LECTURE NOTE
Overview
Take the brand and packaging identity you established in Project 2 and
bring it to life in the retail world. Your goal is to design a cohesive
"merch drop" collection consisting of FIVE (5) distinct items and pitch
the concept to the class.
The 5 Required Items
Your collection must include the following:
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One (1) POP (Point-of-Purchase) Display: A freestanding or countertop display designed to hold or
showcase your product in a retail environment.
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Four (4) Merchandise Items: Original branded goods (e.g., apparel, tote bags, tumblers, limited
edition collectibles, stationery) that specifically appeal to your
target audience.
Phase 1: Research & Concepts
Analyze your Project 2 brand values and packaging aesthetics.
Develop 5 concepts that feel like a natural extension of the brand.
Goal: Ensure the items are things your target audience would actually
buy.
Phase 2: Design & Mock-ups
Design the graphics and structural elements for all 5 items.
Create high-quality digital mock-ups. These should be realistic renders
that look like professional product photography.
Ensure strict visual consistency (color palette, typography) with your
Project 2 packaging.
Phase 3: Strategy & Presentation
Promotional Strategy: Outline specific channels (Social Media,
Influencers, Events) and tactics you will use to launch the merchandise.
The Pitch: Prepare a slide deck presentation to "sell" your ideas. You
will present your designs and strategy in Week 14*.
Final Project
At the beginning of Task 3, our group continued from the brand identity we developed in Project 2, which was Smile Surprise. Before moving into the new merchandise collection, I helped to print and cut the final box and bottle label designs from Task 2. This step was important because it allowed us to produce the physical packaging prototypes and see how the colors, typography, and layout appeared after printing.
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fig 1.1 box outside
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fig 1.2 box inside
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| fig 1.3 bottles back side |
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fig 1.4 bottles front side
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fig 1.5 bottle side with AIGC
After printing and assembling the box and bottles, i completed the final physical mock-up. This allowed us to present Smile Surprise as a real product and see how the packaging worked as a complete gift set.
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| fig 1.6 final physical mock-up |
fig 1.7 final mock-up with AIGC
Merchandise
After completing the printing and cutting process, I started to explore several merchandise ideas for Smile Surprise. My role was to develop products that could extend the brand identity into everyday lifestyle items while still matching the soft, cheerful, and self-care concept of the brand.
fig 1.8 merchandise 1 - pouch
fig 1.9 merchandise 2 - water bottle
When designing the diffuser, I tried two different versions to compare which one looked more harmonious and visually appealing. This helped me choose the design that best matched the Smile Surprise brand style.
fig 2.0 merchandise 3 - diffuser
fig 2.1 merchandise 4 - diffuser
At first, I created the eye-patch design using softer colours. However, after receiving feedback, I realised that the colours should be closer to the original Smile Surprise colour palette to make the merchandise look more consistent with the brand identity.
fig 2.2 merchandise 5 - eye-patch
I referred back to the Smile Surprise color palette and used it as a guide when revising the eye-patch design.
fig 2.2 smile surprise color palette
After adjusting the colours, I uploaded the revised version of the eye-patch design. The final version looked more vibrant and more connected to the Smile Surprise brand style.
fig 2.3 revised eye-patch design
After revising the merchandise designs, our group compiled all the final application designs together. In the final selection, my diffuser and eye-patch designs were chosen and included as part of the Smile Surprise merchandise collection.
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| fig 2.4 applications design |
For the presentation slides, Siew Yong created the Canva layout, while I was mainly responsible for completing the content for Phase 1. I worked on the “Research & Core Concept” and “Routine Breakdown” slides, where I explained the main product idea, box concept, and how the four mini toiletry products created one self-care routine.
Why POP product stand
The POP (Point-of-Purchase) Product Stand is designed to attract
attention and encourage purchase decisions at the point of sale. It
effectively showcases the gift box and miniature toiletry bottles in one
display, making the products easy to see and explore. The soft beige and
pastel green color palette, inspired by the freshness of spring and
reinforced with Smile Surprise’s signature motifs, creates a warm,
cheerful, and inviting shopping experience that reflects the brand
identity.
Why diffuser
Bringing the calming scent of spring into stressful study spaces.
• Creates a relaxing study environment
Why soft cloth toiletries bag
A cozy, everyday pouch designed for personal care routines.
• Washable and reusable
Why eye-patch
Promoting rest and mental recovery during stress periods.
• Gentle weighted construction
• Relieves eye strain
• Encourages quality rest
Why micro pouch bag
Inspired by Gen Z's growing trend of pouch accessorising.
• Stores AirPods, keys, or mini toiletries
• Increases everyday brand visibility
Why Social media platform- Instagram
Instagram is one of the most popular platforms
among Gen Z and university students, making it the ideal channel to reach our target
audience. Its visual-first format allows us to showcase
the colorful packaging, gift sets, and brand personality
in an engaging way. Features such as Stories, Reels, and
user-generated content also encourage interaction, helping
Smile Surprise build brand awareness, increase engagement,
and connect with a wider audience.
Why Event booth
To create a more interactive and engaging experience by
bringing the products directly to students on campus.
Building on the Phase 2 POP Product Stand, the display
transitions from a retail setting into a pop-up experience
where students can explore the products up close and
interact with the brand. Visitors can collect a
free campaign greeting card, encouraging thoughtful gifting and
peer support. To further boost engagement and brand
awareness, students who share a photo of the pop-up booth
on their Instagram Story can instantly claim a
complimentary micro-sample bottle of the toiletries. This
helps create both online and offline interaction while
increasing the campaign's reach.
Why OOH train ad
Train ads allow Smile Surprise to reach a high volume of
students and young commuters during their daily
journeys. The repeated exposure in a familiar
environment helps build brand awareness, while the
visually engaging gift set design captures attention and
encourages impulse gifting decisions. As an affordable
and accessible brand, transit advertising aligns with
our target audience’s everyday lifestyle and creates a
direct connection with potential customers.
FINAL SUBMISSION
final presentation of packaging by grp 7
fig 2.5 final presentation video
fig 2.6 final phase 2 pdf
fig 2.7 final phase 3 pdf
the work drive link here
FEEDBACK
Week 11:
Make the packaging design more simple, can test 1 layer cupboard to fold
first
Week 12:
Redesign box mock-up approved.
Week 13:
Eye-patch, diffuser, small pouch bag and toiletry bag will be our main
merchandise. For the pop up display, he wants to see them in a
planogram. Showed and approved.
Week 14:
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REFLECTION
Through Task 3, I learned how to extend a packaging design into a wider brand experience. Instead of only focusing on the box and bottle labels, this task allowed me to think about how Smile Surprise could appear in merchandise, POP displays, and presentation materials. After completing the printing and cutting process, I started to explore different merchandise ideas, especially the diffuser and eye-patch designs. This helped me understand how important it is to keep the colour palette, logo, and overall visual style consistent across different products.
During the process, I also learned that design development requires testing and improvement. For example, I tried different versions of the diffuser design to compare which one looked more harmonious. For the eye-patch, I revised the colours after receiving feedback so that the final design matched the original Smile Surprise colour palette better. This made me realise that feedback is important because it helps improve the final outcome and makes the design more professional.
I was also responsible for filling in the Phase 1 content in the presentation slides, including the research, core concept, and routine breakdown. This helped me explain the idea behind the product more clearly and connect the four mini toiletries to the concept of self-care and emotional support for Gen Z students. Overall, this task improved my understanding of brand consistency, merchandise application, teamwork, and presentation planning. It also showed me that a strong packaging project is not only about visual design, but also about creating a meaningful experience for the target audience.
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