Background
This project was one of the new product categories DPI Merchandising Inc. wanted to explore, using elements from Dragon Age to develop an IP-inspired messenger bag. The initial order quantity was only 300 units, making supplier sourcing and product development particularly challenging.
Challenge
The biggest challenge was turning a very vague product idea into a design that genuinely belonged to the game and its character. At the same time, the project had a limited budget and an initial order of only 300 units, making it difficult to find a supplier willing to develop a genuine leather product at the required quality and quantity.
What I did
I started with extensive product and game research rather than jumping straight into the design. I played the game myself to understand its world, visual style, and the character's story, while also researching more than 20 potential messenger bag styles. For each direction, I evaluated the estimated budget, prototyping time, and delivery timeline, and analyzed why the style, functionality, and overall look would fit the game and character.
Based on this research, I defined a vintage, aged aesthetic with brown tones that matched the game's visual language. I then developed the final bag design around this direction and worked through the material selection, focusing on genuine leather while balancing its appearance, quality, and cost. I also helped identify a suitable supplier who was willing to take on the relatively small initial order while meeting the required quality standards.
Outcome
The bag quickly gained popularity among customers and fans and sold through rapidly. The initial order was conservatively set at 300 units, but strong demand led to repeated increases, eventually reaching 2,000 units.
The success of this product also gave the client a proven design direction. Using the same style, materials, and manufacturing approach as the foundation, they went on to develop several other products in the same product line.
