Product Design & Retail Collaboration
After years of digital work, I really wanted to create something I could actually hold. I have always loved that kitschy, nostalgic grandma vibe you get from motivational tiles in a kitchen. My goal was to take that cozy sentiment and subvert it with the signature Tom Spoon style. It is all about extracting humor by clashing vintage aesthetics with messages that are a bit more dissonant and raw.
Kitschy Nostalgia with a Vulgar Twist
After years of digital work, I really wanted to create something I could actually hold. I have always loved that kitschy, nostalgic grandma vibe you get from motivational tiles in a kitchen. My goal was to take that cozy sentiment and subvert it with the signature Tom Spoon style. It is all about extracting humor by clashing vintage aesthetics with messages that are a bit more dissonant and raw.
Decorative Wisdom for the Modern Asshole
I created a series of 10x10cm ceramic tiles, each finished with a gold edge and a slightly rude print. I equipped them with a hanger on the back so they could be as functional as they are decorative. Give Less Shits: Perfect for morning self-motivation or a bit of evening self-demotivation. No Drama: The ideal way to make sure your game night or one-night stand gets the right idea from the start. I'm Into Weird Shit: A helpful way to show your guests exactly how weird you are without giving too much away. Bye Bitch: The ultimate gift for an ex.
10x10cm Ceramic Tiles with Gold Edge
From the Screen to the Shop Window
This started as a digital passion project but quickly turned into a physical product line that local stores actually wanted to carry. In de Vitrine: I teamed up with Thrashlife, MIJNLEUVEN, and shoppeninleuven for a project called "In de Vitrine". This gave young entrepreneurs like me a chance to experiment in physical retail spaces by taking over the windows of established shops in Leuven.
Animaux Spéciaux Collaboration
Retail Partnerships: My tiles found a home at Animaux Spéciaux. They marketed them as cheeky Christmas gifts for people who actually have something to say to their special someone. The Perfect Gift: What better way to express your feelings than with a tile that says exactly what you mean?
The Tiles Come to Life at Animaux Spéciaux
Seeing my tiles displayed in a real retail environment was surreal. Animaux Spéciaux created beautiful window displays that perfectly captured the irreverent spirit of the product. The Display: The store styled them alongside other quirky gift items, making them feel right at home in their carefully curated selection of products that make you smile (or cringe, depending on your sense of humor).
Digital Tools, Analog Feel
I used my skills in After Effects and Procreate to build these visuals. I spent a lot of time meticulously crafting imperfections to make sure the retro feel was consistent across the whole range. My tiles found a home at Animaux Spéciaux. They marketed them as cheeky Christmas gifts for people who actually have something to say to their special someone.
Branded Vulnerability in 3D
These tiles were the first time I successfully brought my digital identity into the physical world. They proved that my brand could live outside of a screen and still make noise. By blending a vintage look with modern, cheeky messaging, I built a brand experience that people could literally hang on their walls.
I ran this project as a solo entrepreneurial journey with the help of some great local partners.
