Wen Liu Is Honored with the Silver A' Design Award for Aquafam Packaging in Packaging Design

The Work

Project

Aquafam Packaging

Function

Packaging

Category

Packaging Design

Discipline

Communication Design

Industry

Packaging & Retail, Branding & Advertising and Manufacturing

Colors

Lavender, Pale Turquoise, Gainsboro, Light Blue and Silver

Images

5

Client

Guishui Zhiling (Guizhou) Mineral Water Co., Ltd.

The Recognition

Laureate

Wen Liu

Country

China

Recognition

Silver A' Design Award

Edition

2025 - 2026

Design ID

#174963

Credits

Team

Shaokun Xiao and Yilan Fang, Haohui Fan

Design Details

Unique Properties

This premium mineral water design is crafted as a geological epic in physical form. The bottle is inscribed with enigmatic symbols inspired by the Hongya Tianshu, its surface textured to mimic the erosion marks of millennia-old glacial potholes. Shaped with curves that reflect the silhouette of karst mountains, it features naturally rounded shoulders and a subtly recessed base, creating a striking visual gravitational pull. The cap is embossed with an ichthyosaur fossil totem, a timeless emblem of ancient life preserved. Each detail channels 225 million years of Earth’s energy into the palm of the hand, redefining luxury through the essence of nature itself.

Inspiration

The design draws inspiration from the natural texture of Guizhou's Guanling landscape, where rolling peaks and the enigmatic inscriptions of the Hongya Tianshu form a secluded natural realm. Rock strata here preserve the ancient vitality of ichthyosaurs and crinoids. The design also incorporates the essence of Chinese landscape philosophy, seeing mountains as the enduring backbone of the earth and water as the flowing source of life. Here, mountain, stone, and water converge, defining the character of the water itself and narrating a story woven by nature and time.

Research

The design team visited the water source in Guanling, Guizhou. They drew inspiration from the layered karst landscape and the centuries old mystery of the Hongya Tianshu, interpreting the earth's embedded energy. Water analysis revealed a unique mineral composition, with strontium levels between 23 mg/L and 48 mg/L, a calcium magnesium ratio within the ideal 2:1 to 3:1 range, and natural alkalinity. Guided by this, the design focuses on two core expressions. First, it transforms the petroglyph symbols into an energy channel along the bottle, subtly conveying nature's gift to vitality. Second, the undulating, mountain inspired silhouette echoes the cyclical rhythm of the source ecosystem.

Challenge

This translation distills 225 million years of geological history into a bottle, moving beyond literal symbols to embody a modern language of luxury. Instead of reproducing fossils, we reimagined the Hongya Tianshu as an abstract energy icon. This approach retains the ethereal essence of mountain and water while translating it into a contemporary form. The bottle's shoulder is shaped to trace the defined ridges of karst peaks, and its base subtly suggests inverted summits. This creates a dialogue between solid and void, strength and softness, offering a tangible expression of yin-yang harmony.

Realization and Technology

The bottle is crafted from high white glass, chosen for its purity and clarity. The Hongya Tianshu Petroglyph motif is integrated into the surface through a seamless one piece molding technique. This creates a tactile intaglio texture, with each line reflecting forms shaped by flowing water over millennia. To minimize ink use, all decorative patterns are formed during molding, leaving only essential labeling to be printed. The outer packaging uses corrugated material made from recycled pulp, which biodegrades readily. Printing is limited to two colors. This minimalist approach aligns the packaging with the brand's commitment to environmental stewardship.

Operation and Interaction

The engraved Tianshu texture on the bottle surface creates a tactile memory when held, as if fingertips are tracing the imprints of millennia old civilization. As water flows along the undulating mountain contours at the bottle's base, it refracts shimmering light patterns, reminiscent of a stream meandering through a canyon stillness in motion. The cap adopts a standard twist off aluminum design, balancing cost efficiency with user convenience, while each act of untwisting becomes a subtle ritual of releasing geological energy. This is more than just drinking water; it is about weaving a moment of daily life into the rhythm of nature and wellness.

Project Duration and Location

Time: November 2024 – May 2025 Location: Shenzhen, China

Keywords

Aquafam, Natural Ecology, Mystical Oriental, Mountain-Water Realm, Minimalist Aesthetics, International Fashion, Premium Water Product, Natural Drinking Mineral Water