Packaging and Merchandising Design - Final Project

Packaging and Merchandising Design

21.04.2025 - 00.07.2025 (Week 1 - Week 14)

Aidi Rafiq | 0353422 | Bachelor of Design (Honours) in Creative Media 

PACKAGING AND MERCHANDISING DESIGN

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INSTRUCTIONS

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Instructions for final project 

Overview:

In this project, students will be required to create FIVE (5) merchandise items, including a POP Display based on Project 2. The project aims to develop students' skills in creating and designing merchandise that reflects the brand and the packaging design.

Tasks:

Research and analysis: You are required to conduct research and analyze the brand and packaging design. This will help you understand the brand's values, target audience, and the packaging design's visual elements and aesthetics. You must develop five merchandise concepts that reflect the brand and packaging design. These concepts should be original and aligned with the brand's message and target audience.

fig 1.0 moodboard for merchandise

fig 1.1 moodboard for merchandise

 

fig 1.2 moodboard for merchandise

fig 1.3 final pick on merchandise

My groupmates and I had a discussion to decide which of the five merchandise options we should finalize for our project. After considering each idea and weighing the pros and cons, we collectively agreed to go with: 

1. Carry strap

2. Sticker pack

3. Silicone bottle boost

4. Thank you and Care guided card

5. Booth

We felt this option best represents our concept and has the most potential in terms of design and audience appeal.

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Theme

After our consultation with Mr. Shamsul, he suggested that we establish a clear theme for our merchandise to ensure consistency in colors and graphic elements.

fig 2.0 Merchandise theme ideas

fig 2.1 Merchandise theme ideas

We all voted for the third idea because we liked its calm, earthy, and quiet vibe, which felt gender-neutral and appealing to everyone.

fig 2.2 Graphic Elements

fig 2.3 Graphic Elements

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Mock Up Promotion

fig 3.0 subway walkway mock up

The DYÖ billboard promotes a sleek, minimalist lifestyle product with the tagline “One Bottle. Endless ways to live your life,” highlighting versatility and modern design for young urban consumers.

Placed in a subway walkway for high foot traffic and longer viewing time, it effectively targets professionals and students. With inspiration from CoSchedule and Asana, the clean layout, soft colors, and product visuals reinforce brand identity, while the aspirational tone connects with consumers’ lifestyle needs.

fig 3.1 Taylor University billboard mock up

Placing the poster at Taylor’s University is strategic because it directly reaches a large population of students who are part of the target audience. University students are often interested in practical, stylish, and sustainable products that fit into their active and on-the-go lifestyle. 

Taylor’s University, being a hub for young, trend-conscious individuals, provides high visibility in areas like cafeterias, common study spaces, and walkways where students spend their time. This placement not only increases brand awareness but also allows the message to resonate with an audience that values functionality, aesthetics, and eco-friendly choices.

fig 3.2 Instagram Layout

We chose Instagram because it’s a visual platform that suits the way we want to present our bottled product through attractive design, fresh colors, and eco-friendly features. It allows us to creatively share how the product looks and fits into everyday life.


Instagram also helps us easily update our audience about new themes, limited editions, or special promotions. It’s a direct and interactive way to keep people informed and engaged with what’s new.

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Mock up

fig 3.3 Booth Design mock up

fig 3.4 Booth Design mock up 

fig 3.5 Thank You Card mock up

fig 3.6 Thank You Card mock up

fig 3.7 Carry Strap

fig 3.8 Silicon bottle boot

fig 3.9 Sticker

Our merchandise designs maintain a consistent theme through the use of cohesive color palettes and graphic elements. We carefully applied a range of earthy and calming tones such as greens and blues across all items, from the thank you cards and tote bags to the stickers and silicone bottles. This consistency strengthens the visual identity of the campaign and helps make the designs feel unified as a collection. 

The clean, nature-inspired aesthetic and gender-neutral color scheme also appeal to a wide audience, making the merchandise attractive and suitable for both male and female users.

Overall, the designs aim to reflect a calm and grounded vibe while remaining functional, modern, and visually appealing.

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REFLECTION

Experience

Overall, this project helped me explore the depth of merchandising design and the creative process behind it. I learned how important it is to establish a clear theme early on, as it guides the overall direction and ensures consistency across all design elements. From choosing the right color palette to aligning visual styles, every detail contributes to making the merchandise more eye-catching and memorable. This experience also gave me a better understanding of how thoughtful design can influence how a brand is perceived.

Observation

I observed that having a clear and consistent theme plays a big role in making merchandise visually appealing and professionally cohesive. It also became clear that even small design decisions, like color and layout, can significantly impact how the overall brand is perceived.

Findings

We found that a well-defined theme not only improves visual consistency but also makes the merchandise more memorable and marketable. Thoughtful use of colors, graphics, and layout helps communicate the brand’s identity more clearly to the target audience.