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plntrs.

plntrs. (@plntrs.shop) is a growing small business based in Southern California. They rethink basketballs as homes for plants, valuing quality and thoughtful curation. I was approached to re-design their logo in my illustrative style. Collaborating with the owner, we created something bright and fresh while paying proper homage to their original design.

Categories

Branding
Character Design
Marketing

Deliverables

Color Palette
Logo (Re-design)
Merch
Posters
Social Posts

Software

Adobe Illustrator
ProCreate

Team

Art Direction & Photography
Anderson Phung

Design & Illustration
Ashley Kim

Logo Re-Design

Original plntrs. logo made by Anderson Phung. Image ID: an illustration of an orange, curved basketball with white outlines and the word "plntrs." in white, block font with evenly drawn green leafy stems underneath the writing
Before.
plntrs. final logo design. A digital illustration of an orange basketball with black outlines with the word "plntrs." handwritten in white font at the center. Under the word is a simple illustration of 3 green leafy stems
New & Improved.
The Drafts
While staying close to the old design as per the client's request, I experimented with different layouts, font styles, plants, and transparencies. My goal was to gently transform the original logo in an illustrative way.
A jpeg of the first iteration of the plntrs. basketball logo. Design ID: "plntrs." is written in dark green centered on top of a curved, orange basketball with white outlines. 3 illustrated, green leafy branches are underneath the writing
A jpeg of the second iteration of the plntrs. basketball logo. Design ID: "plntrs." is written in dark green centered on top of a flat, orange basketball with white outlines. 3 illustrated, green leafy branches are underneath the writing.
A jpeg of the third iteration of the plntrs. basketball logo. Design ID: "plntrs." is written in white top of a curved, shiny, orange basketball with black outlines. An illustration of 4 bright green pilea leaves with smiley faces are underneath the writing
A jpeg of the fourth iteration of the plntrs. basketball logo. Design ID: "plntrs." written in dark green centered on top of an orange outline of a curved basketball. Undeneath the word "plntrs." is 3 liney drawings of green leafy stems.
The Final Logo
The client ended up choosing option no. 3 with a mixture of elements from the other drafts. The final logo was used for marketing purposes across digital and print.
Photos of the re-designed logo featured at a plntrs. workshop during a SoleSavy pop-up in Los Angeles (below).

plntrman Character Design

Beginning Sketches
The first drafts of the design were focused on generally establishing the character with the client. I drew inspiration from mascots in the Olympics and basketball teams.
First sketches of cartoon basketball planter character for plntrs. Image ID: on the left, a b&w sketch of a smiling basketball planter character with pilea hair and wearing sneakers. On the right, the same character but in color with little flames coming outside of their sneakers
First Drafts of the Character.
Second iteration of orange and green cartoon basketball planter character for plntrs. Image ID: an illustration of a surprised orange basketball planter character in a Jumpman-like pose holding a scared mini basketball planter
Second Draft.
After finalizing the general feel of the character with the client, I further pushed the design so that it represented more of the brand's basketball story. I parodied Nike's infamous "Jumpman" pose to add some humor and more personality.
Final Design
In the final design, the client and I established the full color of the character, updated the sneakers, and added a dynamic background to reflect a crowded basketball arena. We solidified a persona for the character and named him Plntrman.
An illustration of a surprised orange basketball character in a Jumpman-like pose holding a smaller, frightened basketball in their hand against a blurry backdrop of a basketball stadium. The basketball characters have plants growing out from the top of them, the signature "basketball planter" product made by plntrs.
Photo Credit: Anderson Phung (@plntrs dot shop). Photo ID: A finger is holding up a transparent sticker of an orange basketball planter character in a Jumpman-like pose, against a blurry backdrop of basketballs and plants. Sticker design: A circular sticker with an illustration of a surprised orange basketball character in a Jumpman-like pose holding a smaller, frightened basketball in their hand. The basketball characters have plants growing out from the top of them, the signature "basketball planter" product made by plntrs.
Photo of 3 circular, overlapping stickers. Sticker ID: An orange and green cartoon basketball planter character in a Jumpman-like pose holding a scared mini basketball planter. "plntrs." is written in black underneath the character
Photo of the back of a white shirt with an orange and green cartoon basketball planter character in a Jumpman-like pose holding a scared mini basketball planter. The word "plntrs." is written in white font underneath the character
©Ashley J. Kim 2024.
All rights reserved.
LinkedInhereajk@gmail.com
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