Introducing McDonald's® very first Frog-themed Happy Meal©!
In this project, students will research, create, design, and build a better Happy Meal for McDonald's. They'll look at what McDonald's already offers, figure out what could be better, learn about the Happy Meal's history, and then make a new and improved version. They'll also come up with a fun theme and decide who the Happy Meal is for.
The goal of this project was to inform children about frogs in a fun way that appeals younger ages. We aimed to create an enjoyable experience for children and frog-lovers alike. The meal includes types of frogs in nature, along with information about frogs. It comes with a small drink, 6-piece chicken nuggets, small fries, and a surprise toy.
Role: Research, Visual Design, Prototyping, Print Graphics, & Illustration
Duration: January 2024 to February 2024 for four weeks
Applications: Illustrator, Procreate, Milanote, and Indesign
Client: School Project
For the box, I aimed for a design that's playful and appealing to kids. Along with cute illustrations of frogs, I included fun facts about different frog species. I believed this approach would create a friendly and child-friendly vibe, fitting with the McDonald's® brand. Plus, I made sure to incorporate iconic McDonald's branding, like the golden arches.
For the main meal item, I drew inspiration from the fascinating fact that frogs are one of the longest-living animals and have a connection to dinosaurs. To add a touch of whimsy, I depicted frogs riding dinosaurs in the drawing. I also placed the 6 Chicken McNuggets© in a dynamic way, interacting with the drawing to create a playful scene.
When designing the fry container, I aimed to make the frogs interact with the fries to add some playful fun. Drawing from my research, I learned about desert-dwelling frog species, which inspired me to give the frogs a 'cowboy' twist. In the illustration, the Cowboy Frogs playfully wrangle the fries, adding a fun McDonald's® touch by capturing the essence of finding treasure at the bottom of the box.
For the children's drink, I aimed to bring the design to life by portraying frogs playing and swimming in the drink. I included various frog poses and swimming styles to add excitement. Inside, I added a surprise frog at the bottom of the drink to make it even more fun and interactive.
For the design of the toy box, I drew inspiration from medieval depictions of frogs and their fascinating role in history. I was intrigued by the contrast between the perception of frogs as both remedies and ingredients in witches' brews during medieval times. Incorporating these concepts, I infused my own playful and whimsical style, imagining the frogs as magical witches brewing their own enchanting remedies. This approach adds a unique twist to the design, blending historical intrigue with a touch of cuteness and fantasy.
To kick off this project, I tackled what I consider the challenging part first – creating the templates. After numerous iterations and trial prints, I successfully crafted my own prototypes that embodied the essence of McDonald's branding for the Happy Meal©. With the templates in hand, I began brainstorming and sketching out ideas for my frog-themed meal.
Starting in my trusty sketchbook, I roughed out my initial inspirations and designs. Once I had a clear vision, I transitioned to refining and finalizing my concepts in Procreate®. This digital platform allowed me to iterate quickly and experiment with different elements. From there, I translated my finalized designs into vectors using Adobe Illustrator®.
In Illustrator®, my focus was on refining the designs to create a polished, professional look that aligns with McDonald's branding standards. I aimed to minimize hand-drawn elements, opting for smoother lines and cleaner aesthetics to ensure that my creations felt like authentic products that McDonald's could potentially offer.
For the research phase of this project, I fully immersed myself in understanding both McDonald's and the fascinating world of frogs. I delved into the history and purpose behind McDonald's creation of Happy Meals, visiting their stores and engaging with the staff to grasp the unique atmosphere they offer. Concurrently, I deepened my knowledge of various frog species worldwide, exploring their characteristics and habitats.
As my exploration progressed, I expanded my research to include McDonald's branding strategies, particularly their color choices and whimsical design elements that resonate with my personal style. I aimed to find a balance that accurately conveyed both the iconic McDonald's brand identity and the playful essence of frogs in my designs. This comprehensive approach ensured that my final creations effectively communicated the essence of both worlds.
The prototyping and construction phase proved to be the most challenging aspect of this assignment. Dealing with numerous misprints and mistakes consumed a significant portion of my time and effort. Even as I neared completion, I encountered difficulties in aligning dimensions and bringing my vision to fruition.
One key strategy that greatly facilitated the process was smoothing out the blank templates early on. This allowed me to visualize my design concepts more clearly and make necessary adjustments to the boxes accordingly.
For the final print items, I utilized specific paper sizes and printing methods to achieve the desired results. The nugget and drink containers were printed on 11" x 17" cardstock with a double-sided pattern. Similarly, the fries and toy container were printed on 8.5" x 11" cardstock with a double-sided pattern.
As for the largest item, the Happy Meal Box, I opted for a 24" x 17" roll of enhanced matte paper. However, due to the chosen printing method, I encountered limitations in printing a pattern on the back. Given the opportunity, I would seek to address this issue in future iterations.
This project truly put my skills as an artist, designer, and student to the test. As an artist, blending McDonald's branding with my own creative vision proved challenging. Working within McDonald's color palette, which isn't typically my preference, presented its own set of obstacles.
As a designer, finding the right balance between conveying all the necessary information while maintaining the integrity of the McDonald's brand was tough. Looking back at previous versions of McDonald's boxes provided valuable insights on how to present the information effectively.
As a student, managing time between this project and other school assignments was a constant struggle. Establishing a clear timeline and utilizing tools like Milanote helped me stay organized and focused without neglecting other tasks.
Overall, while this project demanded a lot from me, it also provided a valuable opportunity to unleash creativity within structured boundaries. Finding this balance was key to success, and I'm grateful for the experience it offered.
