It was a journey of rediscovery, and we were glad we were able to revisit our roots.
– Sean Lee, Eminent Creative
The mission of PEREKA.my is simple: to create unique print designs for Malaysian festivals. “We find it can be fun and different, a conversation starter amongst friends and relatives,” the company explains on its website.
For the 2016 Chinese New Year, PEREKA.my enlisted the help of Eminent Creative to design a gift box that conveyed one of the main tenets of the holiday: the opportunity to start afresh.
“Chinese families — from the youngest child to the most senior elder — look forward to renewing relationships with family, friends and neighbors, and together wish each other a prosperous new year,” says Eminent Principal Sean Lee. “This warm feeling of togetherness and close relationships was a major inspiration for our art direction.”
The gift box design depicts numerous activities that go on during the first day of Chinese New Year, from families honoring their elders, to children performing a dragon dance, to friends playing the traditional game of mah-jongg. It offers a glimpse into the beautiful culture of the Malaysian Chinese — the clothing, furniture and architecture reflect it beautifully.
The design team experimented with various papers and interlocking systems to find the ideal durability and print characteristics to produce the best product possible. Working with Percetakan Imprint, they decided on Fine Paper Takeo Silky Carpet 210 gsm Snow White, which features a soft and natural texture mounted on corrugated cardboard. The 7.9”-x-3.9”-x-16” gift box was offset printed using CMYK with gold foil highlights, and can hold up to 4.4 lbs. of goodies.
The creative team says the project was educational and rewarding on multiple levels. “We learned about various types of interlocking systems with different durability standards,” Lee says. “Just as importantly, we learned a lot about our rich culture and traditions.”
