Research and mood board
As I explored existing red envelope designs for inspiration, I found two designs that resonated with me: one design by Giang Ong and another design by Lay Chen.
Giang Ong’s series included four designs, each showcasing a sacred creature from Vietnamese culture: a unicorn, dragon, tortoise, and phoenix. Ong included informative text unique to each creature on the back design. Though I grew up listening to many Vietnamese fables, Vietnam’s four sacred creatures were a foreign topic for me, and I enjoyed learning something new about my culture. Ong’s informative design inspired me to recreate a similar experience in my own work.
Lay Chen’s series was filled with saturation and playfulness. I was determined to make my red envelope design just as lively and enjoyable.
I aimed to incorporate activities and elements many people in the Vietnamese community experience. Firecrackers, lion dancing, live music, and traditional dresses easily came to mind during my brainstorming.
During my research, I discovered the Kitchen God, “Ong Tao,” whom Vietnamese Buddhists often honored during this holiday. I was not very familiar with this aspect of Lunar New Year since I was brought up Catholic, but I wanted to include Ong Tao to acknowledge every facet of the Vietnamese community.
Initial sketches
I chose to illustrate the following elements: firecrackers, lion dancing, music, traditional clothing, and the Kitchen God, “Ong Tao”.
I also created playful phrases to compliment each illustration:
- “Let’s cover our ears & run away,” for the firecrackers illustration
- “Let’s make music & dance,” for the lion dancing and music illustration
- “Let’s fill our tummies with lots of yummies,” for the Kitchen God illustration
Final design
I primarily used Adobe Illustrator to create my illustration. Some illustration changes include making the Kitchen God less childish.
