15b84cf828e7842b8f~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_980,h_551,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/e9b0eb_80e152bc52a64b15b84cf828e7842b8f~mv2.jpg)
6 months
Individual Project
2021
Skills:
3D CAD Modeling
Fusion 360
Blender
Realistic Rendering
Bamboo Liquor Bottle Redesign
Market Research
Bottle Design
Branding
Label Design
Prompt:
Design a fresh look for Zhu Ye Qing Bamboo Liquor.
Approach:
Create a bottle and label design that embodies its thousand year old royal tradition. Bridging design aesthetics between East and West, I wanted to create a bottle that could refresh its image, be internationally eye-catching for young consumers, instantly recognizable, and as much of a classic as the liquor within.
Existing bottle design. Image courtesy of Yue Hwa Chinese Products Emporium Ltd
![竹叶青5b6a548bNe0b45920.jpg](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/e9b0eb_cc39b34eae5b40af90700f511ddf5a18~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_248,h_383,al_c,lg_1,q_80,enc_auto/%E7%AB%B9%E5%8F%B6%E9%9D%925b6a548bNe0b45920.jpg)
![OMFG this shit works bottle with combined curved base 830_edited.jpg](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/e9b0eb_1e547bdaeee44be0a7323895a9bd4073~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_450,h_600,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/e9b0eb_1e547bdaeee44be0a7323895a9bd4073~mv2.jpg)
The slanted bottle is shaped like a bamboo shoot. Eye-catching, and a riff on a standard bottle shape. Tying back into the bamboo motif, it also adds a touch of playfulness, recognizability, while remaining classic and modern.
I went and walked around liquor aisles in grocery stores and liquor stores to observe what bottle shapes stand out on a crowded shelf? What catches your eye, and just entices you to pick it up? How does its shape, weight, feel tie in to the brand or the liquor itself?
![Artboard 1.png](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/e9b0eb_ec28365c5b154bd5a2c5b95f54b9bf63~mv2.png/v1/fill/w_980,h_684,al_c,q_90,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/e9b0eb_ec28365c5b154bd5a2c5b95f54b9bf63~mv2.png)
Market Research
&
Form exploration
I studied popular, iconic liquor and liqueur bottles both Western and Eastern. I paid attention to their defining geometry, how bottle motifs tied into the liquor brand, and what made them stand out.
Then I created thumbnail sketches to explore what a new Zhu Ye Qing bottle could look like.
Embossing Detail
To center Zhu Ye Qing's bamboo motif on the bottle, I referenced traditional Chinese bamboo paintings from the Song Dynasty all the way to modern times. From the local collections of the HKMOA to the Palace Museum's online archives, I found so many different ways of representing bamboo, including realistic portraits and metaphysical dreamscape type representations.
I ultimately combined different features throughout the dynasties to create a fusion of bamboo across time, art styles, into one hand drawn illustration.
![diff angle front plane diff angle bamboo bottle with wenbo tutorial lighitng wow label.png](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/e9b0eb_5b5a91daf03d47378487f6a0c57012df~mv2.png/v1/crop/x_0,y_262,w_1080,h_1441/fill/w_455,h_607,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/diff%20angle%20front%20plane%20diff%20angle%20bamboo%20bottle%20with%20wenbo%20tutorial%20lighitng%20wow%20label.png)
Art History References
![OMFG this shit works bottle with combined curved base 830.png](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/e9b0eb_23d662c6dd0c4f10a1ae70abd1ba1f8e~mv2.png/v1/crop/x_131,y_166,w_770,h_1046/fill/w_347,h_471,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/OMFG%20this%20shit%20works%20bottle%20with%20combined%20curved%20base%20830.png)
Final Candidates
& User Feedback
![Screen Shot 2021-09-19 at 10.41.16 PM.png](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/e9b0eb_e784da533c50424b8e15842a2c42df96~mv2.png/v1/fill/w_980,h_362,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/e9b0eb_e784da533c50424b8e15842a2c42df96~mv2.png)
From the thumbnail explorations, I 3D modeled and rendered 4 final designs. I chose some familiar, practical silhouettes and some bolder, unconventional designs.
I then asked online users between ages 21-65 to identify their favorite design, and provide feedback on why.
![Untitled design.gif](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/e9b0eb_62ee5c89000e444784bcf808066e2602~mv2.gif)
Votes for Final Design
Design 1
Design 2
Design 3
Design 4
![bamboo poll 233729088_534377054500487_8250250356966106305_n.gif](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/e9b0eb_f03266758d774259aa3dc6d1210fd1cb~mv2.gif)
Over 100 international participants of all genders voted in my online poll to select a final design, and provided feedback.
In addition, I conducted user interviews through video conference sessions with several power users: bartenders, liquor enthusiasts, and frequent alcohol consumers between the ages of 21-65, this design's target audience.
All user testing was conducted remotely to work with COVID-19 restrictions.
Final Design
The angled bottle ultimately stood out the most, and was a user interviewed favorite. Participants frequently called it "unique", "elegant", and said it's a bottle they want to own. Many participants also noticed and enjoyed the nod to its bamboo origins. After adapting some suggestions from user interviews and editing the model, I polished this final iteration.
The final redesigned bottle is easy to pick up, hold, and pour. The embossing adds an extra sensory and visual experience, and a bamboo bottle cap adds to the textural richness of the bottle. A paper label makes it complete.
Acknowledgements
Every participant and interviewee who took the time to give this project feedback and advice.