trashcandylab
Project Type
Rebrand
Software
Adobe Photoshop, Adobe InDesign, & Adobe Illustrator
Role
Creative Director
In 2019, I opened a small business as an extension of my art account, first delving into enamel pins and accessories. Unsuspecting the success of the brand, I rebranded from my original handle to trashcandylab. Although certain graphics of the brand have aged well, this project is a reimagining of the original concept showcasing the evolution of my artistry.
You can learn more about the brand's outcomes and merchandise archive on my projects page here.
Challenge and Objective
While maintaining the original concept, the goal of this project was to challenge my ability to refresh trashcandylab's visual. The initial aesthetic of the brand leaned on neon-pinks and saturated reds with bright green as an accent color. The color choice evoked a sugary sweet yet poisonous look, something akin to a poison apple. Inspired by Gran Rodeo's opening song, TRASH CANDY, for the anime Bungou Stray Dogs, the rebrand keeps this influence in its refreshed logo. Boosting the brand's presence, the rework opens it to a mature, fashion-influenced audience.
take a bite?
"cherry"
former primary logo
Pictured above is the rebrand's concept art; Drawing inspiration from the original concept it's infused with a more mature yet playful look balanced by the bright pinks. Although the branding of trashcandylab leaned into a playful look with the neon spray paint and glow effect, the redesign balances between playfulness and maturity represents the brand's versatility.
Visual Identity Evolution
"TRASH CANDY"
GRANRODEO
"Classic Script MN"
primary typeface and wordmark
Reminiscent of vintage candy ads and painted hand lettering windows, Classic Script MN, a display typeface, serves as the brand's primary typeface and wordmark. Accompanying this is Eurostile, a sans-serif typeface, to balance it and bring in a more modern vibe.
Primary Logo
While staying true to the original concept of a cherry logo, the goal of this rebrand was to elevate its design opening it to a more matured and vampiric look. The Trashcandylab logo explores the concept of forbidden fruit with its fresh yet alarmingly vibrant reds and pinks. With this new logo, the brand can target an audience with a more matured taste by introducing fashion accessories and designs with style, intentionality, and versatility in mind.
Focusing less on fan-inspired merchandise and more on design, the brand separates itself from the softer aesthetic that is popular within the K-pop community. Following this creative strategy, it leads the brand to more opportunities in terms of product selection and niches.
Cherry Bomb, Feel it Yum!
brand implementation
Color and Visual Direction
The name trashcandy is an oxymoron. The logo visually represents this contradiction with a bright red cherry with a piercing through the middle. The brand's palette is vibrant and playful with a deep red and cool-toned pink.
This forbidden fruit has no pit, meant to reflect the vampiric influences on my art and the idea of the perversion. A vampire is like a fruit with no seed, a human without life. The idea of the perversion, or something that has become abnormal to what is considered acceptable, forces an individual to recognize the absurdity of normal. By biting down on this fruit, you are given the opportunity to think differently about how you view what is deemed desirable.
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