DI: What is the main principle, idea and inspiration behind your design?
SGCS : The design aims to promote cultural and creative industries. To make our customers amazed about our product, I hope to create an impressive design. The most important thing is to present the real images of Malay culture, hence to make the branding more valuable and meaningful.
DI: What has been your main focus in designing this work? Especially what did you want to achieve?
SGCS : I focus on creating a package incorporated with cultural elements. We can feel the festivity and the touch of delicate quality of premium gift box through the whole packaging. I effort will be seen and that will also create a good impression towards my client, Mika Premium Gift Shop.
DI: What are your future plans for this award winning design?
SGCS : It means a lot to me if my effort is recognized through winning this award. It will further motivate me to devote myself in creating more creative and meaningful design, helping other corporations in branding.
DI: How long did it take you to design this particular concept?
SGCS : About one week.
DI: Why did you design this particular concept? Was this design commissioned or did you decide to pursuit an inspiration?
SGCS : This is the first product which I am really satisfied with. I accomplished this work on my own from inspiration to production and concept realization.
DI: Is your design being produced or used by another company, or do you plan to sell or lease the production rights or do you intent to produce your work yourself?
SGCS : My design is being produced through packaging of premium gift box of Mika Premium Gift Shop, a well-known local brand in Malaysia. I hope their products can be sold in other places of the world and hence my design will be widely recognized.
DI: What made you design this particular type of work?
SGCS : Before I accept the offer to help Mika to design this package, I had done some market researches. I found that in the past years, Mika has been using lines and printed floral patterns to design their gift box for Hari Raya. So do their business competitors. I come up with this design for I do not want my client to keep using the same design for years. I want them to show something new to their customers as well.
DI: Where there any other designs and/or designers that helped the influence the design of your work?
SGCS : I was on my own from the very beginning – idea and concept to production.
DI: Who is the target customer for his design?
SGCS : Malay community.
DI: What sets this design apart from other similar or resembling concepts?
SGCS : The design shows the real scene in kampong during Hari Raya as much as possible, and this make it differrent from its competitors.
DI: How did you come up with the name for this design? What does it mean?
SGCS : “Malaysian Festive Packaging Collection” is broadly representative. Hari Raya is the most important festival to Malay as Chinese Lunar New Year to Chinese.
DI: Which design tools did you use when you were working on this project?
SGCS : Adobe illustration, Adobe Photoshop, 3D Max and Hand sketches.
DI: What is the most unique aspect of your design?
SGCS : Apart from the delicate touch of the package box, the images and the cartoon figures are specially designated for Mika with my own designing style. You will not see the same design at other places.
DI: Who did you collaborate with for this design? Did you work with people with technical / specialized skills?
SGCS : In collaboration with the packaging department of my client’s company, I try my best to ensure the food is enclosed and fully covered by the outer packaging box with appropriate design.
DI: Is your design influenced by data or analytical research in any way? What kind of research did you conduct for making this design?
SGCS : I do research by observations and interviews with Malay friends. Furthermore, I also search information online.
DI: What are some of the challenges you faced during the design/realization of your concept?
SGCS : The hardest part of this design is to ensure the images are fully presented in a perfect manner even when the box is folded. To make sure this, I have to be very careful at the combination of colours.
DI: How did you decide to submit your design to an international design competition?
SGCS : This is the product in which I fully develop my individual style and preferences. I am glad to share my works and look forward to gain international recognition.
DI: What did you learn or how did you improve yourself during the designing of this work?
SGCS : I learn to incorporate cultural elements in branding for “culture is the core value of branding”. And it is also a strategic way to prevail over your competitors in the market.
DI: Any other things you would like to cover that have not been covered in these questions?
SGCS : I just wish this product will be widely recognised by the world with the network that 5S8 Studio provides.
