Converse brought us in to design and produce a seeding kit for the reissue of the much loved XX Hi Chuck Taylor All Star. This project had a tighter budget than some of our other seeding kit projects, so we really dug in to create something unique without breaking the bank. This influencer kit is a printed solution on corrugated material. We identified the tall lacing structure from the footwear and capitalized on that as an expressive design detail for the exterior of the box. We graphically simulated the texture of the shoe’s material, grommets, stitching and branding to create a backdrop for an actual lace that served as a closure device for the box access. Internally, we worked with our print partners to engineer a flexible tray solution to accommodate shoes from small to large using the same exterior box. We also provided trays to present themed, tall, above-the-knee socks, alternative laces and accessories to offer the end user options for expression.
The goal of this kit was two fold: One to introduce the collaboration between MTG and Transformers and two, to reveal some of the creepiness and magic of The Brothers’ War to the influencer.
For the box, the client wanted to make it look like an old storage artifact from the war that had been Phyrexianized. Hence the tentacle inching its way out of the unit. We had a lot of fun creating this art.
We also got to work with Caliber Craft to create a limited run of MTG Power Stones. The Mightstone and Weakstone sit in a rocky base that function as a light display but they can also be played individually as tokens (that light up!) during the game.
The t-shirt was a fun illustration to work on and was designed to reveal the alignment of MTG mana powers to Transformers.
These were a huge hit and we just wish we had created a kit for ourselves!
Converse asked us to design, produce and fulfill a seeding kit for the 2024 launch of their colorful Run Star Trainer line of footwear. To keep costs down a bit, we pursued a colorful, printed graphic approach over corrugated material inspired by the footwear. We designed a box with some unique features like a 3 piece lid and tray inserts that were adjustable to accommodate various sizes of shoes for the recipients of the kits. To accentuate the unique campaign photography, we mounted the internal graphic cards with adhesive photo corners and also hand-rendered the greeting card to give the kit a handmade quality.
FANTASY MEETS REALITY: FORTNITE INTRODUCES THE KID LAROI’S WILD DREAMS
We jumped in to assist video game giant Fortnite to celebrate the introduction of Australian rapper, singer, and songwriter The Kid LAROI into the game. Working with their social media agency, The Robot Company, we designed a dual identity influencer kit to promote the in-game characters of protagonist, The Kid LAROI and antagonist, The Rogue LAROI. This played out as two different kit designs - a pink kit that shows The Kid LAROI and his on-stage persona, and the other, a blue/black kit that represents The Rogue LAROI as the mischievous alter ego.
The influencer kits feature elements of spy craft with the use of a hard case attaché wrapped in digital camouflage and UV ink which reveal hidden messaging on select elements.
The kits include a branded t-shirt, sunglasses, a UV flashlight and an old school DVD player and DVD to reveal a promotional video to link influencers to the exclusive Kid LAROI Fortnite game release and "Wild Dreams" in-game concert.
Magic, the Gathering asked us to create a budget friendly influencer kit to promote their collaboration with Lord of the Rings. With a tight budget, we focussed on amplifying the beautiful game art by wrapping the box externally and internally with select scenes from the game cards printed on coated corrugated material. In lieu of more expensive packaging, we created several custom branded items which included a gold foil printed binder for card collection and storage, a laser engraved leather play mat with Middle Earth map, a custom built deck box, custom dice and velvet storage bag, and an oversized "eye of Sauron" dice and velvet storage bag. We loaded the influencer kits with all custom items along with a card starter set, a Commander deck and a generous offering of Draft and Set Booster card packs.
We were honored to work with Wizards of the Coast on this "D&D For All" influencer kit which aimed to increase inclusivity and accessibility for gaming community members across as many needs as possible. Specifically, that meant that we needed to make sure everything was designed to be high contrast, textured, easy to open, with braille messaging, and with increased item accessibility. We designed and produced a packaging approach to simplify access and storage, while also creating a memorable gaming experience for those interested in D&D, but may face barriers to entry with traditional form factors.
We worked with specialized vendors to create unique items to add to the exclusivity of the kit. We handled all the procurement, assembly and shipping of the kits to D&D influencers. We were really thrilled with how these turned out and were so happy to hear that those who received the kits loved them as well.
Special thanks to P-Dinh Bookbinding, DogMight and Candoable for their beautiful work!
Converse has teamed up with retailer Journeys for decades—together, they’ve sold millions of Chucks. So when Journeys executive Jim Estepa announced his retirement, Converse asked us to create something special to send Jim off in style. It was a tricky ask, as the gift needed to reflect Jim’s interests in travel, youth culture, NASCAR, music, and wine. Incorporating all of the above, we created this handcrafted, laser-etched retirement trunk filled with items as unique as the man it was created for. Cheers to 32 years, Jim—and good luck on your next journey!
Converse asked us to design and produce an influencer kit that reflected the modern, planar and sculptural design execution in their new De Luxe footwear collection. We created a unique form factor that featured a translucent and recyclable corrugated plastic material to allow recipients a sneak peek of the bold colors of the custom made satin dust bags surrounding the footwear housed within. This influencer kit packaging served to compliment the product design of the DeLuxe footwear and also to inspire an impactful first impression for the recipients.
Converse and Looney Tunes have enjoyed a long partnership, with beloved LT characters frequently appearing on Converse kicks. For their latest collab, we were asked to create a seeding kit that riffs off the fierce rivalry between Wile E. Coyote and Roadrunner. Because their storyline always involves a clever ACME device, we felt that the ubiquitous ACME crate was the perfect delivery device for a pair of LT Chucks, a Looney Tunes DVD sampler and a Michigan J. Frog vinyl figure.
Rocket-powered sneakers...what could go wrong?
Converse contacted us to create an influencer kit to house their Pride footwear selects along with a collection of statement accessories for influencers to keep the pride high.
We designed the kit as an extruded lockup of the words "Pride Never Stops" combined with the Converse logo. The kit was fabricated with extra thick recycled honeycomb corrugated cardboard then die cut and laminated together to create a sustainable and unique form which cleverly created a space to house all of the products and accessories. The front of the influencer kit was covered with the iconic Pride colors, but the edges were left exposed to encourage recycling at end of use.
Ultimately, we hope this colorful expression of Pride will serve as a year-round display item that will live beyond its initial packaging assignment.
Accessories included in the influencer kit included artist postcards and poster, stickers, NYX Pride edition eye shadow, Fluide silver glitter, a Converse bucket hat, and a Boomf Bomb greeting card to set the tone.
We took this project from concept, design, vendor and item sourcing, fulfillment, packaging and all the way through to shipping to influencers.
Wizards of the Coast tasked us with creating an influencer kit for their 30th anniversary celebration of Dominaria and the launch of Dominaria United. Each kit contained a custom sized t-shirt for the influencer, a lightbox per the influencer's favorite color and a big set of Dominaria United product. The lightboxes were designed to be display pieces and can be plugged in with more than 20 different light function settings.
The whole kit was a lot of fun to make and it received some great feedback and posts!
When Converse was set to release the Chuck Taylor CX to the world, they asked us to develop an influencer kit that amplified and underscored the cutting-edge design details of this revolutionary product. The CX features a re-engineered rubber for ultimate flexibility, and an innovative foam phylon midsole to support a wearer’s stride and provide an exponential leap in comfort. Inspired by this foam technology, we developed a foam case for the footwear and collateral material. The iconic orange accent color of the shoe informed the color choice of the case and provided a vibrant presence at a future unboxing. Several branding elements were inset into the foam case to provide a subtle but effective brand presence. The case was held shut with an X-formed rubber band as a reference to the stretch canvas that makes the shoe so comfortable. We took this project from concept, design, vendor sourcing, fulfillment, packaging and all the way through to shipping to influencers.
For the launch of Commander Legends: Battle for Baldur's Gate, we created an adventure bag that would neatly hold the game elements and be easy to transport. We worked with some talented artists to create the custom deck box, custom leather play mat and custom backpacks. Needless to say, the adventurer's who received the kit were stoked!
In 2017, Converse was a bit late to the internet game in Canada. But instead of apologizing for their lack of web presence, they took a more self-effacing approach and asked us to come up with a tongue-in-cheek promotion for their Converse.ca launch. We took the concept and ran with it, celebrating all things retro-digital with this seeding kit that was sent to key influencers in the Canadian market. This kit featured "floppy disk" cards with introductions to each major product offering and redeemable cards that allowed influencers to select products for further "research." Welcome to internetting, Canada!
Converse asked us to concept a budget friendly two-tier influencer kit system. Tier 1 featured a pair of Alexis Sablone’s signature AS-1 skate shoes and a copy of the Phaedon coffee table book "Skateboard" by Johnathan Olivares. The Tier 2 kit was scaled down and only featured the Skateboard book. As a graphic wrap on the exterior of both Tiers of the kit, we were able to feature historical photography from "Skateboard" combined with silhouettes of the premier Cons skate shoe lineup. After we finalized the kit’s design, we produced, fulfilled and shipped the kits to recipients all over the world.
To help students rock their individual style, Converse North America asked us to design and produce a customization kit to send to key influencers. We curated dozens of craft materials, from pens and paints to patches and safety pins, then pulled them all together into a cool branded kit.
Early in the creative process, we created the "Show Your True Colors" theme to showcase Coverse’s wide variety of shoe colors and encourage consumers to express their true selves. Finally, to demonstrate the kit’s endless possibilities, we even created three sets of shoes to offer influencers a little style inspiration.
To complete the promotional campaign from influencer to consumer, the “Show Your True Colors” campaign later appeared as window displays at select Journeys retail stores.
Converse North America wanted to show their love for their veteran sales executive Joe Rogers on his 35th work anniversary. They tapped us to create a custom presentation to house a collection of custom Converse apparel and footwear made especially for Joe. We used transparent blue acrylic to reveal the custom product and display a one-off graphic pattern that summarizes Joe’s interests, career and accomplishments. We also were able to design a custom monogram and sculpture for Joe that was a nod to Joe’s hometown of Philadelphia by riffing off Phili’s famous Love sculpture. Well done Joe...well done!
The note inside this customization kit that we created for Converse North America sums up this project perfectly: "In the spirit of the holidays, we invite you to take these tools of artistic expression and make your mark on your blank pair of Chucks. Make it bold, make it shine, make it yours."
We loaded the kit with a pair of Chucks and choice selection of paints, pens, and bits of bling. Then we sent it out to influencers to promote shoe customization and drive traffic to Journeys stores. Many recipients shared their creations on social media, inspiring customers to make their own holiday magic.
Working within Nike's standard receiver glove packaging form, we used design cues from the NFL's Salute to Soldiers special make up glove to create the unique graphics for this package.
Super Bowl XL VIII was scheduled to take place in the open-air MetLife Stadium in New Jersey. As the big game was in February, it was predicted to be a frigid affair. Based on this insight, we were asked to create a limited-edition, V.I.P. influencer kit to celebrate the frozen showdown. We wanted the package to look as if the gloves were captured in a block of ice, so we used direct printing on clear acrylic to create a frosty, translucent effect. For glove packaging, this is as cool as it gets.
Though these kits were destined for the lucky few, a consumer edition was also created with this as inspiration. See: NIKE—SUPER BOWL CONSUMER EDITION GLOVE PACKAGING
Nike was looking to change the game on the retail shelf and asked us to help them do it. To break through all the visual clutter in a typical retail environment, we developed a graphic system that communicates individual product benefits and differentiates tiered products. Through bold color and designated print techniques, we reinforced a good, better, best product offering to help consumers find exactly what they were looking for.
Converse contacted us to create an influencer kit to house their Pride footwear selects along with a collection of statement accessories for influencers to keep the pride high.
We designed the kit with sustainability as a driving design principle. Not only was the package designed with all recyclable materials, but the exterior box and tray was designed to have have a secondary use as a display item which could be set on a shelf or as a wall-mounted display. Ultimately, we hope this colorful expression of Pride will serve as a year-round display item that will live beyond its initial packaging assignment.
We took this project from concept, design, vendor and item sourcing, fulfillment, packaging and all the way through to shipping to influencers.
Converse North America values their retail partners. When Famous Footwear President, Rick Ausick announced his retirement after 16 years at the helm, Converse asked us to design a special gift for his transition. We created the art for Rick’s custom monogram, then applied it in metallic foil to the custom fit gift box, had the art embroidered onto a set of club covers, then nested all the products neatly into the hand wrapped box. Rick, your tee time is now!
For the NCAA Bowl Championship Series, Nike brought us in to infuse these NCAA football gloves with some serious school pride. Working with an established packaging form, we looked to the unique branding of each school for graphic inspiration. Then we created bold designs that set each product apart from one another while standing above all the competitor products.
