Art Toy Design: Galactic Rat In Progress
As I anxiously await the completion of my 3D printed models, I have been working on the packaging! I referenced several “action figure” box templates online and finally came up with a cut-and-fold design I liked.
Here’s the first prototype, hand-drawn and cut to test folding methods:
Included in the picture is my rough PLA print of the rat. The model is only 3 inches, so I scaled the box down to fit its proportions. As I toyed with the possible graphics, I decided to kind of ditch the rocketship idea because it seemed too similar to Buzz Lightyear. And in all honesty, I know a rat in a spacesuit isn’t the most revolutionary, game-changing art toy idea. We already have Sandy Cheeks and Buzz Lightyear, does the world really need another astronaut character? Don’t worry, Ben, I’m not changing my idea! Just reflecting. However, such reflection has led me to develop a story to go along with my space rat guy. And the story goes: The F train derailed one day and blasted off into space taking along all the rats inside of it with it. The rats have no difficulty adjusting to their new space habitat considering the NYC subways are already pretty uninhabitable. So, I’m going to tell this story onthe box I create. And if all goes well, I’m going to screen-print the graphics onto this brown, cardboard kraft textured box in bright neon colors. Notice on my box sketch I put the letters of “RAT” in circles to reassemble the different NYC subway lines. It’s paired with a futuristic/comic box style typeface that reads “Galactic” on the top of the face of the box.
Anyways, after I was satisfied with what I configured in my prototype, I translated it to Illustrator and printed a version on the laser cutter, including a dashed etching for the fold lines. Here’s that one:
I realized as I was folding, it was reversed from how I originally wanted it, so I adjusted my illustrator design to print when I get more material. I recycled a cardboard envelope from a package, and I really ended up liking the feel of it. Now I need to find that hard type of plastic to glue on the inside. I may just have to buy cheap toys and reuse the plastic there but that seems kind of wasteful. I’ll get back to you on what plastic I decide to use.
