Minimalist Vector Dumplings Illustration
Chinese Dumplings
Nothing beats a hot plate of this Northeast China staple. Dumplings were such a large part of my diet during my time in Heilongjiang that I had to feature them in some minimal prints in my Redbubble shop!
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“If I had to sum up my seven years in Northeast China with one design… Well, it’s not even up for debate, is it? It has to be dumplings.”
Seth Barham
Graphic & Web Designer
Project Details
Project Type: Minimalist vector print
Skills: Illustration, vector graphics, print design
Tools: Apple M1 MacBook Pro, Adobe Illustrator, Wacom Intuos Tablet
Goal: Design a minimalist print to honor Dongbei dumplings, my go-to meal during my 7 years in China.
Challenges: Making a disorganized pile of dumplings actually takes some effort to appear naturally random.
MINIMALIST PRINTS INSPIRED BY TRAVEL
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GET IT ON REDBUBBLE
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MINIMALIST PRINTS INSPIRED BY TRAVEL ༄ GET IT ON REDBUBBLE ༄
Dumpling design inspired by travel
From the first time I opened an Adobe program, travel has been a deep well of inspiration to draw from in my design work. Every destination has some unique landmark, food, or cultural phenomenon that captures my attention and doesn’t let go until I create something. If I had to sum up my seven years in Northeast China with one design… Well, it’s not even up for debate, is it?
It has to be dumplings.
Reflections on jiaozi (饺子)
If there’s one thing that Heilongjiang province is known for, it’s jiaozi. You can have them boiled, steamed, fried, or deep-fried — a savory, doughy pocket of egg and chives perfect for absorbing all the cheap Harbin Beer and baijiu you drank the night before. Add a tangy soy sauce with rice vinegar, garlic, and chili paste, and you’re in business.
Simple design elements, maximum effect
I used Illustrator to create three simple vector elements: dumplings, chopsticks, and a dish of the delicious soy dipping sauce that accompanies any plate of dumplings. Alone, these elements are pretty basic, but the combinations of different arrangements are endless, from cool graphic prints to Mandarin flashcards. These three words are enough to set you up with some authentic jiaozi anywhere in China!
Eat your food and wear it, too!
No one is an expert with chopsticks when they first arrive in China. Sure, you may manage with your Americanized Chinese takeout back home, but you haven’t tried to pick up a slippery dumpling yet. Inevitably, you will end up wearing your food. With these prints, you can wear your dumplings without ruining your T-shirt. Who says wearing your food is always a bad thing?
