Forest for Rest by Leaping Creative: 2020 Best of Year Winner for Spa
January 13, 2021
Photography by Minjie Wang.
Rooted in traditional medicine, the Chinese foot massage has been around for millennia. But it wasn’t until the late 20th century that the practice gained mainstream popularity. Today, however, it is typically associated with older people seeking relief from the aches and pains of aging. Because of that stereotype, the treatment struggles to attract new and younger devotees. To draw Gen Y and Z clients to the Forest for Rest foot spa, Leaping Creative developed an intriguing narrative centered on the Hercules beetle, a native of the rainforest renowned for its incredible strength and vitality. In the designers’ story, after a long and tiring journey across desert wastes, the insect discovers a rejuvenating oasis in its lush jungle habitat. So, a 3-foot-high laser-cut steel beetle greets fatigued customers at the spa entry and, as they proceed into the 29,000-squar