murder pickle

Natural Restorations is an Arizona-based non-profit conservation group that removes literally tons of trash from the forests and deserts. They also are advocates for the preservation of the mighty saguaro cactus, and have replanted over 6,500 cacti across the Sonoran desert.

Create a visually engaging piece of merch that would help start conversations about cactus conservation.

- They wanted a design that would stand out at conventions and events

- The design needed to be cactus specific, and a real conversation starter

- Stand out from the typical tame, safe, uninspired non-profit merch

- Since being a steward of nature is for all ages, the design still needed to be family acceptable

- This meant a design that balances menacing with cute, scary with fun, and irreverent with accessible.

It actually took more effort than I had anticipated to find the exact style of textures and linework that would work for this piece. But I was determined. I ended up buying a new set of vector brushes to achieve a specific look.

The company's co-founder, Justin, referred to cacti as "murder pickles," so we drew inspiration from this phrase and conceived what a cartoonish monster version of this would look like. We knew the design needed to appeal to all ages while still being a little edgy. Lowbrow with class, if you will. Vintage horror comics, such as those published by EC Comics back in the day (Tales From the Crypt, Haunt of Fear, etc) seemed a logical place to draw inspiration from. 

I started with a few very simple pencil sketches in my sketchbook to try and get the overall body language and vibe of the Murder Pickle.

I then chose a badge shape to contain the design, selected a retro-horrific typeface, balanced with a semi-rustic sans serif, and arranged the design elements using Affinity Designer.

With my fancy pants new Vector brushes, I got to work creating a fully realized vector version of the menacing cactus. Adding the flower and the cartoonish eyes made the design all the more balanced and comical.

I ensured that the design looks good in both black & white and color. In terms of colors, I went with a horror comic inspired palette that is at once dark and menacing but also bold and vibrant.

- Final design: "Murder Pickle" - a hexagonal badge that grabs attention and starts conversations.

- Merchandise: Stickers and T-shirts

- Key design decisions:

• Used comic-inspired illustration style

• Bold color palette

• Implemented vector brushes for unique line style and texture

• Balanced scary elements with fun, cartoonish features

- Client feedback: The crew at Natural Restorations absolutely loved the design. They commented that it stands out, and it definitely achieved the goal of being a conversation starter.

- Impact: The Murder Pickle became Natural Restorations' best-selling sticker and T-shirt

- Target audience response: The merchandise sold out quickly. People at events always laugh at the design and ask about the Murder Pickle, fulfilling the goal of starting conversations about conservation.

- Ongoing success: The Murder Pickle remains their most popular piece of merchandise.

The success of the Murder Pickle design led to an unexpected evolution of the character:

- Natural Restorations hosts an annual river rafting event called "The Salty Saguaro Classic," where participants raft down the Salt River while collecting trash.

- The Murder Pickle character was adapted to become the "Salty Saguaro" mascot for this event.

- The new design features the same menacing cactus character, now humorously placed in a yellow rubber ducky raft.

- This adaptation showcases the design's versatility and ability to be repurposed for different contexts while maintaining its core appeal.

- The juxtaposition of a terrifying, spiky cactus in an inflatable raft adds an extra layer of humor, making the design even more memorable.

- Bold, unconventional designs can make your merch stand out from your competitors.

- A successful design can have longevity and adaptability beyond its initial purpose.

- Balancing edgy humor with a positive message can create highly effective and memorable designs.

- Consistent character design across different events helps build a strong, recognizable brand identity.