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OVERVIEW
When theaters trap moviegoers with $9 sugar-bombs, Liquid Death equips the resistance with the one smuggling device no usher dares to challenge.
OVERVIEW
CLIENT
Liquid Death
via Brandcenter Sprint 2025
ROLE
Experience Design
End-to-End Product Design & Development
OBJECTIVE
"Win the internet for a day" as the antidote to sugary soda
TIMELINE
96-hour turnaround;
January 2025
PROBLEM IDENTIFICATION

A Century-Long Sugar Empire

Since 1920, Big Soda has monopolized movie theater concessions with an illusion of choice—universal 'No Outside Drinks' policies that funnel consumers exclusively to sugar-laden sodas, made and marked-up gratuitously by only a few brands.

Average markup on theater beverages
(YouGov)
900%
Moviegoers that theater drink policies unacceptable
(YouGov)
43%
Moviegoers who sneak in refreshments
(YouGov)
63%
USER INSIGHT

Rebellion in Response

In the face of exploitation and excessive sugar content, though, moviegoers don't yield—they mock instead.

As creative rebellion becomes increasingly celebrated amongst online communities, consumer defiance evolves into satirical performance.

OPPORTUNITY SPACE

The Perfect Crime

One group consistently bypasses scrutiny: parents with young children.

This widespread overlook grants near immunity to suspicion, effectively creating a Trojan horse opportunity.

With brand DNA that thrives on provocative communication and
subverting industry norms, Liquid Death is primed to deliver on this call to arms.

SOLUTION ARCHITECTURE [1/3]
Product Innovation
Engineered for Function
Calibrated Carrier Design
Modular torso and limb storage system specifically designed to accommodate standard and tall boy Liquid Death can dimensions
Sound-Masking Mechanism
Innovative "soft spot" design that absorbs and muffles the distinctive sound of opening aluminum cans for worry-free LD
Realistic Movement Physics
Infant-scale weight stabilization ensures natural-looking movement patterns that avoid suspicion during transport
SOLUTION ARCHITECTURE [1/3]
Product Innovation
Engineered for Story
Exploits Parental Privilege
Leverages society's automatic deference to "parents" of "infants", creating an unquestionable smuggling vessel
Shock-Driven Sharing
Features and customization points designed to provoke sharing and drive community engagement
Plausible Deniability
Accompanying swaddle and authentication documentation create a complete system with built-in social protection mechanisms
SOLUTION ARCHITECTURE [2/3]

Digital Ecosystem

View the Figma prototype
View the Figma prototype
Adoption Center Interface
Digital storefront designed as a tongue-in-cheek adoption agency with real-time customization options
Documentation Generator
Automated system creating authentic-looking birth certificates, signed by Murder Man to complete narrative experience
Strategic Merchandise Integration
Product ecosystem extending beyond the Bundle of Death to products suitable for real babies too while expanding revenue opportunities
SOLUTION ARCHITECTURE [3/3]
Tactical Storytelling
CONTENT PHASE I
Murder Man's
Journey to Parenthood
•    Murder Man's transformation from metal enthusiast to expectant father
•    An emotional narrative hook for both existing fans and new audiences
•    Leverages pregnancy announcement tropes with Liquid Death aesthetic
CONTENT PHASE I
Murder Man's
Journey to Parenthood
•    Murder Man's transformation from metal enthusiast to expectant father
•    An emotional narrative hook for both existing fans and new audiences
•    Leverages pregnancy announcement tropes with Liquid Death aesthetic
CONTENT PHASE I
Murder Man's
Journey to Parenthood
•    Murder Man's transformation from metal enthusiast to expectant father
•    An emotional narrative hook for both existing fans and new audiences
•    Leverages pregnancy announcement tropes with Liquid Death aesthetic
PROCESS
The 96-Hour Sprint
Monday: Briefing
Monday: Briefing

•    Attended briefing with Andy Pearson, VP of Creative at 2pm
•    Identified monopoly pressure points
•    Aligned on anti-establishment approach

Tuesday: Deep Dive
Tuesday: Deep Dive

•    Defined soda consumer sentiments
•    Explored and defined creative concept
•    Outlined technical requirements

Wednesday: Strategic Pivot
Wednesday: Strategic Pivot

•    Quickly aligned with new concept provided by key insight
•    Abandoned safe parody concept for focus on transgression
•    Expanded technical boundary from social commentary to engineering

Thursday: Design & Development
Thursday: Design & Development

•    Mapped ideal consumer journey, merging adoption process with e-commerce
•    Synchronized customization interface, options and merchandise development for fully functional digital prototype
•    Integrated social sharing at key experience, e.g., birth certificate generation

•    Studied sizing and material for realistic aesthetics and movement
•    Selected base doll for soft textile core, then tailored and reinforced cavity for Liquid Death can dimensions
•    Iterated upon rubber limb system for closure durability

Friday: Live Client Pitch
Friday: Live Client Pitch

Demonstrated multi-platform execution through:
•    Physical prototype demonstration
•   Digital platform walkthrough
•   Content strategy and scalability preview
•   Mockumentary-style pitch video

Exclusive Demo
Exclusive Demo

User-testing done live at Sprint end celebration! :)

Monday: Briefing
Monday: Briefing

•    Attended briefing with Andy Pearson, VP of Creative at 2pm
•    Identified monopoly pressure points
•    Aligned on anti-establishment approach

Tuesday: Deep Dive
Tuesday: Deep Dive

•    Defined soda consumer sentiments
•    Explored and defined creative concept
•    Outlined technical requirements

Wednesday: Strategic Pivot
Wednesday: Strategic Pivot

•    Quickly aligned with new concept provided by key insight
•    Abandoned safe parody concept for focus on transgression
•    Expanded technical boundary from social commentary to engineering

Thursday: Design & Development
Thursday: Design & Development

•    Mapped ideal consumer journey, merging adoption process with e-commerce
•    Synchronized customization interface, options and merchandise development for fully functional digital prototype
•    Integrated social sharing at key experience, e.g., birth certificate generation

•    Studied sizing and material for realistic aesthetics and movement
•    Selected base doll for soft textile core, then tailored and reinforced cavity for Liquid Death can dimensions
•    Iterated upon rubber limb system for closure durability

Friday: Live Client Pitch
Friday: Live Client Pitch

Demonstrated multi-platform execution through:
•    Physical prototype demonstration
•   Digital platform walkthrough
•   Content strategy and scalability preview
•   Mockumentary-style pitch video

Exclusive Demo
Exclusive Demo

User-testing done live at Sprint end celebration! :)

REFLECTION
Closing Thoughts
Key Successes
While others targeted taboos through sexual or bodily humor, we leveraged existing consumer behavior and systemic blind spots to facilitate viral conversation.
Key Learnings
Absurdity as strategy requires both cultural (self-)awareness to identify true vulnerabilities and technical rigor to ground envisioned solutions.
ART DIRECTION
Smera Dhal
COPYWRITING
Callum Leitenberg, Boyan Zlatarski
CREATIVE BUSINESS MANAGEMENT
Emma Kerencheva
EXPERIENCE DESIGN
Yanna Nguyen
STRATEGY
Joy Zhou
REACH OUT
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