gadget merch
Gadget is a serverless stack for e-commerce app developers. Their brand image is energetic and efficient with lots of references to retro tech interfaces. As a nod to that aesthetic, we collaborated and conceptualized a cartoonish character named 'Gizmo' for their promotional merchandise.
Mascot Design
In 2023, I worked with Gadget to create a de facto 'mascot' for their company to be used on promotional merchandise, such as t-shirts. The shirts would be given to clients and team members alike, so it had to reflect the company's values and culture in a unique way.
We decided to take a retro approach and create a graphic to appeal to the tech-savvy crowd by referencing the original Macintosh PC, aka 'System 1'. This iconic computer was released in 1984, so I leaned into the aesthetic of the era. The resulting illustration was a jaunty, dynamic cartoon character full of personality. The internal design team named him 'Gizmo', which was one of the potential names for the client's startup before they settled on Gadget.
I knew Gadget wanted to source their apparel from Kotn, a sustainable clothing brand and certified B Corporation based in New York, so the illustration was designed to be screen-printed on one of their existing blank t-shirts. This colour was intentionally reminiscent of the original Macintosh's beige computer monitor. To continue with the homage to Apple, we added the company's name to the composition using the Apple Garamond typeface.
Gizmo Cameos
Now that Gizmo is out in the world, he shows up as a repeated motif in the Gadget digital world. Above, he can be seen strutting across their website as a consolation prize when your keyword search yields no results.
He even made it onto the celebratory cake for the Gadget V1 launch party in March 2024. Go go, Gizmo!