PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT
Product concepts are often highly enjoyable to create! Awaiting the samples upon concept completion, the adjusting and perfecting, and the tactile experience of holding and sharing the final product, especially when viewed in a store on a shelf amongst other offerings, ready to reach the hands of the very user all the research prior to concepting determined would best suit. Different project managers and sales managers and buyers are worked with along the way with each project, allowing for growth through communication. Here are some of my faves!
Role
Design
Agency
Toysmith
Client
Various
Umbrellas
CLIENT: TOYSMITH
I happen to be a tremendous pluviophile, a lover of rain, that is, and was therefore thrilled to take on the task of designing multiple designs for two types of umbrellas for kids. Goals included designing with a universal appeal for kids in the 5-12 age range, and art for both boys and girls.
Vinyl Bubble Umbrella
I provided several versions of the selected concepts- weather and florals for the vinyl bubble umbrella, and space and rainbows for the color-changing umbrellas. Starting with rough sketches of possible components, I often then move to the screen where I compose a variety of possible solutions based off the sketching. Once the designs were decided upon, I had fun with color, offering up multiple colorways per design, until the final selections below moved forward.
The umbrella designs started here, with lists of requirements, possibilities, and sketches
of potential directions.
Partial Concepting Example
Color-changing Umbrella
When wet, the white portions
change to reveal color
TRAVEL Games
CLIENT: TARGET
The Bullseye's Playground at Target came calling in need of a variety of cute and quick games for travel. I illustrated a number of carnival animal icons and applied them to multiple game concepts, all easily totable for on-the-go fun.
FOAM PLANES
CLIENT: TOYSMITH
Ensuring that a toy foam plane is able to fly? Key! Once the function box is checked though, it's all fun and games, within the given number of allowable colors according to the price point, of course. Etched panels, rivets, sleek lines, and aerodynamic something-er-others are par for the course, as are multiple colorways.
Unicorn Squishy Figures
CLIENT: TOYSMITH
Le squish! Working with molds for figurines, one encounters the need to provide clear direction on the various angles- front, back, sides, sometimes top, bottom, and three-quarter.
One of the additional concepts of a standing unicorn was later modeled for a glitter water ball
Old Maid Card Game
CLIENT: TARGET
Determine a well-rounded collection of humans representing a bevy of professions- make 'em cute and colorful! Can do, did do. The card set was included with a number of other card sets sold as an assorted pack.
COLOR-YOUR-OWN CANVAS TOTE
CLIENT: Cost Plus World Market
I regularly produced products and packaging for World Market. Designing a spring/summer floral image required attention to coloring space. There should be areas that are small enough to provide a challenge without being so small as to cause a bleed outside the lines given the spread that happens with ink on fabric. Larger, open areas allow for a little freedom in application and help to balance the composition.
SCRATCH ART
CLIENT: Toysmith
Trendy critters on deck! Here's an example of the trends I keep track of- hard not to get hit over the head with some of these, they're everywhere!- and employed to a fun pack of scratch art. Bold spaces for ease of use with the younger crowd.
CREDITS
Designer - Deborah Davis
Photographer - Tanya Demots
Photographer - Jim Palmer
Product Development Team
© 2024 DEBORAH DAVIS
