We speak to JZL Creative Design Studio, 2022 Silver Pentawards Winner, to learn more about their award-winning work and plans for the future.

Can you tell us a bit about yourself?

I’m Zhulin JIN, a graphic designer in Shanghai, China. Our team at JZL Creative Design Studio is humorous, and we always have a good time working together. The atmosphere at our studio is relaxed and fun.

What is your area of expertise?

My area of expertise is graphic design.

How did you get involved in design?

I was introduced to design through my university. I majored in graphic design. It was at this point that I began to develop a great interest, and I’ve learned that it involves a wide range of applications with many possibilities to explore.

Yushan Biluochun Green Tea, 2022 Pentawards Silver Winner

How does it feel to win the Silver Pentaward in the 2022 competition?

I was surprised to learn that I had won the Silver Pentawards, mostly because it was my first time competing in a packaging design competition. Once it sank in that I was a winner, I calmed down and understood that there are many award-winning works worth learning from.

Tell us about your winning project, "Yushan Biluochun Green Tea." What is the story behind the pack?

My winning project is Yushan Biluochun Green Tea. Yushan Biluochun Green Tea is one of the six famous teas in China and has a long history worth a thousand years. In the form of expression, prints are selected to depict the beautiful tea garden scenery.

Abstract geometric figures are added to the design as a foil to the main illustration. The combination of green and white colours makes the package grand, beautiful, and fashionable, which can effectively attract younger consumers. It was a challenge for me to draw illustrations similar to the effect of printmaking, which requires a lot of patience.

Yushan Biluochun Green Tea, 2022 Pentawards Silver Winner

What part of the project did you enjoy the most?

Working on the illustration, which depicts the scenery of the tea garden so that customers can intuitively feel the charm of the product.

Is there anything exciting coming up that you can share?

I was very interested in exhibition design and successfully completed several important exhibition design projects in Shanghai, such as the Urban Illustration Art Festival of Columbia Circle, Approaching László Hudec and Sunke Villa—LU Zhiping, and Ingrid Ledent Printmaking Exhibition. They all recently opened successfully and have been covered by many famous media outlets.

Yushan Biluochun Green Tea, 2022 Pentawards Silver Winner

How do you manage to stay creative and find inspiration?

This requires sufficient enthusiasm, constant collection and observation, bold exploration, and experimentation.

To you, what is the power of design?

The power of design is to make people happy and laugh.

If there was one thing you could change or improve within the industry, what would it be?

Make design more amusing.

To find out more about JZL Creative Design Studio, follow them on Instagram here.