Mockups of the Nintendo magazine ad and mailer, side-by-side

Date

December 2018

Client

Undergraduate education

Nintendo holiday

For the last project in prepress production, we were tasked with “pushing the limits” of print. Practicality was a factor, but the focus was mostly on being imaginative. The goal was to pick a company and design a compelling Holiday/Christmas-themed magazine advertisement and corresponding mailer that left a lasting impression.

I somehow got dibs on Nintendo, and inspired by the release of SNES Classic, I thought it would be fun to surmise that Nintendo eventually releases a Game Boy Color Classic. To announce this release, what if Nintendo implemented a “low cost” Game Boy Paper with embedded electronics that’s capable of playing a game?

Imagine that you’re flipping through a special gaming magazine. Suddenly, you’re met with a present that, when “unwrapped,” reveals a fully playable Game Boy Paper. Oh, and it serves as an announcement for the Game Boy Color Classic. Practical? Maybe not. Fun? I think so.

The Magazine ad reads: “Merry Christmas. Love, Nintendo”. In the center is Nintendo-themed gift wrap with a white bow.Pealing the gift wrap away reveals a green Game Boy Color Paper. The screen has an inside joke that reads: “Alan the Legend. Press start. ©2018 Engel Games.” The backside of the gift wrap reads: “Ready for more? Relive some of your favorite games, only on the Game Boy Color Classic™. nintendo.com/gbcc.”Magazine ad without the gift wrapThe side of the mailer that shows the send and receive addresses. The sender is Nintendo of America, while the receiver is a professor who taught the class. Reads “Merry Christmas…” at the bottom.The side of the mailer that shows the Nintendo-themed gift wrap and white bowThe mailer, opened, revealing the advertisement “Ready for more?” and the green Game Boy Color PaperThe mailer, opened and flipped, showing the addresses and gift wrap

Colophon

  • The gift wrap and Game Boy Paper are 100% vector illustration. They were a labor of love.
  • The “Alan the Legend” game screen is fictional and made in honor of a professor
  • All of the wrapping paper icons were also a labor of love. I didn’t make the DK logo though. That credit belongs to Toomai of SmashWiki.

Type

  • Fredoka One, ITC Avant Garde Gothic, Lato, and Origami Making

Images

  • “Kirby’s Dream Land 2” in-game screenshot by Satoshi Matrix. Satoshi Matrix’s Blog.
  • “Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening” in-game screenshot. Paste Magazine.
  • “Pokemon Gold” in-game screenshot. RPGFan. (Originally found on Giant Bomb).
  • “White bow tied using silk ribbon, cut out top view” by mrcatmint. Adobe Stock.

Related work

  • 40 Tips for Logo Design
  • Coco Planets
  • Crescent Moon Coffee

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