Packaging & Merchandising Design: Final Project

1.12.2025 - 11.1.2026 / Week 10 - Week 15
Aw Wen Chia / 0368828
Packaging & Merchandising Design / Bachelor of Design (Honours) in Creative Media / Graphic Design

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. Instructions

2. Exercise

3. Feedback

4. Reflection

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1. INSTRUCTIONS

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:

One (1) POP (Point-of-Purchase) Display: A freestanding or countertop display designed to hold or showcase your product in a retail environment.

Four (4) Merchandise Items: Original branded goods (e.g., apparel, tote bags, tumblers, limited edition collectibles, stationery) that specifically appeal to your target audience.

Project Workflow & Deliverables

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 4.

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2. EXERCISE

We begin by picking up where we left off in Project 2. My groupmates:

• Kimberly Miaw Jya Nee
• Mah Sze Min
• Nicco Chew Jin Xun
• Muthiah Salsabila Harsono

and I started by discussing what we wanted to do for collateral, we came up with a whole list:

Merchandise Item Ideas:

• Skincare/Makeup Pouch
• Headband (those u wear when u wash your face)
• Face Towel
• Handkerchief
• Totebag / Drawstring Pouch
• Compact Mirror
• Sleeping Eye Mask
• Satin Pillowcase
• Satin Scrunchie (hair tie)
• Hand/Wrist band (to avoid water running down sleeves)

• Keychain Plushie
• Enamel / Acrylic Pin
• Mini Calendar
• Sticker Pack
• Gua Sha/Face Rollers

We then settled into 4 items which were:

• Skincare/Makeup Pouch
• Keychain
• Totebag
• Claw Clip / Hair Tie

Afterwards, all of us made rough sketches to see what our ideas were.

Fig 1, Sketches

After further consultation, we decided to come out with a plush set.

Fig 2, Plushie Sketch

We also discussed what our brand strategy/ideas were:

• Mall Roadshow Pop Up
• Campus Pop Up
• Event Booth (Art Markets / Local Fairs)
• Micro-Influencer Challenge (influencers show how they use Smile Surprise skincare set to cheer up a friend)
• Tiktok / Instagram Reels Series
• One-day Event (e.g. Jogging / Pickleball Club)
• Collaboration with Pyjamas Brand / Cafe, Smoothie-Selfcare related shops / Characters (e.g Sanrio) / Stationery Store
• Refill Stores / Eco Friendly, gift cards - for “unlimited” refills for a certain amount of time.

We then boiled it down to Campus pop-out event and social media marketing.

We then started on the execution of the project.

The patterns used were from the previous project, as the two projects are connected.

 After that, we started working on the slides and filmed our group presentation.

Final Slides:

Final Presentation:

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3. FEEDBACK

Our tutor approved our concept involving plushies, tote bags, makeup pouches, and claw clips or scrunchies. He encouraged us to look at ideas and strategies from other well-developed and established brands as references throughout the course. This guidance helped us better understand how successful brands maintain consistency, quality, and strong visual identity across their merchandise. By analysing these references, we could to refine our ideas, improve our design direction, and ensure that our products aligned with current market expectations while still reflecting our own brand concept.

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4. REFLECTION

This module was both challenging and enjoyable at the same time. There was a significant workload throughout the semester, but working on it as a group made the process much more manageable. Collaborating with my group members allowed us to share ideas, divide tasks effectively, and support one another, which helped ensure that the project progressed smoothly. I am especially grateful to my wonderful group members for their cooperation, communication, and commitment, as their efforts played a key role in the success of the project.

In addition, this module taught me the importance of brand identity and the role it plays in shaping meaningful and consistent products. I learned that understanding a brand’s values, personality, and target audience is essential in order to create designs that truly align with the brand’s identity. This understanding helped guide our creative decisions and ensured that our final outcomes were not only visually appealing but also conceptually strong and relevant.

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