Artelier: An Art Therapy Inspired Toolkit
BRANDING • PACKAGING DESIGN • WEBSITE DESIGN • LAYOUT DESIGN • DESIGN RESEARCH

Artelier is a culturally sensitive, self-guided art therapy toolkit for adolescents that integrates mindfulness practices and creative activities to help them explore and shape their cultural identity. I created a physical toolkit as well as an accompanying website, informational video, and promotional materials.


Research Insights

Using a mix of primary research, like interviews, and secondary research, including literature reviews, media scans, and user personas, I refined the structure and intention of my toolkit. Here are the three key insights that shaped its development:

  • Users need directions on how to use all parts of toolkit, so make sure to provide enough directions.
  • Keeping users engaged with the product by interacting with users through touch points- websites, community posts, etc. 
  • Making sure users explore emotional healing through art while addressing cultural identity challenges.


Brand

Using the design principles listed below, I created a comprehensive brand identity for Artelier, which helped inform my future design choices and the brand’s key touchpoints.

  • Educational:
    Provides adolescents with guided creative activities that help them explore and understand their cultural identity, while also teaching mindfulness techniques.
  • Light-hearted
    Offers fun and engaging art activities that encourages creativity and self-expression in a relaxed, pressure-free environment.
  • Relaxing 
    Uses calming mindfulness exercises and creative art activities to help adolescents relax and express themselves independently.
  • Empathetic 
    Addresses the emotional and cultural challenges adolescents face with supportive activities that promote personal growth and self-connection at their own pace.
For the brand identity, I chose the name Artelier because the name conveys a sense of craftsmanship, creativity, and a space for personal expression, all of which align well with the toolkit’s goals.  




Toolkit 

I chose to contain all my guided materials and art supplies in a mailer box, that would ideally be ordered online and delivered to users’ doorsteps.  





Design Context

This visual provides step-by-step instructions on how a user would physically interact with this toolkit and provide visual and written instructions for each art activity.




Informational Video

The Artelier explanation video introduces the toolkit’s purpose, features, and benefits in a clear and engaging way while highlighting how the toolkit supports creativity, mindfulness, and cultural exploration through self-guided art activities.



Website- home page

The website home page offers a warm, inviting introduction to the toolkit. It highlights the purpose of Artelier, showcases its key features, and provides a clear call-to-action for users to learn more or purchase. Visitors can understand how the toolkit supports creativity, mindfulness, and cultural exploration. The design prioritizes simplicity, clarity, and an emotional connection with the user.



Website- shop page

The shop page provides a seamless shopping experience where users can browse, learn more, and purchase the toolkit, which will be delivered to their doorstep. It features product images, a detailed description of the toolkit’s contents, and user testimonials. It ensures a succint and direct user-friendly experience.




Promotional Materials

As a secondary application of my brand, I purposefully chose a pencil case, tote bag, and enamel pins as fun add-ons to the toolkit. 





Documentation

This document entails all the research, design iterations, and solutions that I explored for my thesis project in one semester.

 ©2024