“Kinnari” is an imaginary beverage brand created in Package Design 1 class taught by instructor Daniel Hoy at Art Center College of Design. The project is driven by the idea of reconnecting with my home country through design. The goal of it is to rebrand palm wine aka Htan Yay, which is a popular liquor in rural regions of Myanmar to better appeal to millennials residing in major cities. It also reflects on a way of connecting traditional food through art and architecture.

Palm wine originated in the Philippines and is shared across many cultures but a long-term consumption of it in the Burmese countryside made it become part of the rural hallmarks.
Despite it being a distinctive traditional beverage, it was always portrayed as cheap and distasteful in Burmese mainstream movies and media to poke fun at rural residents. The biased representations had led to it’s unpopularity among major city residents. To also

The main purpose of the new identity is to dissociate the drink of those notions and instead educate our generation of the intricate process of obtaining palm wine while creating more opportunities for local vendors. In order to pay a tribute to the home of palm wine, the inland regions of Myanmar, where traditional art and architecture are highly influenced by Buddhism, it is inspired by mythical half-human half-bird creatures known as “Kinnari, Kinnara,” who are symbolic of music and love in Buddhist folk tales. Graphic elements indicating the intricate wood carvings present in traditional monuments are used to showcase the atmosphere. Lastly, blue gradation is used to highlight the routine of collecting sap during dawn. to

With this project, I hope to make a positive depiction of palm wine back in my home country while making the consumers feel connected to the art and culture.