Promotional products are most popular among larger companies with a wider range of employees. These products can be gifted or seen at company events and trade shows. Creating promotional products is a tactile way to enhance and drive awareness around a brand’s image. Receiving promotional products can also increase employee engagement and customer loyalty. Many companies use and benefit from promotional products as an affordable marketing strategy.
Overview:
I’m currently gaining valuable industry experience working as a Graphic Design Intern at Stichi, a Detroit-based startup company specializing in custom-branded promotional products. Following an exciting rebrand by Walter & Wayne, I designed and curated products for a promotional product box that drives brand and company awareness. Each product was carefully designed to reflect Stitchi’s human-centered values while creating a unique unboxing experience.
Audience:
Stitchi’s current and prospective clients.
Process + Outcomes:
To begin my process, I took a deep dive into the current Stitchi website, clients, and experiences. With a current client demographic of smaller businesses, the prospective client base shifted towards larger companies in all industries. I then researched Stitchi’s competitor companies and took a closer look at promotional products that received positive feedback. I learned that a versatile, utility-based approach to our product selection would generate interest within Stitchi’s client demographics. After carefully reviewing my research, I generated several unique concepts for creating a set of cohesive products. I was able to land on a visual direction that emphasized Stitchi’s community values while honoring our location in Detroit.During this process, I also selected each product type and further researched customization capabilities. Each box contains a uniquely branded water bottle, pen, carabiner, pair of socks, gear bag, and notebook. These are versatile items that can be used in any environment.
I began to design for a series of different products, playing with color, scale, pattern, and language within Stitchi’s brand guidelines. Through rounds of constructive feedback, I gained valuable insights that influenced my refinement processes. After careful consideration, I decided to refine my designs to fit a more universal audience. Working towards a more universal and minimal approach, I established specific color pairings within the Stitchi color palette and paid close attention to typography. Once each design received final approval, I created design proofs to jump-start the production process.