An interactive publication designed to present a collection of merchandise in a more fun, meaningful way. I wanted to create a way to showcase a product I had designed but also tell the story behind the piece as part of the “unboxing” experience.
The publication features my original character “Cow” and his backstory.
The main element of the project – the merchandise. A double-layered enamel pin. This pin portrays the story told in the booklets as a permanent physical object. It is stored inside its own box underneath the three booklets and includes its own custom storage bag, backing card, care instructions and packaging. The pin itself features UV-printed elements, black nickel plating and white glitter-filled wings.
The collateral for the pin was intended to be super in-depth, to reflect the price point for such a complex design. It included custom-printed cards and bags, as well as several custom-printed stickers to decorate things with. The collateral also acts as storage for the pin.
The second component of the publication is the booklets, which tell the story of the character in the merchandise. They are intended to elevate the merchandise and give the buyer an even more exciting unboxing experience.
The first booklet made use of adhesive vinyl and transparent film to create a floating smoke effect. This booklet introduces the character and themesof the whole publication.
The second booklet references the style and elements of risograph zines. It features a painterly illustration style on three full-page prints, plus a fold-out accordion comic that tells a simplified version of the character’s story.
The final book is the longest and includes the bulk of the writing. It also has a page with die-cut elements to add visual interest. This booklet tells the majority of the story and uses various experimental writing styles. It is intended to be the final thing you see before getting to the pin.
Alongside the books and merchandise, the actual box was also a key element of the collection. The box features a die-cut window, magnetic closure and scannable NFC tags.
PROCREATE – Illustration + concepts
ADOBE ILLUSTRATOR – Production prep
ADOBE INDESIGN – Production prep
CRICUT CUTTER – Die cut pages + vinyl details
Created a comprehensive, engaging set of collateral for a piece of merchandise. I had to plan the whole unboxing process for this piece -how it would be opened, the order things would be read, stuff like that. I also had to come up with enough different components that still matched the merchandise but were interesting enough to maintain engagement.
Designed a high-quality, interactive piece of merch that tells a story. Even without the publication, this pin was designed to be a very high-value item, using a lot of complex techniques.
Planned a collection of components that belong in a set. All of the components of this publication are very different in their themes and looks, but all still remain recognisable as a complete collection. I had to consider everything – from colours to typing, even to tone of voice, to make this possible.
