I. Core Design Principles: Centered on “Senior-Friendly Adaptation”
Age-related visual decline (e.g., farsightedness, color weakness, sensitivity to high contrast), cognitive habits (preference for familiar elements, aversion to unclear visuals), and emotional needs (pursuit of health, longevity, and family care) determine that graphic design for senior health supplements must follow three fundamental principles to avoid disconnected or overly abstract designs:
- Principle 1: Clarity and Easy Recognition
Graphic elements should be simplified and enlarged to avoid complex lines or fine decorative details. Due to reduced visual acuity in older adults, overly intricate graphics increase cognitive burden and may cause visual fatigue.
For example, key visual elements such as brand logos or function symbols should be enlarged by at least 30% compared with regular supplement labels, with line widths no thinner than 2 mm to ensure visibility both on shelves and when held in hand. Avoid abstract or artistic icons; instead, use familiar, concrete health-related symbols such as the Taiji (Yin–Yang) symbol or ginkgo leaves, which are common representations of wellness among seniors.
- Principle 2: Conveying Trustworthiness
Use authoritative symbols and natural imagery to reduce skepticism among seniors—who tend to prioritize safety and efficacy when purchasing supplements.
Key regulatory icons (such as the Blue Hat health food symbol in China) should be prominently displayed and may be paired with simple icons like shields (protection) or water droplets (purity). Natural ingredient illustrations—such as goji berries, astragalus, or fish oil sources—should appear realistic rather than exaggerated, helping seniors intuitively perceive the product as “natural and additive-free.”
- Principle 3: Warmth and Emotional Comfort
Colors and shapes should avoid cold, sharp, or rigid designs. Older adults prefer warm, gentle visuals that suggest vitality and care.
Use round or curved shapes (circles, arcs) rather than sharp triangles or hard-edged geometric forms. Color palettes should lean toward warm tones—light orange, beige, soft red—linked to feelings of wellness and positivity. Cool tones (navy, dark gray) should be used sparingly as accents to avoid creating a sense of coldness or suppression.
II. Key Design Elements: Figurative, Symbolic, and Scenario-Based
Graphics for senior health supplements should center around three core themes—health functions, natural ingredients, and emotional resonance—using concrete symbols that reduce cognitive load and enhance recognition.
- Health Function Symbols: Make Core Benefits Instantly Understandable
Avoid technical or overly medical diagrams. Instead, use function-specific icons seniors can instantly interpret:
Bone & Joint Health:
Simplified bone outlines paired with upward arrows to signal strengthening; or Taiji symbols and light dumbbell icons to represent “mobility and vitality.”
Cardiovascular & Cerebral Health:
Simplified heart icons with smooth, rounded vessel lines; or ginkgo leaves—which older adults already associate with heart and brain nourishment—featuring clearly defined veins for a natural health impression.
General Nourishment:
For products such as protein powders or amino acids, use relatable images like a bowl of warm soup or hands holding grains, symbolizing nutritional replenishment consistent with traditional dietary habits among seniors.
- Natural Ingredient Elements: Reinforce the “Safe & Natural” Impression
Ingredient images should be realistic, clean, and easy to identify—never overly stylized. Examples:
Botanical supplements:
Realistic illustrations of goji berries, lingzhi, or ginseng, preserving key traits such as ginseng’s root structure or goji’s red berries. Colors should match the natural ingredients (goji red, lingzhi brown) without unnecessary gradients or glossy effects.
Animal-sourced supplements:
For fish oil or propolis, use simple, rounded icons of small fish or bees—avoiding overly realistic photographs that may feel harsh. Pair them with small water droplets or leaf motifs to emphasize purity and natural origin.
- Emotional Resonance Elements: Connect to Family and Longevity
Incorporating symbols of family care and longevity helps evoke emotional trust—important because seniors value both personal well-being and family approval.
Family-based illustrations:
Minimalist silhouettes of an elderly couple walking hand-in-hand or being supported by adult children. Details should be simplified—use outline forms rather than detailed facial features to maintain warmth without clutter. Icons showing hands presenting a supplement to elders effectively convey “family care,” aligning with seniors’ expectations of familial support.
Auspicious longevity symbols:
Cultural motifs such as longevity peaches, pine trees & cranes, or gourds may be used, but should be simplified to avoid the complexity of traditional patterns.
Example: A modern crane illustration with clean lines paired with a simplified pine tree in deep green and white maintains symbolic meaning while fitting contemporary aesthetics. A stylized peach using soft pink tones creates warmth without the harshness of bright red.
