2023-2024
Creative Calendar
Dynamic creative calendar crafted as a promotional souvenir in supporting a marketing campaign for a capsule toy company, Wing Mau Products Development Ltd, Hong Kong.
Utilised market reserach and trends, created a dynamic calendar about camping from start to finish. Aims to encourage the idea of play and rest within busy city routines, seeking the inner child within us in the nature with the blissful company of friends and family.
Appealed demographic ranging from children to general public.
Camping
Capsule
During my time in Wing Mau, I was originally an illustrator, yet I was given oppotunities to undertook various graphic designer tasks as training. The one of the notable objective tasked to me was to craft a creative interactive calendar.
Conceptualised a paper calendar with a stand consisting two panels holding the other monthly/ functional cards inbetween. I was responsible to take on all elements of the production with occasional support and guidance from the lead graphic designer.
Front n'
side view
A blissful camping scene with 5 original characters inspired by capsule eggs, Capsule Buddies.
Having worked on my first large scale production, I have faced both technical and creative challenges. Being in a fast paced environment has pushed me to think on my feet while maintaining attention to detail and ensuring a efficient, effective design. This experience taught me the value of continuous learning with openness in embracing mistakes as opportunities for growth.
Gained valuable insights into industry-standard print production and product creation, mastering techniques within print artworking, color matching, layout design, and typography.
Through this journey, I have honed the ability to take constructive feedbacks, then further adapting them in pursuit of perfection. This experience not only deepened my technical skills but also enriched me as an artist, enlightened me to pivot from illustration to graphic design.
Thoughts
Process
Being tasked with producing a dynamic calendar, with complete creative freedom, I have performed market research into design trends and general appeals at the time. Also being mindful of stakeholders personal preferences. It began with inspirations from jazz club music, retro aesthetic. Initiated into art deco and mid-century decorative research, along with visual experiement.
Due to the technical limitations of chosen printing company, we couldn't achieve the desired effects. Aside from that, the initial aesthetic was compromising the functionality of the design. Thus I made a choice to pivot the art direction.
After feedbacks, the idea has pivoted to more authentic approach of mental health specifically the idea of play within the daily routine, which is the core of the company's brand. Everyone can play, children and adults alike.
With the idea of Play in mind, I went back to work again. Experimenting with colours, art styles with lines and shapes. Created mini swatches, then further developed prototype of monthly cards. Imagining art directions while brainstorming solutions.
To address my previous concerns, I have developed further and proposed a new theme centered around camping, which evokes a sense of escape and relaxation, perfectly suited for students to workers alike seeking a brief getaway from their busy routine.
With Camping as an approved theme, it mixed with relaxation within nature yet still keeping both ideas of play and maintaining mental wellness. Instantly starting the train with full speed ahead in creation!
MAking
Elements Prep
During production process, I've pushed forwards into print preparation with my digital assets. I was met with challenges which was later resolved with guidance from the lead graphic designer. Further allowing me to learn about print and collaboration with other experienced creatives.
Here are the elements crafted with print knowledge gained from collaboration with both the lead graphic designer and printers. Achieving industry standards printouts.
Each calendar cards are printed with dates of the holidays while including spaces for users to jot down notes. On the back are function cards being printed with another series of original illustrations, allowing users to notify their colleagues when they are away, such as "do not disturb", or "on lunchbreak".
Side Quest
Packaging
Design
As most of the calendar production are underway, I occasionally step away from the content to freshen up my artistic palette. Went back to the drawing board to consider how it will be packaged. At this point I was a bit clueless on it, until I supported the lead graphic designer on creating a puzzle instructions as practise and guide on crafting a package design.
Finishing
Yes!
Calendar!
Finally, after what seems like endless trials and errors, a polished product had came to be. From ideation to completion, all elements are ready. From front to back panels, calendar base holder, monthly cards with functions printed at the back... I have never been this proud of a production, this showed me how dynamic and rewarding graphic design can be. Further urging my career path to pivot from illustration to graphic design.
Curious for endless possibilies and knowledge.
Thank you
for reading