Pokémon TCG Accessories Brand Design & Development
Art Direction / Product Design / Branding & Visual ID
I was tasked with designing a new line of accessories for the Pokémon Trading Card Game while working at Ultra Pro, which licenses from The Pokémon Company. The new line I designed featured massively popular characters and iconic items from one of the biggest gaming IPs of all time.
As this launched a new series of Pokémon products for Ultra Pro and The Pokémon Company, I was given freedom to explore creatively while keeping brand guidelines in mind. I was given minimal assets, as The Pokémon Company wished to see something new and different from previous Ultra Pro designs.
Pokémon TCG Accessories Character Series Design & Visual ID
I conceived of a design that was bold and minimal, yet interesting and attractive, maintaining focus on the character. Color is a major element in the game and is reflected in the design, featuring a bold and contrasting color scheme, using colors significant to individual characters that compliment within each design, referenced from the Pokémon style guide from Nintendo.
The base color is the background, designed to be reminiscent of the shape of a Pokéball. The character silhouette is sized and positioned for compositional balance, in contrasting color, and draws the eye. The pattern is custom for each character and is designed from the character silhouette, the character type icon and the icon Pokéball design, incorporating an interesting, detailed element into the composition.
The Pokémon TCG logo is placed prominently in the "Pokéball Circle" of the background layer, against the custom pattern. While important, as a character focused the design, the logo is applied sparingly.
Character Style Sheets & Product Lineups
Popular characters including Charizard, Squirtle, Mewtwo and Eevee approved design submissions with style sheets
With the design ideated, structured and elements created, I constructed all the layouts for every product in the series for each character. A great deal of work and care was used to maintain consistency and design coherence across a diverse product line and with some complex dielines and manufacturing processes.
With the design complete and approved, print proofs are made in house, including knockouts, spot color and spot gloss UV, where appropriate and submitted for internal review. The proofs are important for the print factory to maintain color and quality. Once approved, they are sent to the The Pokémon Company for final approval before sending digital and hard copies to the manufacturing facility in China.
Some pint proofs with final plate layouts; green indicates spot Gloss UV post production finish
I traveled to factories in Dongguan and Shantou, China to press check the print runs and qualify production, and was responsible for final approval for production.
Pokémon TCG Sword & Shield Version
With the success of the initial character series of accessories, I was again tasked with designed the new series for the launch of the upcoming Pokémon Sword & Shield game.
Building on the character focused concept from the first series, I envisioned a design that was similar and incorporating design trends at the time, including bright colors and gradients. Icons and patterns are used as backgrounds together with geometry in character spotlight areas. As before, colors and icons are significant for each character.
Product Design Concepts
Final Approved Design
Pokémon TCG Accessories Pokéball Series Design & Visual ID
Pokéball Product Lineup
Deck Box Product Photos
Product Images
Pokémon Pokéball Premium Edition Product Lineup
The premium line for the popular Pokéball design is constructed with premium PU and high quality stitching. The Alcove Flip Box features Pokémon TCG & UP logo deboss on the exterior with a custom Pokéball / Pikachu spot UV gloss pattern on a suede finish matte black interior. I was responsible for the design and layout of the products in the series.
The line was successful and expanded to include the Ultra Ball and Master Ball design from the series.
Pokéball Original Alcove Flip Box & Premium Pro Binder Product Photos
Left to right: Premium Pokéball Alcove Flip Box / Alcove Flip open with sleeved cards, Premium ProBinder
Pokémon Ultra Ball Alcove Flip Box & Premium Pro Binder Product Photos
Pokémon Master Ball Alcove Flip Box & Premium Pro Binder Product Photos
