London Design Gold

2024

Loong - The Nine Baby Dragons Wall

Entrant Company

Qi Wu Zhi Studio

Category

Communication Design - Character Design

Client's Name

Country / Region

China

Loong - The Nine Baby Dragons Wall



Inspired by the iconic Nine Dragon Wall and rooted in the ancient Chinese theory of the Five Elements—metal, wood, water, fire, and earth—the "Loong - The Nine Baby Dragons Wall" series intricately intertwines cultural symbolism with the natural world. Each dragon represents a season or an elemental force, embodying the deep essence of Chinese heritage while offering a modern, innovative interpretation.



The Winter Dragon captures the serene beauty of winter and the lively spirit of the Chinese Spring Festival, featuring delicate ice plum blossoms, snowflakes, and traditional paper-cut designs. The Autumn Dragon evokes the richness of harvest, with motifs of sika deer, chrysanthemums, and auspicious symbols such as pomegranates and melons, reflecting prosperity and fulfillment.



The Summer Dragon portrays the intensity of summer, using cicada wings, cloud and thunder patterns, and bat longevity symbols to evoke the sounds of rain and thunder that define the season in Chinese culture. The Spring Dragon celebrates renewal and love, adorned with hibiscus and peach blossoms, drawing from the Song Dynasty’s floral crowns and butterflies.



The elemental dragons further explore Chinese culture’s deep connection to nature. The Earth Dragon symbolizes stability and nourishment with elements like Taihu rocks and jade Ruyi, while the Fire Dragon captures passion and vitality through fire patterns and fireball motifs. The Water Dragon incorporates soft, fluid energy with water life imagery and auspicious water motifs, and the **Wood Dragon** channels growth and flexibility through symbols like pine trees and money trees. The Metal Dragon embodies strength and clarity, with motifs from ancient bronze vessels and coins.



This series preserves ancient Chinese cultural heritage while breathing new life into it, blending traditional symbols with fresh, contemporary design. This series introduces the playful "baby dragon" character design, aiming to break away from the traditional image of the Chinese dragon as a solemn and powerful figure. Future developments will expand the use of this character in trendy toy designs and other paper-based media.

Credits

YUXIAO ZHU
WENYI WANG
QINGFU HAN
LEI ZHANG
JINGRAN GENG
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