From puzzle boxes to collector pins and color-change mugs, I partnered with Heroic Signatures to develop packaging and product designs that honored the visual legacy of Conan the Barbarian while navigating real-world production challenges. I collaborated across time zones with international vendors, reverse-engineered lost assets, and built brand-faithful packaging from the ground up — turning fan-favorite products into shelf-ready heroes.

Collector’s Cut: Packaging for the True Fan

I designed the packaging for the official Conan the Barbarian: Hyborian Age 1500-piece puzzle, using the client’s style guide to create a clean, modern layout aligned with the head of marketing’s vision.

While the visual tone was intentionally minimal for retail appeal, one of the key challenges was working without a production template. I collaborated directly with the factory to build custom dielines from scratch — ensuring the final box was accurate, shelf-ready, and visually striking.

To launch Conan-themed collector pins, I designed backing cards using actual scenes from the film as the visual base. Each pin was carefully placed to feel like a living moment — a memento from the cinematic world.

Balancing brand fidelity, production constraints, and emotional fan appeal, these pin cards gave the final product a punch of nostalgia and polish. They didn’t just hold the pins — they told a story.

Branded Packaging

For a reprint of Conan’s color-change mugs, the original production files had vanished. Using only reference photos and samples, I reverse-engineered the artwork — matching wraparound alignment, design proportions, and thematic consistency without access to the original assets.

At the same time, I led the packaging effort, working closely with an overseas factory to create new box dielines from scratch. Multiple iterations later, we landed on a production-ready solution that met both aesthetic and technical demands. These mugs shipped with packaging that honored the Conan brand — clean, functional, and fan-worthy.

Hyborian Precision: Packaging the Puzzle of an Age

Reverse Engineering & Building: Color-Change Mug Packaging

Across each project, I adapted to shifting assets, rebuilt missing materials, and maintained visual alignment with a legacy brand. Whether building dielines from scratch, coordinating with vendors, or elevating retail presentation, I approached every piece as a fan — and delivered like a producer.

One of my favorite challenges: packaging a bottle opener branded with the Thulsa Doom mark. Rather than rely on a standard retail box, I pitched an in-world solution — a burlap-textured pouch paired with a hand-designed craft paper tag.

The hangtag served as both a brand marker and a thematic touchpoint, preserving the gritty, ancient-world feel of the piece. This wasn’t just a product — it felt like something a Conan character would carry.

Relics and Runes: In‑World Packaging Design