Home > Case Study - Disney Zakka

Disney Zakka

Client:

Disney

Project Details:

Creating homeware products from some of Disney's biggest franchises

Areas Covered:

Zakka
Patterns
Product inspiration
Extended product

Creating a range of homeware products that reflect Disney's biggest brands

The Challenge: To create a series of beautiful, subtle patterns based around Disney’s most memorable brands that could be applied to day to day objects.

Zakka (from the Japanese 'kak-ka in de zak-ka'（閣下雑貨）or 'many things') is a fashion and design phenomenon that has spread from Japan throughout Asia. The term refers to everything and anything that improves your home, life and appearance. The ambiguity is embedded into the language itself: zatsu, the first kanji in the compound word zakka, means "things that cannot be categorised".

Given the high number of properties within Disney’s back catalogue to chose from, we decided to focus specifically on the Star Wars, Marvel & Pixar franchises.

Our team wanted to create patterns that included a second read element. Upon first glance, they would look stylish, yet seamlessly work with their intended product application. Upon closer inspection however, these patterns would reveal and tease key elements found with each brand. Taking the Star Wars repeat patten for example (as shown below) - first impressions would suggest that its composition comprises of a simple pattern commonly associated with traditional blue and white china. Upon closer inspection however, you can see a hidden collection of characters and emblems integrated within the design. Silhouettes of the Imperial army's AT-ST, R2D2 & C-3PO, Wookiees and the Rebel Alliance emblem are all present - details which every Star Wars fan would love!

Above: An example of one of our Star Wars inspired double read pattern and its use in product

We had a lot of fun in thinking up inventive ways to tease these core brand elements. Implementing our signature use of trend-forecasting insights, we mocked up product applications across a variety of Zakka that we knew would prove successful at retail.