DREAM WIZARD NIGHTMARE KIT
For young children struggling with nightmares, bedtime can become a daunting task. Frequent and repetitive nightmares put stress on both the child and the parent. Lack of sleep then causes increased anxiety throughout the day, making nightmares more likely each night, creating a cyclical issue.
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I worked independently to create a nightmare fighting kit to provide children with sleep strategies, and self-soothing mechanisms for after waking with a nightmare. This included packaging, a placebo "dream potion," a dream journal, a teddy bear carrying case, and a parent's information book.
Role:
Brand, Product, and Packaging Designer
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Software Used:
Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Illustrator, Adobe Indesign, Blender, Adobe Dimensions.
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Timeframe:
8 weeks
STEP ONE: THE BRAND
To create my brand and my products, I first did some self-reflection about my own life experiences. I discovered that as I child I was prone to nightmares because of anxiety during the day and directed toward sleep. To explore this audience, I conducted interviews and explored how prepared family members are to assist children with their dreams.
Here's what I found:
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Family members struggled to identify when a child had slept poorly
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Family members struggled to understand why a child was afraid of their dreams (nightmares about unconventional fears or things that shouldn't be scary)
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Family members were unsure how to comfort a child who had a nightmare
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Family members were unsure how to find help for the child struggling
My brand--Dream Wizard--uses the theme of magic and wizards to empower children to take control of their dreams. Based on nighttime moods, I chose a twilight, dreamy, and magical brand.
STEP TWO: THE PACKAGING
To package my artifacts, I chose to create a box-style kit. I illustrated designs for the box that matched my artifacts to tie everything together.
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My original plan for artifacts I wanted to include in the kit.
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My first draft of the box wrap in Adobe Dimensions.
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My final box wrap and illustrations.
STEP THREE: THE PAMPHLET
Because my product was geared toward children, it was important that I include an instructional pamphlet for the child's guardians. This pamphlet included instructions to use the items in the kit, and resources for medical care if the nightmares continued.
STEP FOUR: THE POTION
As a self-soothing tool, my kit includes a placebo "dream potion" for the child to take if they wake up from a nightmare. This helps them believe that they won't have another nightmare and helps them to fall back asleep, even without seeking their parents for help.
STEP FIVE: THE TEDDY BEAR
I then created a teddy bear for my kit. This bear serves as a comfort tool, and the zipper in the back makes it a unique carrying pouch for the rest of the artifacts. I created the 3D model for the bear in Blender, and then added color and textures to the model in Adobe Dimensions.
