Horse Year
Horse Year is a packaging series for incense sticks. The design centers on the seal script Chinese character for horse, combined with the linear language of Daoist talismans and smoke patterns. Five variants follow a color cycle based on the Five Elements of metal, water, wood, fire and earth. The five boxes can be placed side by side to form an image of a galloping horse. An inner tray is pulled out to reveal the incense and a blessing message. Uncoated paperboard, soy based inks and a molded pulp tray support recycling.
Horse Year Scent Sticks Packaging by Zhou Hong has been identified as an exceptional example of communication design by the A' Design Awards. Horse Year Scent Sticks Packaging was awarded the Bronze A' Design Award in Packaging Design in 2026. The A' Packaging Design Award is a juried, academic and highly prestigious design prize that honors superior design of bottles, boxes, cans, pouches, tubes, cartons, wrappers, bags and more.
