Qinhuai Volunteers: COVID-19 Commemorative Ticket Design

Independent Commissioned Project

Project Type
My Role

Art Direction, Visual Design, Pattern Design, Packaging Structure

Location

Nanjing, China

Year

2022

Software and techniques used

• Adobe Illustrator – illustration, iconography, vector refinement
• Adobe Photoshop – color adjustments, texture enhancement

Project Description

This project was commissioned by the Qinhuai District of Nanjing to design a commemorative ticket set for 40,000 volunteers who contributed to COVID-19 prevention efforts. The tickets grant free entry to five local cultural attractions and serve as a symbolic gesture of gratitude. Each attraction has its own unique historic identity, architectural style, and color characteristics, making the design challenge both culturally and visually significant.

Ticket Design

Target  Audience

The ticket set was designed for volunteers who contributed to COVID-19 prevention efforts, as well as local residents and visitors interested in the cultural history of Qinhuai. It also serves the needs of cultural institutions that require clear and engaging public-facing design, along with government and community organizations seeking meaningful appreciation materials for large-scale distribution.

Design Problem

The challenge was to create a unified ticket system that feels meaningful, collectible, and easy to use. Each ticket needed to reflect the unique architectural character of its attraction while still belonging to a coherent visual set. Additionally, the ticket structure had to meet the client’s requirement for interconnected pieces, special cutting shapes, and a compact outer package suitable for large-scale production.

Design Process

I began by researching the five attractions—Confucius Temple Dacheng Hall, Imperial Examination Museum, Yu Yuan Garden, Former Residence of Li Xiangjun, and the Memorial of Wang Dao Xian. I collected photography, color samples, and cultural references to understand each site's architectural features and historical significance.

Confucius Temple Dachengdian

Imperial Examination Museum of China

Memorial of Wangdaoxiean

Former Residence of Li Xiangjun

Yu Yuan Garden

Each ticket is designed with an illustration featuring the distinctive architecture/elements of each attraction. The color scheme is thoughtfully chosen to reflect the background characteristics of each site, while maintaining overall harmony in the color palette of the entire ticket series.

Visual Language Development

The inspiration comes from the temple’s iconic architectural silhouette, which represents the cultural heart of the scenic site.

Confucius Temple Dachengdian

The design is inspired by the museum’s landmark tower, a symbol closely tied to the history of China’s imperial examination system.

Imperial Examination Museum of China

Memorial of Wangdaoxiean

The inspiration is derived from a classical poem closely associated with the scenic spot.

The inspiration is drawn from the famous novel “Peach Blossom Fan”, which is related to the scenic spot.

Former Residence of Li Xiangjun

The inspiration comes from the garden’s signature architectural elements, blending its iconic rooflines and serene scenery into the ticket design.

Yu Yuan Garden

The ticket set packaging draws from the vibrant colors and simplified forms of modern design, integrating hues from all five tickets to create a bright, unified visual system.

Ticket Set Packaging

The structural development of the ticket set focused on creating a unified and interconnected layout that could hold all five tickets within a single outer cover. The design required special die-cut shapes at the joints to make the tickets easy to separate and interact with, while still maintaining a cohesive feel as a set. Throughout this process, I refined the overall composition, tested color harmony across the entire series, and built a system that balances usability, cultural symbolism, and visual consistency.

Structure Development

  • Packaging Size: 5.75 inches * 8.9 inches

  • Ticket Size: 2.3 inches * 8 inches

  • Packaging Material: 300g copperplate paper

  • Ticket material: 156g copperplate paper

  • Cutting method: Irregular shape

  • Quantity: 42,000 copies

Design Impact

The final design consists of five tickets, each featuring a custom illustration of its corresponding scenic location. The color palette is carefully curated to convey local character while maintaining harmony throughout the entire set. The outer packaging unifies the series and elevates the commemorative nature of the gift.

The ticket shapes were irregularly cut to echo the fluidity of traditional Chinese design forms. Their interconnected structure reinforces the idea of community and collective effort, mirroring the contributions of the volunteers.