Merch & Apparel

Deliverables: Sketches, Initial design concepts, comps & mockups, product options, final production ready designs

Services

Design, Layout, Product selection

Client

Various/diverse

Merchandise Projects

The following projects showcase products designed for retail environments, focusing on print techniques, fabric selection, and designs that fans, followers and customers actually want to wear.

Silverstrike Crossfit Merch

Silver Strike Crossfit Merch including "Santa Slay" promotional merchandise which is a fun, in-house holiday fitness competition held annually in December.

In partnership with our key account managers I created these designs for our customers at Silver Strike Crossfit.

Custom Ink

Holiday Merch Designs created for the Custom Ink internal employee holiday store in partnership with sales support and creative team. These designs were featured on cozy blankets, plaid shirts, warm sweatshirts and sweatpants as well as dog coats and baby onesies in order to spread comfy, cozy holiday magic.

The design strategy for the Custom Ink Holiday Store focuses on relatability and nostalgia. Rather than producing generic corporate swag, the campaign leverages beloved holiday tropes and pop-culture references to create apparel that employees and customers actually want to wear.

The collection bridges the gap between "Corporate Uniform" and "Cozy Holiday Wear" by infusing the brand’s mascot ("Inky" the Octopus) into classic winter scenarios.

This collection succeeds by offering variety in "Vibe." Whether the employee feels rustic (Truck), ironic (Ugly Sweater), playful (Gingerbread), or just ready for a break (Computer), there is a design that speaks to their specific holiday mood, all while keeping the Custom Ink brand front and center.

Taco Bell Cantina

Fresh, vibrant and fun designs celebrating Taco Bell Cantina in Butte, Montana which is one of the few remaining Cantinas in the chain, making it a great destination spot and prime for targeted merchandise.

Campaign Strategy: "Neon Nights in Butte, America"

The core objective of this merchandise line is to distinguish the Taco Bell Cantina experience from a standard QSR (Quick Service Restaurant) visit. The strategy centers on celebrating the unique selling proposition (USP) of the Cantina model—the fusion of iconic fast food with an alcohol-serving social environment—while heavily leveraging local pride through the "Butte, America" identity.

Visual Hierarchy & The "Cantina" Differentiator
The primary goal was to visually communicate that this is not a drive-thru; it is a destination.

The "Boozy" Iconography: The designs explicitly pair the classic hard-shell taco with a lime-garnished margarita glass. This dual imagery instantly informs the consumer of the Cantina's main draw: the ability to order alcohol. The "splash" effects used in the graphics communicate energy, liquid movement, and a lively "party" atmosphere.
Vibrant Color Story: To meet the client's request for "flashy," the palette utilizes high-voltage Cyans, Magentas, and Lime Greens against the standard Taco Bell Purple. This neon-inspired palette mimics the aesthetic of nightlife and neon signage, distancing the merch from standard daytime fast-food uniforms.

Hyper-Localization Strategy

National franchises often struggle to connect on a personal level with small communities. This campaign solves that by adopting a "Local Souvenir" approach.
"Butte, America": By utilizing the specific local colloquialism "Butte, America" rather than just "Butte, MT," the design speaks the insider language of the locals.
The "You Are Here" Map: The maroon design features the outline of Montana with a taco icon placed geographically over Butte. This transforms the shirt from corporate advertising into a location-specific badge of honor for locals and a novelty souvenir for tourists visiting the area.

Demographic Segmentation
The three designs target slightly different vibes within the customer base:

The "Party" Shirt (Blue/Splash): The paint-splatter/grunge effect is youthful, loud, and streetwear-adjacent. It targets the younger demographic coming in for late-night drinks and social media moments.
The "Heritage" Shirt (Maroon): The script typography and state outline offer a more vintage, collegiate aesthetic. This appeals to a customer who wants something more subtle and stylish—fitting the rustic, adobe exterior of the building shown in the top photo.
The "Clean" Shirt (White): A crisp, pop-art version of the logo that offers maximum readability and contrast, serving as a walking billboard for the brand.