MAAD 马NEY BAO 2026

MAAD 马NEY BAO 2026

MAAD Creatives unveils the MAAD 马NEY BAO 2026 / a kinetic twist on the Year of the Horse

A Red PacketThat Actually Rocks

This Lunar New Year, MAAD Creatives answers the age-old question (once again): What happens to the red packet after its contents are removed? The answer? It rocks. Literally.

Introducing the MAAD 马NEY BAO 2026 (pronounced Ma-nee, a play on the Chinese character for Horse, Ma). Going beyond the traditional flat envelope, this unique hongbao uses custom die-cuts and precision scoring to execute a brilliant transformation. Once opened, the packet folds from a flat sleeve into a self-balancing, 3-dimensional rocking horse, complete with a tassel that doubles as its tail. It is the official fusion of traditional fortune and interactive fun. Money now, marvelous mini-sculpture later.

Putting The Horse Before The Art

The design philosophy was simple: Form follows fun.

‘The real challenge was figuring out how to transform a single, flat sheet of paper into a kinetic sculpture that actually balances,’ says Max, Creative Director at MAAD Creatives. ‘We put the horse before the art. We spent days and nights prototyping the structure, ensuring the horse stood on its own two rockers before a single drop of ink or colour hit the paper.’

“We wanted to make a red packet that wasn’t just disposable,” adds Max. “By turning it into a fun, simple paper toy, we hope to encourage people to keep it as a charming decoration, allowing the spirit of good fortune to linger.”

For fans who conquered the legendary LONG LONG BAO (MAAD’s 2024 accordion dragon), this year’s design offers a new structural puzzle. The MAAD 马NEY BAO isn’t just a container for cash; it is a keepsake meant to extend the joy of the Lunar New Year long after the money transfers to pocket.

Don’t Hold Your Horses  |  A static envelope becomes a kinetic sculpture. Fold, lock, and rock your way into 2026 with a centerpiece that sways to the rhythm of prosperity.

A Tail with a Twist  |  The design utilises the packet’s tassel as functional anatomy. It transforms into the horse’s tail, acting as a counterweight that brings the 马NEY Rocking Horse to life.

True Exclusivity

The MAAD 马NEY BAO is not for sale. A limited quantity has been printed globally, reserved exclusively for MAAD clientele and partners.

ABOUT MAAD CREATIVES

Established in 2014, MAAD Creatives is an interdisciplinary design studio led by founders Max and Aster. Working across disciplines from branding to product design, the studio collaborates with a range of individuals and businesses to create solutions that are both visual and functional.