Barwo programme

xen so

Barwo programme design

A 15-page e-booklet and theatre poster for The Chinese Artists Association of Hong Kong, translating traditional Chinese opera into engaging, research-driven visuals with illustration, editorial layout, and custom iconography for young audiences.

Role: Communication Designer | Concept, Illustration, Editorial, Layout, Typography

Client: The Chinese Artists Association of Hong Kong

2025

Dynamic Action Scene from 《擋馬》
Image reference: The Chinese Artists Association of Hong Kong
nanartworkshop 藍天藝術工作室

The project follows a client-defined direction of “Reimagined”, aiming to modernise traditional Chinese opera for a younger, secondary school audience. The design approach focuses on translating cultural heritage into a contemporary visual language that feels engaging rather than instructional.

For the cover, a dynamic action scene drawn from one of the opera excerpts featured in the programme is used as the key visual, offering a direct and energetic entry point into the performance content. In traditional Chinese opera, complex fighting scenes are often completed using everyday objects such as chairs as physical support. In this design, selected real-world elements are intentionally removed, allowing the scene to exist in an imagined, exaggerated space. Comic-inspired elements are introduced to amplify tension and movement, enhancing visual drama and appeal for younger viewers.

While the illustration drives visual impact, the layout structure references traditional Chinese opera posters, observed at the Hong Kong Heritage Museum. This historical composition is reinterpreted through bright, shaped colour blocks and contemporary pacing. Typography is anchored by Zansyu, a typeface commonly seen in old Hong Kong signage, reinforcing cultural familiarity while supporting a modern visual tone.

The project required extensive study and research of Chinese opera to create meaningful visual content. Ensuring that the educational content is both accurate and visually engaging. These research-driven visuals were integrated with editorial layout, balancing accessibility for secondary school audiences with the richness of traditional culture.

For the editorial design, selected comic elements are extended into content pages to maintain narrative energy, while other sections adopt a clean, restrained layout that balances photography and illustration. A consistent colour palette is applied throughout the 15-page booklet, ensuring visual coherence across the e-booklet and theatre poster while supporting clarity, readability, and audience engagement.