2026

Design Awards Silver Winner - Sei

Sei Premium Vanilla Beans Grade A, Kingdom of Tonga

Entrant

Sei

Category

Food - Spices, Oils, Sauces & Spreads

Client's Name

Hulita Mansoor Qureshi

Country / Region:

United Arab Emirates

Sei Premium Vanilla Beans Grade A from the Kingdom of Tonga transforms a classic ingredient into a luxurious culinary experience, appealing to both home bakers and professional chefs in the premium market. Launched in Dubai, this gourmet alternative to synthetic vanilla extracts elevates the baking experience.
The design departs from traditional plastic vacuum-sealed designs to a sophisticated aesthetic that blends elegance with functionality, ensuring a striking presence on shelves. Intricate, nature-inspired illustrations create an authentic connection to the product's origin, highlighting its unique qualities and rarity. Drawing from the Vava’u landscape and ‘Kupesi’ cultural motifs, the design features significant local elements like ‘Fata'o Tu'i Tonga’ motif, and iconic birds such as the ‘Malau’ and ‘Lupe’. These components reflect Tongan heritage while preserving social values through visual language. Additionally, the local red ‘Heilala’ flower signifying royalty and love, enhances the products emotional resonance, transporting consumers to tropical islands even before the box is opened.
A carefully curated colour palette of soft beige, accented with intricate gold detailing and muted tones, evokes the sun-drenched shores of the Pacific and the rich hue of the vanilla beans within. The typography balances cultural authenticity with modern minimalism; the "Sei" brand name flows in a decorative script that mimics ocean waves, while interconnected fonts and meticulously woven patterns embody key Tongan values of a deep connection to family and nature.
The slim box structure reflects the long length of the vanilla beans and includes a unique “one-motion” opening mechanism, creating a theatrical unboxing experience that feels special and memorable. Inside, the beans are presented in a clear glass tube topped with a dark wooden lid and a gold rim, ensuring freshness and aroma retention while adding a touch of elegance.
Crafted from 90% recycled materials like corrugated cardboard and non-laminated paper, the design harmoniously blends luxury with sustainability. Each Sei vanilla bean represents a year of dedication, as the orchids bloom for just one day, requiring hand-pollination and meticulous care before harvest. With no shortcuts or machines involved, the packaging embodies this passion and craftsmanship, honouring the exquisite rarity of what lies within.

More Silver Winners
2026
Design Awards Winner - PRIVATE CUSTOMIZED DESIGN ENGINEERING Corporation CO.LIMITED - Renovation Plan for Wing Wah Court, Sai Ying Pun, Hong Kong
Weide Shi

Entrant

PRIVATE CUSTOMIZED DESIGN ENGINEERING Corporation CO.LIMITED

Category

Smart Home - Residential Interior

Country / Region

China

2026
Design Awards Winner - Qianyi Chen, Billy Kwok - Limino - Adaptive Blending Toolkit for Mixed Reality

Entrant

Qianyi Chen, Billy Kwok

Category

User Experience (UX) - Spatial Computing UX

Country / Region

United States

2026
Design Awards Winner - Changzhou Kufun Sporting Goods Co., Ltd. - Kufun
Zou Rong, Zhu Jiaqi, Gu Lina

Entrant

Changzhou Kufun Sporting Goods Co., Ltd.

Category

Sports Accessories - Sports Sunglasses

Country / Region

China

2026
Design Awards Winner - Xi'an Jiaotong University - Sustainable Stray Cat Shelter: A Tri-Self-Sufficient Symbiot
PurrTech

Entrant

Xi'an Jiaotong University

Category

Social Design - Designs for Social Impact

Country / Region

China