Projects / Cosmopak collection
Overview
Cosmopak's trade show sample collection started as an observation: the sales team was spending significant time manually labeling samples before every client meeting and trade show, and labels were falling off in transit. I proposed replacing the adhesive label system with product information printed directly onto the samples at the factory level, designed the system across three collections and 21 samples, and negotiated the production arrangement with overseas factories, making it viable. What started as an operational fix became a demonstration of Cosmopak's own printing capabilities.
My contribution
Graphic design
Production design
The team
1x production manager
1x senior graphic designer
1x operations manager
The problem
Labels fell off during shipping and handling, leaving samples unidentified in a pile of competitors' products. Cosmetic brands receive samples from dozens of suppliers, and without clear identification, there is no way to know which company a sample came from. A sample that can't be identified is a missed sales opportunity.
Research
This project was driven by observation rather than formal research. I watched the sales team's preparation process firsthand and identified where time was being lost. Cosmopak had already printed its logo directly on samples, which confirmed that extending it to include full product information was technically feasible.
Outcome
The idea was approved fast, but the real work was what came next: negotiating with overseas factories to absorb part of the production cost and agreeing on a fee structure that made the program viable.
Cosmopak paid a small fee per sample run, which eliminated the in-house labeling process and resulted in a look that looked more professional than anything a printed label could achieve.
The samples went directly from the factory to meetings and trade shows, ready to use, with no additional preparation needed in the NYC office.
The system is still in use at Cosmopak today.
