Packaging and Merchandising Design - Project 3

21.4.25 - 27.7.25  / Week 1 -  Week 14

Packaging and Merchandising Design / Bachelor of Design (Honours) in Creative Media

Aliah Farhana Binti Mohd Fauzi / 0357957

Project 3 - Merchandising & Promotional Items

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INSTRUCTION

Module Information Booklet

Merchandise and Promotional Strategy

Project Overview
In this project, we are tasked with expanding the existing packaging design and food product into a complete brand experience by creating merchandise and promotional initiatives. The goal is to explore opportunities that enhance brand visibility, attract new customers, and build brand loyalty. Through well-designed merchandise and targeted promotional strategies, we aim to connect with the audience in a meaningful way that aligns with the brand’s identity and market positioning.

Objective
The final objective is to design a collection of merchandise items and develop a comprehensive promotional strategy that complements the existing food product packaging. By applying principles of branding, consumer behavior, and marketing techniques, the project will focus on creating engaging materials that reinforce the brand image and drive sales.

Key Components

1. Market Analysis and Audience Insights (5%) – Week 11
Analyze current market trends and consumer behavior relevant to the selected food product. Identify opportunities and challenges within the target market that could shape the merchandise and promotional strategies.

2. Merchandise Design (10%) – Week 12
Create a range of merchandise items that reflect the brand identity and complement the packaging design. Possible merchandise includes apparel, accessories, stationery, or lifestyle products. Each design will emphasize consistency with the brand’s visual identity, quality, and attention to detail.

3. Promotional Strategy (10%) – Week 13
Develop a complete promotional strategy aimed at increasing brand awareness and driving sales. This includes selecting suitable marketing channels and tactics tailored to the project’s goals and target audience.

4. Presentation and Implementation Plan (5%) – Week 14
Prepare a visual presentation that showcases the merchandise designs, promotional strategy, and a step-by-step implementation plan. Each design choice and promotional tactic will be supported with clear reasoning, highlighting how it contributes to brand objectives and audience engagement.

MOODBOARD

Merchandise Moodboard Compilation

The chosen Merchs and the task delegations:

- Bottle Boot  (Ameely)

- Stickers Pack (Ameely)

- Carry Strap Bottle (Aliah)

- Thank you and Care Guide Card (Andrea)

- Booth (Aidi)

After the consultation with Sir Shamsul he said that we need a themes for our merchandise design and so we have came up with three different vibes and style: 

- CottageCore

- Dreamcore Light

- Forest spirits

Thus we all have agreed on to proceed with the forest spirits as its a gender equal and mysterious and nature vibes does suits our DYO Classic more.

Merchandise Themes Slides

Merchandise Before Consultation

But then at first our merchandise was not cohesive with each other design and Sir has suggested that we only use one graphic elements only instead of has variety and so I've decided to change my graphics to match Ameely's one.

Merchandise After Consultation

Thus, this is my final carry strap bottle design and I've added DYO logo as well on the middle of the bottle strap. As for others merchandise I'll compile it down here: 

Final merchandise 

Market Analysis and Audience Insights

The market for reusable bottles is growing due to increasing consumer awareness of sustainability and eco-friendly lifestyles. Trends show that consumers, especially younger demographics, are shifting towards products that combine practicality with stylish and modern design. According to insights from Asana and CoSchedule, brands that emphasize clear value propositions, such as durability and eco-consciousness, resonate strongly with today’s audience.

For DYÖ, the main opportunity lies in targeting young urban consumers, students, and professionals who prioritize convenience and sustainability in their daily routines. Social media platforms like Instagram are particularly effective for reaching this group due to their visual appeal and ability to showcase lifestyle-oriented content. Billboard placement in high-traffic areas such as subway walkways and universities like Taylor’s University enhances visibility and brand recall, aligning with the habits of the target audience who frequently commute or gather in shared spaces.

Challenges in this market include strong competition from established reusable bottle brands and the need to differentiate through design, features (such as dual lids), and unique messaging. However, DYÖ’s modern aesthetic, minimalistic design, and focus on versatility position it well to stand out in a crowded market.

Before the consultation 

Sir did gave opinion on how our graphics elements doesn't suits when we apply it one the adsvertisements and said to just keep the design to our merchandise only. Also Sir prefer that if we were to put the real environment instead to our design to make it more alive.

 

After the consultation 

Subway walkway at MRT 

Taylors University Billboard

Marketing Analysis and Audience Insights

FINAL SUBMISSION

Merchandise and Strategy Final Submission

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REFLECTION

Throughout this packaging and merchandising design project, I observed how small design decisions, such as color choices, typography, and layout, significantly influence the overall appeal and functionality of the final product. By experimenting with Adobe Illustrator and refining our ideas through multiple drafts, I found that balancing aesthetics with practicality was key to achieving a professional outcome.

One of the main findings from this process was how essential it is to create designs that not only look visually appealing but also communicate the product’s identity clearly. Feedback sessions helped me identify areas for improvement, particularly in ensuring the packaging design aligned with the brand’s values and target audience.

This experience has strengthened my design skills, especially in developing creative concepts that are both innovative and user-focused. It also taught me the importance of iteration and teamwork, as sharing ideas within the group often led to better solutions and more polished results.