2026 Lunar New Year, Fiery Horse
The Objective to lead the creative direction and production for Scottsdale Mint’s 2026 Lunar New Year flagship release. Following the success of previous years led by the Head Designer, I was tapped to take full ownership of the 2026 "Year of the Horse" collection, managing a multi-format release that included 100g silver/gold cast bars and a 1/100th oz gold fractional unit.
The Strategy & Process As the Lead Designer, I navigated a high-stakes creative pivot to ensure the project met the Mint’s premium brand standards:
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Executive-Level Redesign: When the initial freelance artwork did not meet the VP of Branding’s vision, I took over the creative development. I completely reimagined and executed a new illustration that balanced modern energy with traditional Lunar motifs. After working with VP of Branding, my final design was reviewed and confirmed by the COO, establishing the visual anchor for the entire 2026 series.
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Laser-Die Engineering: I worked directly with the Die-Making Team, overseeing the translation of my digital illustration into physical steel dies. I managed the laser-engraving specs to ensure the "frosting" and "mirror" finishes on the .9999 gold and .999 silver preserved the intricate details of my redesign.
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Technical Scaling: I managed the complex challenge of miniaturizing the horse motif for the 1/100th oz gold bar, ensuring the design remained legible and impactful even at a micro-scale.
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Visual Campaign: I executed the final high-resolution product photography, using precision lighting to highlight the contrast between the rugged cast metal and the polished laser-etched surfaces.
The Result The 2026 Lunar Horse series launched as a centerpiece of the annual collection, marking my successful transition into a lead role for the Mint’s most anticipated yearly release. The project showcased my ability to resolve high-level creative challenges and secure buy-in from the COO and VP of Branding through superior design execution.
