I have a passion for designing, as I view it as a tool where I can amalgamate my imaginative ideas with pragmatism to resolve problems.

During the winter of Year 9, I engaged in a research project to promote the sale of strawberries from Huashan - a local community in Anhui. After a week of intensive research, the issue became apparent - customers were overlooking the distinctive flavors and varieties of Huashan strawberries, perceiving them simply as commonplace berries. Rather than opting for an infographic, I decided to concentrate on the packaging of the strawberries.

I immersed myself in the perspective of a customer, focusing on the pivotal 'first encounter' moment they would have with the product. My designed package featured a pull-out mechanism where users had to carefully slide the strawberry holders out from the side of the rectangular box. This engendered a sense of care. The side of the rectangular box bore descriptions of the four unique Huashan strawberry varieties, presented in a minimalistic style for customers to glance at. This cultivated a sense of awareness. Finally, the rectangular box was semi-translucent, offering a slight glimpse of the different strawberries inside the box, but not entirely clear unless the customer slid the box open. This kindled a sense of excitement.

So there you have it - care, awareness, and excitement. I tapped into the exact emotions the local farmers experienced when cultivating these strawberries and instilled them in the hearts of the customers. This product design garnered positive feedback from both consumers and local farmers and was eventually showcased at the Huashan Innovation Exhibition. I came to realize that I could make an impact - the kind that brings smiles to people’s faces, yet remains subtle, encouraging me to “keep creating”.