Shu-Te University — Three-dimensional Aesthetics

For their project “Salt Bathed in the Sun”, Shu-Te University students Yun-Hang Wu, Zhi-Lin Huang, Yu-Shan Xu, Xin-Yu Tan, Pei-Ling Liu and Lin-Qian Huang started out by studying a special place in their home country Taiwan: the salt fields of Qinkunshen, where raw materials for several sectors including the cosmetics industry are produced. They were the inspiration for the soap packaging developed by the up-and-coming young designers. Speaking about the 18-month-long project, the students said, “To be honest, it was pretty challenging, as we constantly had to balance practicality with aesthetics”. Ultimately, everyone involved was pleased with the result as they managed to translate cultural values into a contemporary design idiom.

Shu-Te University in Interview with Red Dot

Red Dot: What fascinated you so much about the Qinkunshen salt fields that you turned them into a packaging design project?

Shu-Te University: These used to be an important geographical location for the Taiwanese salt industry. We are fascinated by the interesting overall shape as well as the fan-shaped structure that you can see from the air.

How important was the choice of paper?

Very important. Because the paper is the first thing customers feel before they come into contact with the product – the salt soap. We chose a type of paper with a feel that comes very close to salt.

What considerations played a role in the design of the packaging?

We placed great emphasis on practicality, aesthetics and the choice of materials. Because on the one hand we want the packaging to be functional, but on the other hand we also want it to be inviting and to create an intuitive association with the product at first touch.