Red Mane is a conceptual limited edition spirits brand inspired by traditional Chinese Baijiu and the 2026 Year of the Horse in the Chinese zodiac. The project explores how cultural symbolism and contemporary graphic illustration can merge into a cohesive and scalable brand identity.

At the core of the visual system is a series of geometric horse illustrations symbolising strength, movement and resilience. Rather than serving as decorative elements, the illustrations function as structural brand assets, shaping the label design, packaging hierarchy and overall visual rhythm. Three distinct bottle variants were developed, each paired with its own illustration while maintaining a consistent typographic and compositional framework.

The project extends beyond the bottle into premium gift packaging and campaign applications, demonstrating how a strong conceptual foundation can translate seamlessly across multiple touchpoints. Red Mane highlights an illustration-led approach to branding, where storytelling, collectability and system thinking come together in a contemporary spirits packaging concept.

Designer : 3rd Floor

Location : Breda, the Netherlands

Project : Red Mane packaging design

Client : /