TCF GROUP ;
In-House — Jan 2024 - Sept 2025
Print POS, Brand Identity, 3D & Exhibition Design, Packaging, Email Marketing, UX/UI, Publications, Web & Social Assets
CONTEXT: TCF Group - a fast growing family run business based in Lincoln - producers, manufacturers and distributors of vaping products. A reactive employer within a chaotic industry, with a track-history of constant progress and financial success.
Under the umbrella brand sits; 888 Vapour (retail, B2C) and Juice Sauz Distribution (wholesale, B2B) which operates worldwide. Our in-house brands (Drifter, Dr Frost, V4 Vapour, ONE Eliquids, SALT) are championed through both of those channels.
CHALLENGES: Back in-house. New industry and audiences. Sink or swim business culture. Learn the structure and our methods of communication. The mass catalogue of SKUs and systems of storage. Keeping up-to-date with legalities and compliance. Understand safety data sheets and constantly make updates. Using a label printer for adhoc requests. Learn Blender (3D software) and advance my skills within the Adobe Suite. Become fast paced and reliable. Build on the existing brand identities. Please IQOS/Phillip Morris Int.
CONCLUSION: I joined a team of 2 and left 2nd of 6; I was the understudy and substitute to the Head of Design. I juggled up to 8 projects at a time, managing design responsibilities for key accounts such as Spain / Eciglogistica. I was given the important or lucrative projects that needed doing fast and well. I was given or consulted on all of the big projects. I liaised across the whole business and beyond, from flavorists and compliance officers to external clients, printers and stand builders. I worked with Chinese manufacturers to improve the UI and packaging finishes of new products. My prototypes and presentations were seen by directors and legal ministries. I redesigned the website for our leading brand Drifter, and developed the brands' narrative with a new slogan, logo, and graphics. My exhibition stand design for Dortmund 2024 set the new standard. All-in-all I grew really well into this business and picked up some valuable respect and experience for the next stage of my career.
Note: All work is from projects I have lead on, but in some instances may feature assets of another author.
CONTENTS: (01) PRINT POS (02) PACKAGING (03) EXHIBITION & 3D (04) WEB, EMAIL & SOCIAL (05) BRANDING
(01) PRINT POS
Printed marketing material used throughout both our B2C retail portfolio of 888 Vapour stores and distributed out to our B2B UK and International clients via our wholesale arm. The use cases vary - flavour menu flyers for exhibition stand support, posters for new product launches, table talkers and shelf wobblers for shopkeepers, printed catalogues for sales pitches - but the approach and processes remain consistent. Feature the product, show the brand, communicate the message.
A5 flavour menu for Madrid Expo (front)
A5 flavour menu for Madrid Expo (back)
Drifter x Elf A3 poster
Drifter x Elf A3 poster
Drifter x Elf table talker
Drifter Bar 6000 bollard cover
Drifter Bar 6000 (France) table talker
Drifter Bar 6000 (UK) A4 menu card
Drifter Bar 6000 (UK) A5 menu card
Drifter Bar 6000 (UK) A3 poster
Dr Frost (Germany) table talker
Dr Frost (Germany) A5 flavour menu (front)
Dr Frost (Germany) A5 flavour menu (back)
ONE Eliquids catalogue for Poundland pitch (UK)
888 Vapour A-Board
888 Vapour Bundle Posters
Heading: Body copy
(02) 888 VAPOUR
Body copy
(03) TITLE
HEADING: Body copy
Body copy
Body copy