House of Forme’s Year of the Snake wins Gold at A' Giftware Design Award

House of Forme’s Year of the Snake red packet collection has won a Gold A' Design Award in Giftware Design, recognizing the Hong Kong studio’s blend of cultural symbolism, craft and sustainability. The win spotlights how seasonal giftware can be designed for broader relevance, not just a single holiday.

Why it matters: - The Gold A' Design Award puts House of Forme’s Year of the Snake collection among the competition’s top giftware entries. - The win highlights growing demand for gift items that combine cultural storytelling, visual appeal and sustainability. - The recognition also points to a wider shift in giftware design toward objects that remain relevant beyond one seasonal use.

What happened: - The A' Design Award named Year of the Snake by House of Forme a Gold winner in the Giftware Design category. - House of Forme is a Hong Kong-based creative agency. - The award was announced in Como, Italy, on September 1, 2026. - The collection is a self-initiated red packet series reinterpreting zodiac imagery.

The details: - Year of the Snake includes 16 red packets across four key visuals. - The concept draws on the ouroboros, the serpent symbol tied to cycles of renewal. - Seasonal blossoms conceal snake-scale motifs, with hidden details representing specific blessings. - Orchids contain flickering tongues for guidance, lilies contain sharp teeth for growth, lotus blooms contain blinking eyes for rebirth, and anthurium pistils disguise tails for power and fertility. - The packaging uses a hardbound slide-out format inspired by a snake shedding its skin. - The M-fold holder structure is shaped to echo the serpent’s movement. - The set uses four textured pearlescent papers, matte UV finishes, and red, silver and gold foil accents. - FSC-certified paper and recyclable holder materials support the project’s sustainability approach. - More information on the award-winning design is available on the A' Design Award website.

Between the lines: - The award suggests design juries are rewarding projects that connect heritage with contemporary packaging ideas. - House of Forme’s focus on narrative-led design gives the studio a clear positioning in premium giftware and branding. - The sustainability angle adds commercial relevance as brands face pressure to reduce waste and improve material choices.

What's next: - House of Forme is expected to keep exploring narrative-driven giftware and packaging. - The award gives the studio a new benchmark as it develops future projects. - The recognition may help the collection and the studio reach broader design and brand audiences.

The bottom line: - Year of the Snake stands out because it treats red packets as both cultural objects and designed products, not just holiday packaging.