Press Release
Yuko Takagi Is Honored with the Silver A' Design Award for Kanade Japanese Packaging in Packaging Design
Yuko Takagi acknowledged for packaging design by the international grand jury of the 2024 - 2025 A' Design Award & Competition
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
COMO, Italy, April 19, 2025 /DesignNewswire/ A' Design Award & Competition has announced that Kanade Japanese Packaging by Yuko Takagi has been granted the Silver A' Design Award in the Packaging Design category. The award was conferred within the 2024 - 2025 A' Design Award & Competition and was reached through blind peer review by an international grand jury panel of established academics, design professionals and press members, who evaluated anonymized entries against predetermined criteria.
What the Silver A' Design Award Means
The Silver A' Design Award celebrates top-tier designs that embody excellence and innovation. This award acknowledges creations that are not only aesthetically pleasing but also highly functional, reflecting the designer's deep understanding and skill. Silver A' Design Award recipients are recognized for their contribution to raising industry standards and advancing the practice of design. Their work often incorporates original innovations and elicits a strong emotional response, making a notable impact on the improvement of everyday life.
Regarding Kanade Japanese Packaging
The packaging design for Kanade, a premium Japanese craft liqueur, draws from traditional aesthetics to reflect the product's refined, natural taste. Inspired by the concept of harmony, the design uses custom washi paper with glossy fibers, creating contrast between matte and subtle sheen for a tactile, artisanal feel. Watercolor illustrations and handwritten calligraphy enhance the handcrafted impression, while a custom typeface adds a modern yet culturally rooted identity. The result is packaging that bridges tradition and contemporary sensibilities for global appeal.
About Yuko Takagi
Yuko is a Japanese designer and focusing on brand development, package design, and visual identities. She specializes in making brands visible by solving problems through creative ideas. Over 10 years of experience in the Food & Beverage industry, delivering award-winning ideas for global brands. Her upbringing and education in Japan and the USA allow for creativity with a diverse and unique cultural perspective and childlike curiosity.
Award Record
With this recognition, Yuko Takagi is a winner of 1 A' Design Award.
About the A' Packaging Design Award
The A' Packaging Design Award is an international packaging competition that recognizes outstanding packaging designs by talented packaging designers worldwide. It is organized within the A' Design Award & Competition and is open to packaging designers, graphic designers, branding agencies and product manufacturers from all countries. Typical entries include bottles, boxes, cans, pouches, tubes and cartons. The awarded packaging designs are published at https://dezigners.org/design-category/packaging
About A' Design Award & Competition
Organized annually since 2008, A' Design Award & Competition is an international, juried design accolade. The competition is open to entries from all countries. The philanthropic mission of the A' Design Award is to advance society through good design, by recognizing and promoting superior products, projects and services that benefit society, and by creating a global awareness and appreciation for good design practices and principles. Nominations are peer reviewed and evaluated anonymously by an international grand jury panel of established academics, design professionals and press members against predetermined criteria such as functionality, ergonomics, engineering, presentation, innovation, usability, sustainability and technology, with score normalization applied to remove biases. Awards are conferred at Platinum, Gold, Silver, Bronze and Iron levels. Eligible laureates receive the A' Design Prize, which includes the award trophy, the certificate of design excellence, the hardcover yearbook, a lifetime license to use the A' Design Award winner logo, exhibition of awarded works, an invitation to the gala night and award ceremony in Italy, inclusion in the World Design Rankings and Designer Rankings, and public relations and publicity services. Registration, uploading a work and receiving a preliminary score are free of charge, and Professional and Digital Edition laureates are not contractually obliged to pay further fees to claim the A' Design Prize. More information is available at https://competition.adesignaward.com
Press Resources
- Winner Page: https://dezigners.org/167834
- A' Design Award Page: https://competition.adesignaward.com/167834
- Media Showcase: https://www.designnewsroom.com/!167834
- Laureate Profile: https://dezigners.org/d/255675
Media Contact
Giulia Ferrari, Press Office
Designers.Org
Via Leone Leoni 32, 22100 Como, Italy
press@designers.org
+39 031 4491953
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Fact Sheet
The Work
- Project
- Kanade Japanese Packaging
- Function
- Packaging
- Category
- Packaging Design
- Discipline
- Communication Design
- Industry
- Packaging & Retail, Branding & Advertising and Manufacturing
- Colors
- Black, Dark Slate Gray, Khaki, Olive Drab and Yellow Green
- Images
- 5
The Recognition
- Laureate
- Yuko Takagi
- Country
- Japan
- Recognition
- Silver A' Design Award
- Edition
- 2024 - 2025
- Design ID
- #167834
Credits
- Image Credits
- Yuko Takagi
Design Details
- Unique Properties
- Kanade embodies Japan's traditional craftsmanship in liqueur-making. Drawing inspiration from Suntory’s renowned whiskey line, it incorporates a Kanji character to align with the House of Suntory aesthetics. Designed for both local and global audiences, Kanade offers a distinctly Japanese appeal with worldwide resonance.
- Inspiration
- The inspiration came directly from experiencing the liqueur itself. Its delicate, natural taste evoked imagery of soft, flowing watercolors—an artistic representation of Japanese subtlety and harmony. This led to a design that visually reflects the product’s smooth, sophisticated flavor using handcrafted textures and organic elements.
- Research
- We conducted field testing in a bar and spoke with bartenders to understand how the bottle’s design impacts usability and perception. Insights from their feedback led to design adjustments for ease of pouring and tactile elements, ensuring a balance between aesthetic appeal and functionality for both bartenders and consumers.
- Challenge
- Achieving a balance between a distinctly Japanese design and global appeal was challenging. The development of original washi paper that maintained its natural texture during printing required minimal digital intervention. The paper's fine glossy fibers blend a matte texture with subtle shine, enhancing the tactile experience and emphasizing the handcrafted quality.
- Realization and Technology
- The packaging employs custom washi paper featuring subtle glossy fibers to balance matte softness with refined shine. It includes a handwritten calligraphy logo, a custom typeface, and watercolor paintings representing each flavor. This meticulous approach highlights the artisanal quality and premium positioning of the liqueur.
- Operation and Interaction
- Consumed neat, on the rocks, or in cocktails.
- Keywords
- #packagedesign, #packaging, #branding, #Japanese, #Japan, #liqueur, #alcohol, #drink, #craft, #handcrafted, #natural, #brandidentity
