23/09/2025 - 30/12/2025 (Week 1 - Week 14)
Valerius Ethan Wirawan / 0372774
Packaging & Merchandising Design / Creative Media / School of Design
Packaging & Merchandising Design: FINAL PROJECT (The Merch Drop)
TABLE OF CONTENT
1. Instructions
2. Process Work
3. Final Outcome
4. Feedback
5. Reflection
1. INSTRUCTION
Fig. 1.1. Module Information Booklet (MIB)
2. PROCESS WORK
Task Brief
For this project, students will extend the brand and packaging identity developed in Project 2 into a cohesive retail focused merch drop over four weeks, contributing 30 percent of the final grade. The task requires designing a collection of five items consisting of one Point of Purchase display and four original merchandise products that align with the brand’s values, visual language, and target audience. Students must conduct brand and audience research, develop concepts that feel like a natural brand extension, and produce high quality digital mock ups with consistent color, typography, and style. The project concludes with a clear promotional strategy and a 15 minute group pitch presentation supported by a slide deck, alongside digital submission of all design outcomes and individual e portfolio links.
Group Members:
- Maria Ashley Sundoko (0372793)
- Anggia Tsani Rachmadayanti (0368487)
- Valerius Ethan Wirawan (0372774)
- Angelique Svetlana Pekasa (0377365)
- Caitlin Ong Lynn Dee (0343801)
Phase 1: Research & Concepts (Week 9)
Fig. 2.1. Phase 1: Research Compilation
Phase 2: Designs & Mock-ups (Week 10)
The process began with an analysis of the Bass Tech brand values and packaging visuals to understand how the brand could translate beyond its original product. From this analysis, we curated a set of merchandise that aligns with the brand’s lifestyle appeal, including a tote bag, headphone case, T shirt, and metal tumbler, which are further explained in the supporting PDF. Once the merchandise direction was confirmed, Phase 2 focused on dividing specific design tasks among team members to ensure an efficient and structured workflow.
1. Metal Tumbler (Anggia)
For the gift set, a metal tumbler was chosen as a practical everyday item that helps maintain brand visibility while being easy to carry. The tumbler was designed to hold both hot and cold drinks. Anggia began the process by sketching the bottle’s basic form and exploring various gradient colour options, ensuring they aligned with the brand’s existing packaging palette of blue, orange, yellow, and purple. The signature sound wave element was wrapped around the tumbler as the main visual feature to represent Bass Tech’s identity, while the logo was kept small yet legible. Different placements of both elements were tested to determine the most effective layout, with a conscious effort to keep the design clean and avoid an overly decorative or cluttered appearance.
Fig. 2.2. Metal Tumbler Design (Week 11)
She had done several attempts.
Fig. 2.3. Metal Tumbler Design (Week 11)
This is the final bottle design.
Fig. 2.4. Final Metal Tumbler Design (Week 11)
2. T-Shirt (Valerius)
For the brand’s fashion focused merchandise, a T shirt was selected to resonate with a youth audience, particularly Gen Z, where graphic tees are a popular everyday choice. The design was intended for casual daily wear that blends naturally into street style while still maintaining the brand’s visual identity and presence. The following sketches present the early design explorations for this concept.
Fig. 2.5. T-Shirt Design (Week 10)
After the consultation on week 11, I made the digital mockups by implementing the designs.
Fig. 2.6. T-Shirt Design (week 12)
To reinforce the gradient as a key design direction, the colors were applied within the sound wave element itself. This approach allowed the design to remain clean and minimal while still reflecting the brand’s visual aesthetic. The result is a balanced final outcome that maintains both simplicity and brand recognition.
Fig. 2.6. T-Shirt Flat Design (Week 13)
Fig. 2.7. T-Shirt Design (Week 13)
3. Headphone Pouch (Caitlyn)
Fig. 2.8. Headphone Pouch Sketch (Week 10)
Caitlin was responsible for designing the headphone zipper pouch case, beginning with a reference image to guide the form and functionality of the product. The concept focused on protecting the headphones during travel while also providing space for the charger. Based on this direction, a series of initial sketches were developed to explore the structure, layout, and overall design of the case.
Following the Week 11 consultation, the second concept was selected as it best reflected a minimal design approach while staying consistent with the overall design direction and keeping key elements clearly visible. The interior layout was designed to be compact, accommodating a non foldable headphone while leaving sufficient space for the charger pouch to fit securely. The digitized version below shows the progression of this selected concept.
Fig. 2.9. Headphone Pouch Design (Week 12)
Then she refined it again to match our design direction.
Fig. 2.10. Headphone Pouch Design (Week 13)
Fig. 2.11. Headphone Pouch Design (Week 13)
4. Tote-Bag (Ashley)
A tote bag was developed as a functional daily accessory for the youth market. The design follows the established visual direction of the brand while providing ample capacity for everyday items, including the headphones after purchase. The sketches below show the early exploration and development of the tote bag concept.
Fig. 2.12. Tote-bag Design Sketch (Week 10)
The tote bag was produced using thick canvas material to support the multi colored prints while ensuring strength and long term durability. This material choice allows the bag to carry heavier items without compromising its structure or quality. After all design options were approved, the digitisation stage focused on selecting the version that best complemented the box packaging aesthetic, as shown in the process below.
Fig. 2.13. Tote-bag Design (Week 12)
Following the digitisation stage, the second attempt was chosen and refined to better align with the overall merchandise collection. The colour scheme was adjusted by enhancing saturation to create stronger contrast and more vibrant tones across the bag. The Bass Tech logo on the back was also enlarged to strengthen brand presence, which is particularly important for a start up brand. This adjustment improves visibility and supports stronger public recognition in the final outcome.
Fig. 2.14. Tote-bag Design (Week 12)
5. POP-UP Display (Angelique)
Building on the packaging display developed in the previous project, a pop up display was designed to visually represent the brand in a retail setting. The display follows the established design direction, featuring the brand’s gradient color palette set against a dark contrasting background. Sound wave visuals and the Bass Tech logo were applied as key elements, while the brand tagline was placed on the side to reinforce brand messaging. The following shows the final outcome.
Fig. 2.15. POP Display Design (Week 12)
In addition, the pop up display was visualized within an actual retail environment to demonstrate how it stands out in comparison to surrounding products. This store mock up highlights the contrast, visibility, and overall impact of the display when placed alongside other brands.
Fig. 2.16. POP Display Design (Week 14)
Phase 3: Strategy & Presentation
As part of the promotional strategy, advertising visuals were developed to support the launch of Bass Tech and increase brand awareness. The following platforms were selected to help promote the products and drive sales:
1. Events (Angelique)
Drawing inspiration from tech focused pop up markets, we developed a pop up event display using SketchUp. The image below illustrates the initial layout and design concept for the event stand.
Fig. 2.17. POP-Up Events Sketch (Week 10)
The pop up event stand is designed to resemble the shape of a headphone, reinforcing the brand identity through its form. A TV screen is positioned at the back to display product visuals and the brand logo, while a central table is placed in front to showcase the actual products on site. The following sketches illustrate the development and layout planning of the pop up stand concept.
Fig. 2.18. POP-Up Events in SketchUp (Week 12)
After finalizing the base structure, colours were applied to enhance the brand’s visual identity, adhering to the established colour scheme, mood board, and key visual elements. The following shows the digitisation progress of the design.
Fig. 2.19. POP-Up Events in SketchUp (Week 13)
In the initial attempt, the colors appeared less saturated and the visual elements lacked clarity due to a blurry effect. To address this, the saturation was toned down and the elements were made more distinct while maintaining harmony with the overall design. The result is the final refined outcome.
Fig. 2.20. POP-Up Events Final Design (Week 13)
Finally, the pop up booth was placed within a market setting to demonstrate its presence in a real world environment. The vibrant colour palette ensures the booth stands out among the crowd, creating a visually striking and easily recognizable brand display. The following shows the final visualization.
Fig. 2.21. POP-Up Events Final Design (Week 13)
Rationale:
This event stand is designed primarily for indoor electronic conventions, such as those held at Mid Valley Exhibition Centre (MVEC). The structure features a background with integrated shelves shaped to resemble a headphone, directly linking to Bass Tech’s core product. A minimalistic table is included to prominently display and highlight the products, while a small stage elevates the overall setup, giving the event stand a more premium and luxurious appearance.
2. Billboard (Anggia)
To promote the product, the brand utilizes billboard advertising placed in high traffic locations frequently visited by the target audience, such as malls and campus areas. These placements ensure repeated exposure during daily routines, while the large scale format allows the vibrant colors and bold visuals to stand out and strengthen brand recognition. The final outcome features a static road billboard displaying the Bass Tech slogan alongside the headphone, enhanced with subtle motion elements to create a sense of movement and visual impact.
Fig. 2.22. Billboard Design (Week 13)Fig. 2.23. Billboard Design (Week 13)
To enhance engagement, an animated version of the billboard was created. The final outcome adds motion to capture attention while maintaining the brand’s visual identity.
Fig. 2.24. Billboard Design (Week 13)
The animated billboard is designed to draw attention more effectively than static displays, particularly in high-traffic areas. The use of motion, lighting, and dynamic color shifts helps capture the interest of the target audience and reinforces brand visibility.
3. Social Media (Ashley & Valerius)
To effectively reach the youth audience, a strong digital media presence is essential, leveraging platform algorithms to increase visibility. We developed a series of social media post concepts designed to showcase the brand and engage the audience, encouraging them to learn more about the products. The sketches below outline the initial plan for these posts.
Fig. 2.25. Promotional Strategy on Instagram Sketch (Week 13)
Fig. 2.26. Promotional Strategy Reference (Week 13)
To achieve this, photographs were captured and then edited to align with the brand’s aesthetic. The following shows the progress of this process.
Fig. 2.27. Photoshoot for Promotional Strategy (Week 13)
Fig. 2.28. Photoshoot Outcome (Week 13)
With a friend’s assistance, several shots were captured to align with the initial sketch plan. Since the photos were taken at night, the raw images appeared slightly dark with a yellowish tint from the lighting. After selecting the preferred shots, they were edited to reduce the warm tones and better match the brand’s color scheme as outlined in the mood board.
Fig. 2.29. Post-processing in Adobe Lightroom CC (Week 13)
Adobe Lightroom was used to refine the images, adjusting curves, saturation, and other settings to achieve the desired aesthetic. Once edited, the images were compiled to review the overall layout and composition. The final social media posts are presented here in a grid format.
Fig. 2.30. Social Media Post (Week 13)
Rationale:
Targeting the youth audience, creating these posts and posting them on social media platforms helps boost engagement by introducing the product and how it can be applied in their daily routines. Therefore, the posts appear by using a teenage model that reflects the targeted audience, where he is dressed in casual street style while using the headphone. Relating to teenagers’ interest, we apply the purpose of the headphone by suggesting it accompanies their daily runs or accessorizing their outfit. Being relatable helps direct the ads to the targeted audience through interest and algorithm.
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Fig. 2.31. BassTech Instagram Feeds Profile Page (Week 13)
Next, a mock up of the social media posts was created to showcase how they would appear on both mobile and desktop platforms. The following displays the final outcome.
Fig. 2.32. Instagram Mobile View (Week 13)
Fig. 2.33. Instagram Desktop View (Week 13)
We also designed poster ads suitable for both physical printing and digital promotion. The goal was to introduce the brand to the target audience and enhance its visibility across social media channels. The following illustrates the progress of these poster designs.
Fig. 2.33. Poster Progress (Week 13)
The poster images were first composed and color corrected in Adobe Photoshop to match the mood board’s color scheme. Once edited, the images were exported to Adobe Illustrator to incorporate them into the advertising layout, reflecting the event rationale that the products could be promoted through tech focused pop up events, such as at MVEC. The following shows the final outcome.
Fig. 2.33. Advertising Posters (Week 13)
The use of gradients and vibrant colours makes the poster visually striking, capturing consumer attention while clearly communicating the brand and product, and inviting them to visit the pop up booth. The colours and typography are consistent with the design direction established in the previous project, reinforcing brand identity and visual cohesion.
Rationale:
This poster ad is designed to attract consumers via digital platforms, such as Instagram story ads. Leveraging algorithms and pop up placements, it effectively reaches the target audience and drives engagement by directing viewers to the brand’s social media or physical pop up events. Additionally, the ad creates a sense of urgency by highlighting the Phase 2 merchandise, offering consumers tangible benefits while providing the company with a cost effective marketing strategy. The merchandise integrates into consumers’ daily lives, increasing brand exposure as items are worn or used regularly.
3. FINAL OUTCOME
Fig. 3.1. Final Outcome of 'Pitch Presentation Slides' (Embedded Canva - 24/12/2025)
Fig. 3.2. Final Outcome of 'Presentation Recording' (MP4 - 24/12/2025)
Fig. 3.3. Final Outcome of 'Phase 1: Research Compilation'
Fig. 3.4. Final Outcome of 'Phase 2: Merchandises & Display Compilation'
Fig. 3.5. Final Outcome of 'Phase 2: Merchandises & Display Compilation'
Fig. 3.6. Final Outcome of 'Phase 3: Promotional Strategy Compilation'
4. FEEDBACK
Week 13
The POP display was placed in a real world background to evaluate its visibility and impact among other products, showing how it would attract consumer attention. All merchandise items were compiled on a single slide to assess alignment and design consistency across the collection. For the promotional strategy, we focused on selecting approaches that best leverage algorithms, target audience behavior, and engagement potential, such as using animated billboards displayed in high-traffic areas near malls to increase brand visibility and sales.
Week 12
During digitization, inconsistencies across individual merchandise items—particularly in color—were identified. Adjustments to opacity, saturation, and curves were made to enhance vibrancy while considering material effects. The visual elements and logos were refined to ensure clarity and consistency across all products.
Week 11
We presented the final packaging box from the previous project and consulted on extending the brand into merchandise using our sketch progress. The tote bag and metal tumbler were approved, with the main consideration being which design worked best digitally. The headphone case’s second sketch was recommended as the most aligned with the brand, while the T shirt required minor tweaks to emphasize the logo and refine composition. For the display, it was suggested to adopt a subtler approach to promote the headphones at a pop up event.
5. REFLECTION
Working on the final project for the Packaging and Merchandising Design module provided me with valuable insight into the relationship between product design and marketing. Expanding the Bass Tech brand from its original packaging into a full merchandise collection required careful thought about how the brand identity could translate into functional and appealing items. This process emphasized that strong foundations in branding are essential, but flexibility and adaptation are equally important when introducing new products to the market.
Our team developed a set of five merchandise items including a tote bag, tumbler, t-shirt, headphone case, and pop-up display. Each item needed to reflect the brand’s youthful, retro aesthetic while remaining practical and realistic for everyday use. I found the transition from sketches to digital mockups particularly challenging because every element, from color gradients to logo placement, had to remain consistent with the brand guidelines. We spent time refining details to ensure that each piece could work both visually and functionally, whether it was a wearable item like the t-shirt or a display element in a retail environment.
One of the most important lessons I gained was the impact of subtle design choices on overall brand cohesion. Small differences in tone, scale, or composition could disrupt the harmony of the collection. I learned to pay attention to how designs interact with different surfaces and materials, such as simplifying graphics for fabric items while maintaining vibrancy on rigid objects like the tumbler. The pop-up display, in particular, taught me the importance of visual hierarchy and clarity to attract attention in a busy environment.
Collaboration played a major role in the project’s success. My teammates and I shared ideas openly and provided feedback to each other, which allowed us to improve individual designs while ensuring the collection felt unified. Although we sometimes blended personal input into each other’s work, this approach strengthened our teamwork and ultimately produced stronger final outcomes. The experience reinforced the value of communication, flexibility, and mutual support within a design team.
Overall, this project helped me understand that merchandise design is not just about aesthetics. It is about creating a cohesive experience that communicates the brand’s identity, appeals to the target audience, and functions effectively in real life. I also realized the importance of linking design work to marketing strategies, such as considering social media, retail displays, and promotional tactics to maximize impact. This experience has expanded my perspective as a designer, showing me how creative design and strategic thinking work together to build a successful brand presence.
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Fig. 2.22. Billboard Design (Week 13)
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