Form is a conceptual project on a company that sells mid-century-inspired modern furniture, essential for any living room space. From pillows to sofas and lamps, Form emphasizes luxury and comfort. At the same time, Form reconceptualizes the convention of comfort by challenging modern design foundations to give readers a new perspective on functional design applications. The main part of their identity is presented through their catalog. However, what differentiates this catalog from others is how it has unusual ways of displaying its furniture.

Designing the catalog was based on an experimental approach by challenging my design habits. When looking through each spread, users will notice contrasting layout forms, intricate typographic systems, and textured digital mixed media. Printed in a tabloid-sized newspaper, this large print size allows not only more space for visual exploration but also a more interactive and intimate experience.

HOTPOT TOGETHER is a casual DIY hotpot cooking experience that includes unique tools and ingredients specific to making a hotpot meal: a ladle, sauce plates, a hotpot soup base, and dried lotus root. Each object is placed in dividers to protect, enhance, and display itself for an upscale retail market. The round exterior box was made using corrugated cardboard to showcase the intimate experience of cooking this delicious, hot meal.

This luxurious yet minimal packaging shares the rich history of hotpot by integrating a modern design that introduced both English and Chinese typography. Bold colors are reminiscent of traditional prosperous colors used in China to bring in good fortune, longevity, and happiness. After the box’s contents are removed, it can be repurposed as a storage container.

Hung Liu was a Chinese-born American contemporary artist that was known for her interpretive paintings of historical Chinese photographs. Her painting subjects included prostitutes, refugees, street performers, soldiers, laborers, and prisoners. Highlighting themes of displacement, social class in China, and identity among immigrants, Hung Liu challenged historical Chinese photography by subjecting them to the reflective process of painting. Her work eroded memory and the passage of time while also bringing the images to life through such rich paintings.

This artist catalog pays tribute to Hung Liu and tells her story chronologically, emphasizing her journey from China to America and all the impactful works she created throughout the years. The book uses transparent chapter pages, paint drip imagery, and white space to emphasize the complex layers, stylization, and impact of Liu’s paintings. Traditional Chinese bookbinding was also included to highlight the artist’s Chinese culture.