A Celebration of Culture Shared in One Pot
One Pot began with a personal experience of growing up between two cultures, where food became the language I never learnt. As a Chinese-Kiwi, language barriers have often made connecting with my Cantonese-speaking grandparents difficult, yet sharing meals has remained a meaningful way to communicate and connect with them.
For many second-generation Chinese New Zealanders, cultural identity can feel complicated when language and traditions become less familiar. This inspired my research question: How can visual communication for a premium Cantonese hot-pot gift starter kit support cultural reconnection among Chinese-Kiwi young adults by using food as a form of communication and shared dining ritual?
Centred around “Bring Something to the Table”, One Pot reimagines traditional Cantonese dining through a premium hot pot gift starter kit featuring contemporary bilingual packaging, culturally inspired illustrations and an interactive box. Accompanied by a starter guide and lai see-inspired conversational cards, the kit encourages cultural exploration, storytelling and shared experiences.
By celebrating what everyone contributes, whether food, stories, traditions or simply their presence, One Pot demonstrates that cultural connection does not always require a shared language. Sometimes, it begins with sharing a meal.
One Pot brings together cultural storytelling, visual identity and packaging design to create a contemporary interpretation of traditional Cantonese dining. Its visual language combines minimalist bilingual typography, vibrant ingredient-specific colours and culturally inspired illustrations. A recurring floral pattern, reinterpreted from jacquard tablecloths commonly found in Chinese restaurants, features across the table-like legs of the outer box and the lower sections of the ingredient packaging, connecting the different elements of the identity. The illustrations incorporate a subtle diffusion texture inspired by the movement of boiling hot pot broth, while spot gloss varnish highlights the illustrations and decorative pattern, adding depth, warmth and a tactile, premium finish to the designs.
At the centre of the experience is a premium gift box that unfolds to reveal seven individually packaged ingredients, a starter guide and conversational cards. The layered structure creates a sense of discovery, while the outer packaging transforms into a table-like form, extending its purpose beyond simply containing the product and becoming part of the shared dining experience.
Each component contributes to the broader narrative of cultural connection. The ingredient packaging introduces cultural knowledge through illustrations and fun facts, while the starter guide combines practical preparation instructions with the history, traditions and meanings behind Cantonese hot pot. Inspired by traditional lai see packets, the conversational cards encourage participants to share personal stories, family traditions and cultural experiences.
The identity extends into a three-poster series and a collection of illustrated stickers, reinforcing the themes of connection, participation and shared culture. Together, these elements create a cohesive experience that invites people to engage with Cantonese traditions in an approachable and meaningful way, demonstrating how design can encourage cultural exchange and create new memories around the table.
