Strange adventures: Costa Rica

Strange Adventures: Costa Rica was a visual identity and merchandise collection created for Strangeworks’ 2024 company retreat in Tamarindo, CR. The offsite brought the team together for strategic planning, brainstorming, and team-building during a period of company reorganization, so the creative direction needed to feel energizing, optimistic, and connected to the experience of being in Costa Rica.

The retreat’s central theme, “In the Brainforest,” combined the tropical setting with the collaborative purpose of the trip. Supporting phrases such as “Entangled in Paradise” extended the concept through a collection of illustrations and sticker designs inspired by Costa Rican wildlife, visual culture, and tourism ephemera.

The primary T-shirt graphic featured an illustrated toucan, bringing together the Strangeworks identity and the natural environment of the destination. Additional designs included a playful reinterpretation of Costa Rica’s local Imperial beer emblem, an illustration inspired by the country’s colorful painted oxcarts, a travel-badge-style sticker, and an out-of-office Polaroid featuring Schördy Cat, the Strangeworks mascot.

Alongside the visual identity, we assembled a practical travel kit for each employee. Before the trip, we surveyed the team about their preferences and allowed them to select a fanny pack they would be comfortable using. Each kit also included a lightweight Nomadix towel, sunscreen, insect repellent, a custom Strangeworks pin, and the retreat T-shirt.

My role included illustration, sticker and apparel design, merchandise sourcing, production preparation, and vendor coordination. I prepared print specifications, managed orders, and worked through the logistics required to deliver the shirts, stickers, pins, fanny packs, and travel supplies before the retreat.