The water-themed award plaque design from 2020, which was well-received last year, raised concerns over design similarity.
Despite differing views and circumstances, it was ultimately decided to renew the design once again.
“The very foundation of cosmetics,
‘water,’
which is also part of our company’s mission,
‘water’
The theme of water was essential, so we retained its qualities while
incorporating a motif of our global headquarters to represent our unique identity.
The crystal we had previously used was not only heavy but also unable to achieve the subtle edges and flowing wave patterns we envisioned. Additionally, because much of the crystal processing was done in China, it was difficult to respond quickly to design changes. Among transparent materials, we found that acrylic was the most suitable for expressing our intended design. It can be processed entirely domestically and preserves the delicate details we had planned, including coloring. We began by shaping a rectangular acrylic block and engraving precise vertical lines on the front using a laser.
Despite the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, which made in-person award ceremonies difficult, we could not overlook the excitement that a trophy brings to the occasion. We paid special attention to each vertical line to ensure that the transparent trophy would sparkle beautifully when illuminated on the award stage. The length and thickness of the trophy were also carefully considered so that both the presenter and recipient could hold it comfortably.
We moved away from the typical wooden boxes wrapped in velvet that are commonly used for packaging trophies and instead drew inspiration from the traditional Korean wrapping cloth used for presenting precious items. Since our trophies often need to be transported overseas or to regional offices, we chose a thick and durable felt material that can be safely stacked without damage. For the finishing touch, we used rubber bands to ensure a consistent and neat result, regardless of who handles the packaging. Flowers are an essential element of any gift. As mentioned earlier, our trophies are frequently in transit, which naturally results in a time gap between production and presentation. This led us to look for a plant that could retain its appearance over time. That’s when we came across the Ruscus plant. Its flower meaning—“unchanging value”—beautifully aligns with the significance of the award itself.
Additionally, I wanted to add a more special, gift-like touch, which led me to consider calligraphy. Traditionally, a name sticker was attached to the side of the trophy so the recipient could be identified without unwrapping it. Since the name needed to be included anyway, I wanted it to be presented in the most beautiful and meaningful way possible. A calligraphy artist thoughtfully wrote each recipient’s name by hand and added a hand-torn edge (deckle edge) to emphasize the handcrafted feel—making every trophy a truly personal and heartfelt creation.
“A gift must contain
the giver’s heart must be reflected,
and the recipient should be delighted.”
Given the nature of my corporate design work, many of the items I create aren’t
sold for profit but are offered freely in special circumstances
— perhaps these are what we casually refer to as ‘gifts.’
“A trophy is a meaningful gift a token of gratitude for those who have dedicated
themselves to the company for as little as 10 years or as long as 40.
Ten years is no small amount of time, and we felt it was important to express our deep
appreciation for the commitment and hard work of those who have been with us for so long.
I wanted the trophy to truly embody the spirit of a gift.”
We would like to express our gratitude to Kim Ji-yoon Studio for once again taking on the challenging design, to Upi Solution for handling production again despite the tight schedule and circumstances, and to artist Han Son for creating each calligraphy piece with care. We also thank those who understood and supported the slightly different design of the trophy compared to the previous one.
