The Natural History Museum (London) is a world-class visitor attraction and leading science research centre, caring for more than 80 million specimens spanning billions of years, it welcomes more than five million visitors annually.
NHM offers children the opportunity to come face-to-face with stunning specimens, live animals and museum scientists through workshops, science shows and self-led activities for all ages and levels.
THE CHALLENGE
To design a dynamic collection of stickers aimed at Key Stage 1 children and a decorative lapel pin. The stickers need to visually fit with the museum's merchandising, be interesting and appealing to young, inquisitive minds, whilst the lapel pin needs to reflect the essence of the museum and offer an aspirational, decorative piece that commemorates the wearer's visit to the museum.
My design solution incorporates the design and development of a museum character, Dino Dan. Dino Dan’s story is that he lives and works at the museum. I envisaged the character’s brand becoming an integral part of the marketing strategy for the museum’s educational program, giving the children a point of focus and an interesting, quirky character, to connect with. Dino Dan would then have his own line of merchandise from stickers, to replica tools and clothing, all of which would be available in the museum shop.
Dan’s Top 5 Stickers are inspired by the Cadogan collection and intended to demonstrate how the skulls might have looked in the flesh. On the back of the stickers is a friendly, engaging message from Dan that contains lots of interesting, fun facts, relating to the featured artefacts.
My designs demonstrate interesting, with a hint of gruesome! I was keen not to patronise kids with overly simplified images and I'm confident these images would be considered appealing even by the most discerning 9 year olds!
My designs for the lapel pins feature glittery, sparkly, dinosaur skulls. I wanted to create something attractive that would appeal to a broad customer base. Having been inspired by the signed pieces of high-end designer jewellers, I’ve incorporated a decorative, signature style font, to complete the feeling of a decorative, wearable memento.
