Cartoons to Classic Pills: The Evolution of Plum Flower Labels
As a kid, cardboard boxes in our family's herb shop were canvases for me to draw on. That was my favorite part of growing up there. Monsters and warriors battled on boxes big and small. My least favorite part about the shop was having to take boiled herbs when we got sick. I had taste buds after all. I was skeptical since to my young mind, it was no different than the boiling cauldrons of cartoon witches. My parents would hold me down to choke the witch's brew down my throat while I kicked and sputtered.
As an adult I became obsessed with martial arts. I’m almost certain this had nothing to do with my experiences with herbs. Early in my martial arts career, a stubborn hamstring injury, and an acupuncturist, got me to try Great Mender- Jin Gu Die Shang Wan. After more than a month of nagging pain, it healed in just three days. I was shocked. However, I would never have bought it on my own due to the spotty English on what I saw as indistinguishable packaging. This was an opportunity.
At the time, I ran a tea packaging business and did freelance graphic design on the side. Aiming to start another business, I designed a dozen or so labels for the most common herb formulas including The Great Mender. Mayway, however, had just begun to package pills of their own- clear bottles affixed with clear labels with black ink. Since the pills were also black, light had to reflect at just the right angle for them to be legible. I wasn't working for Mayway at the time, but it was our family business, and my sister Yvonne had just started there. It felt right to give the designs to them since I already had a lot on my plate. These designs would go on to become Plum Flower Classic teapills.
In time, the teapills were selling well and suddenly, without consultation, I was issued a paycheck (which I had no objection to). I was absorbed into the family business and was asked to design another hundred or so labels.
We mostly tried to hint at the TCM functions of the formulas without making any biomedical claims. For others, we played with the original formula name, or emphasized a main ingredient. Many of them were a struggle, and since we had short deadlines, it resulted in a few that could have used refining, but I was overall happy with them.
The labels were mostly fun to design. Friends, family and Mayway employees were asked to model for the labels. I dressed them in old Chinese movie costumes we found in a second-hand shop in Beijing. Among the costumes were scholar's robes, an empress gown complete with headdress, and monk's robes that I once wore on Halloween. I donned them again in an ad for The Great Mender, which I saw as a full-circle moment.
Here are a few labels of interest:
True Warrior Zhen Wu Wan, features my brother Richard who came to Mayway after a brief career in accounting.
Xiao Huo Luo Wan features Yvonne, my big sis, with her usual big smile.
Tian Qi Teapills features Eva, my little sis, shown here letting her inner warrior out.
Stasis in the Mansion of Blood Xue Fu Zhu Yu, features our mom Meilin, who is increasingly determined to take care of us and Mayway each day. Despite our calls for her to relax and enjoy life, she still comes in to help pack shipments.
Tong Qiao Huo Xue, shows our Dad, Alan, putting on a crown. He founded Mayway back in 1969.
Qing Wei features our old friend Brian. You may have spoken with him once or twice over the years. He’s a gentleman whose many talents include clearing channels [Six Gentlemen and Clear Channels].
Warm Cycle, Wen Jing Wan, features Alice, our bookkeeper of more than 30 years, who retired just this summer. Warm indeed. Alice, we will certainly miss you.
After placing just about everyone willing on a label, we decided to put me on one as well. It would have been fitting to be on The Great Mender, but since it was already part of the original batch, I had to settle for something else- Solitary Hermit Du Huo Ji Sheng Wan. I spent vacations in the mountains snow-camping and doing solo climbs, so I chose it based on the name alone. I included my hat and yellow jacket that accompanied me on so many adventures.
I recently had the opportunity to design two new additions to the Plum Flower Classics line- Majestic Yang Xiong Wei Da Bu Wan and Revive Kidney Qi Teapills Suo Yang Bu Shen Wan. They don't feature people we know, but creating the images is the part I love the most. (see photo earlier in this article) I took my time and savored the process, including details that would never be seen on the label for the sheer fun of it. I see it as pure luck (maybe Karma?) that has given me the opportunity to do what I enjoy and to contribute in a small way to the health of others. For that, I am extremely grateful. Who knew drawing cartoons on herb boxes as a kid would lead to this? #fullcirclemoment.
— Hugh Lau who has recently recently returned to painting in his spare time
