The Overview
For this project I chose to rebrand the puppet company, Puppetworks. This brand is something I hold dear since I often went to Puppetworks as a child. My task was to redesign the logo, update their desktop site, create merch, and create puppets. Unlike other projects, this class assignment did not require prototyping.
The Problem
The Puppetworks website was severely outdated. The design screamed early 90's and was clunky to navigate. The site also lacked a design direction and was very plain. Consumers looking for information would find it to be very overwhelming and confusing. Their logo although lovely in it's own right, needed a refresh to combine their motif and logo together.
The Solution
I gave the website an aesthetic that would tie into fairy tales and folklore, since their puppet shows are mostly based off of that. Throughout the site I added nods to the old logo design that I felt the client would appreciate. I made finding the location of Puppetworks easy to access and added a nav bar at the top and bottom.
The Process
Moodboard & Design
Logo Redesign
Puppets & Merchandise
The Lady In Green - Advanced Paper Puppet / Black & White
The Lady In Green - Advanced Paper Puppet / Colored
Pinocchio - Intermediate Paper Puppet / Black & White (Original design from Puppetworks)
Pinocchio - Intermediate Paper Puppet / Colored (Original design from Puppetworks)
Puss In Boots - Beginner Paper Puppet / Black & White
Puss In Boots - Beginner Paper Puppet / Colored
Puppetworks Totebag
Hand Sewn Finger Puppets - Out Of Box / Clown Bear, Rat Prince, Flower Bunny
Hand Sewn Finger Puppets - Inside Box / Clown Bear, Rat Prince, Flower Bunny
Shadow Box - The Little Red Riding Hood / Front & Side
Shadow Box - The Little Red Riding Hood / Front & Side
Puppetworks T-Shirt - Colorful / Front
Puppetworks T-Shirt - Colorful / Back
Puppetworks T-Shirt - Plain Black
Puppetworks T-Shirt - Folk Art
Puppetworks Original Website
As shown here from the website I had access to at the time, the site needed a HUGE upgrade. Despite me accessing this in 2021, this site's layout looked like it was back in the 90s, which would make it seem untrustworthy to potential customers. Overall I felt that Puppetworks was not highlighting their assets and how wonderful their company is through this website design.
Homepage
Shows
Class Shows
Private Parties
History
DIY Paper Puppet
Direction/ Location
Desktop Website Design
Puppetworks Homepage
I wanted the homepage to display my favorite fairy-tale: Little Red Riding Hood, first and foremost. I felt that it would be the easiest to depict in silhouette form, and I wanted to get in touch with my creative side, so I created a physical shadow box theater.
Because this project was a rebranding project, I wanted to pay homage to the original Puppetworks logo in some way. I decided that out of all the letters, the "P" shape was the most recognizable, so I turned it into a shape that could be used with any image (Ex: The Alice In Wonderland photo next to "Welcome!").
I created the illustrations around the page via illustrator. I wanted to stick with the Scandinavian/ Folk Art aesthetic for this project and so I emulated motifs that were often used in that type of art style.
Puppetworks Show Page
I decided to condense the various show pages, parties, and upcoming events into one instead of having it split like the original website. I wanted the layout to feel playful with the flower motifs illustrated throughout the page. Anyone who visits can book a ticket for the show of their choosing and check out in the shopping cart.
Puppetworks DIY Page
This page contains the variety of crafts that Puppetworks offers for free on their website. These puppets/ theaters can be made by anyone with tools that can be found around the house. This is a great way to get the community involved and bring the joy of puppets to everyone.
Puppetworks Merchandise
The Puppetworks merch shop would help raise funds for the puppet theater in order to bring joy to families for years to come. Available are Puppetworks illustrated shirts, tote bags, handmade shadow box theaters, and handmade puppets/ finger puppets. I created these illustrations both digitally (illustrator) and traditionally ( acrylic paint, paper, fabric). The puppets were hand crafted by myself, and although I originally intended for there to be 4 characters in total (bear, mouse, rabbit, fox) I ran out of time to complete all of them. I am pleased with the outcome however and hope I can make more finger puppets in the future!
Puppetworks Puppet Page
After choosing the DIY puppets of your choice on the DIY page, you are greeted by either of these pages. The beginner puppets are meant for young children and those who are just getting into the craft, something that is much more simplistic and easier to cut. The intermediate level is for those with more knowledge and who can cut more complex shapes. Lastly the advanced paper puppet is for those who like a challenge and are good at cutting out intricate/detail oriented shapes.
The beginner and advanced paper puppets were all designed by myself. I unfortunately didn't have the opportunity to create the Cat In Boots puppet in real life, however I did create The Green Lady in-person. She turned out spectacularly and I was so happy with the results! As for the intermediate puppet, I wanted to pay tribute to the original website by using their puppet printout. I traced over the original printout which was a little blurry, and revamped it with crisper colors and lineart. Overall I was pleased with the outcome of the illustrations!
Outcome + Reflections + Next Steps
I had a lot of fun and passion when it came to this project. The stylistic choice I had taken was my most favorite part, as I love fairy tales and folklore. I also enjoyed being so hands on with every step, using my crafting and sewing skills to add a handmade touch to the design. Luckily I was able to revisit this project since I had more time on my hands and was able to transfer everything from old illustrator files into Figma. I retouched the layouts, tweaked colors, changed fonts to be more legible, and fixed typos wherever I could find them. I wanted to keep the essence of my first project since I love the original layout and wouldn't change much. I'm a little tuckered out from redoing everything, but if I revisit this project a third time (which I probably will), I would definitely focus on prototyping it and will re-haul it again into something more condensed and user friendly. I would also love to make more merchandise and truly flesh out the rest of the website. Overall I feel that this project is something I can be proud of, and will fondly look back on it for years to come.
