PACKAGING DESIGN
BRANDING
For our first project in packaging class, we were given the choice to design packaging for either tea, rice, pasta, or chocolate. I wanted to make a high-end Japanese tea brand because I’ve never designed anything that felt classy or expensive before.
Immediately, I knew I wanted to create packaging that had an element of surprise for the consumer. I wanted my box to be simple-yet-elegant from the outside, but when the consumer takes off the lid, it reveals a beautiful gradient underneath. This motif also represents the act of steeping tea, changing color as the water soaks up the flavor.
My brand was inspired by many aspects of Japanese culture, each of which I each tried to incorporate into a cohesive whole. The product is inspired by Hanakotoba, or the Japanese language of flowers. In Japan, they believe that each flower holds a distinct meaning, and I related this language to each flavor of my tea. The brand’s name, Hanai, is also derived from the Japanese word for flower- Hana. For my logomark, I was inspired by Japanese mon, or crests, that were used to identify businesses or families. Not only is Hanai represented by a singular mark, but I designed a unique crest for each flavor of the tea as well.
