MP Cards & Collectibles is a family owned collectibles trading startup I did freelance design work for in Northern BC. Initially started as a hobby, they quickly made partnerships with other vendors across the region and were able to garner a large client base through online trading. The business is exclusively platformed on eBay, with advertising mostly being done either online or through networking, advertising at trade shows, and word of mouth.
Homepage: First Banner Slide
Homepage: Middle Banner Slide
Homepage: Last Banner Slide
When I first began this project, the MP Cards & Collectibles eBay store page needed a good touch up. They did not previously have access to a graphic designer, and were using stock photos and copyrighted fantasy art on the main page.
After conducting interviews with the owners of MP Cards & Collectibles and reviewing user reviews to determine what assets needed to change, and to ensure that my design direction would meet user experience needs (i.e., clarity, accessibility), I designed iconography and banners that are clean, clear at small and large scales, graphically consistent, and indicative of a professional brand. All the assets I designed are fully scalable, optimized for the eBay platform, and easily adjustable to meet requirements for other platforms if MP Cards & Collectibles are to expand their social media presence in the future.
After conducting preliminary research to better understand the client’s vision, industry norms, and user’s needs, I narrowed my focus to a few specific products that would have maximal impact on MP Cards & Collectibles’ visual identity and marketing reach. I also researched copyright licensing and laws extensively to ensure that the products would not cause issues down the road. From there, I began drawing. In the early stages of the design process, I sketched wireframes on paper, and then created Lo Fidelity digital renderings so I could experiment with different color and layout options.
Once the Lo Fidelity renders were ready, I consulted with the clients again to make sure I was headed in the right direction with what they envisioned. I then created Hi Fidelity renderings to form a fuller picture of the final products. From these concepts, I presented the best ones to the client to determine what they liked and disliked, and to get further feedback on the branding direction. I also created some sample products to test with users and gather more feedback. From there, through trial & error, I fine tuned the designs until they were visually consistent and looked good, and the clients were happy.
Business Card: Front Side
Business Card: Back Side
MP Cards & Collectibles envisioned branding that reflected the playful drawing styles of the items (i.e., Pokémon, sports cards) they were trading, with many detailed artistic variations of the official logo for various media applications. The branding I designed for them is a carefully stylized blend of comic themed and modern abstract visuals. Assets are bubbly, colorful, high contrasting, and integrate various art styles reminiscent of trading cards, while maintaining a minimalist look and feel. Consistency is critical when developing a brand that is easily recognizable, and a large part of the development process involved narrowing ideas down to a unified style.
Because the official company name "Misnerization Process" is difficult to cleanly integrate into design work and is also somewhat hard to pronounce, my branding for the company moved away from using the full name when possible. Thus, the “World” logo is often used as a background element or integrated into the art, rather than used plainly.
Art Mural: Galaxy Theme
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"It looks great bud, you did a great job. As you can see rolling it on the Signature already. We have it posted on the site as well, check it out, see what you think"
Owner, MP Cards & Collectibles, Aug 2023
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"Man, just when I thought you couldn't one up it anymore you never cease to amaze us"
Owner, MP Cards & Collectibles, Jan 2024
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"As always, I appreciate what you do for me and the business"
Owner, MP Cards & Collectibles, Aug 2023
What I Learned
The unique challenges associated with working freelance for a small startup
How a tight budget effects research and brand development decision-making
How to consult, interview, and manage expectations when working directly with a small business owner.
Methods of foundational and post-launch user research
Solo graphic design/UX work for a project with little initial direction.
Supplier sourcing and research for product development.
What I Would Do Differently
This was my first big freelance project. Now that I have more education and experience, I’ve reflected on what I would have done differently:
Taken the branding in a direction that is more better artistically themed to represent the products MP Cards & Collectibles sells (i.e., stylized halftones in reference to comic book print, comic fonts, etc.)
Started with a better foundation for my design work. The logo is fun but, while the client loves it, I feel that it’s clunky and underdeveloped. I should have taken more steps to refine it and take the brand in a better direction.
Done more user research to better understand what branding decisions would make these products most appealing to them.