Face Value

Designed by &Larry
Year 2012

Every year, we receive countless red packets from banks and shopping malls — messily designed, gaudy, and oddly impractical. Beyond being visual clutter, most leave little room for the one thing that matters: a personal message. Face Value began as a response to this contradiction, rethinking the red packet as both a functional object and a considered gift.

In Singapore, red packets circulate through Chinese New Year, weddings, and birthdays, demanding a design that is flexible across contexts. In a twist on a familiar phrase, the packet bears the line “It’s the thought that you’ll count.” Acknowledging an unspoken reality, it reflects how monetary value is often tallied and quietly associated with generosity. The name Face Value plays on this tension — a pun on both currency and the cultural importance of “saving face.”

Made from flocked paper for a soft, luxurious tactility, the packet is embossed with subtle rectangular strips on the back to allow for easy writing. Equal parts candid and composed, Face Value reframes a familiar ritual with honesty and care.