In 2025 I was tasked with creating a matchbook that would be photographed in the scene of a specific movie. I chose Bladerunner 2049 as my movie.
Explorations in
Matchbook
Design
Explorations in
Matchbook
Design
In 2025 I was tasked with creating a matchbook that would be photographed in the scene of a specific movie. I chose Bladerunner 2049 as my movie.
Research/Inspiration
Results
Results
Production
Some of the development meant research on the subject. I glimpsed through the movie while taking screenshots to understand the general atmosphere as well as looking what scene I will make the matchbook for.
The first initial watch-through showed a high tech society that was dreary. Scenes with the main character featured neon holograms and a wet rainy atmosphere. While these are significant to the world of the movie, it did not make sense for a matchbook to be in a society like that. To note, there were no scenes that indicated a someone being a collector of antiques.
The first initial watch-through showed a high tech society that was dreary. Scenes with the main character featured neon holograms and a wet rainy atmosphere. While these are significant to the world of the movie, it did not make sense for a matchbook to be in a society like that. To note, there were no scenes that indicated a someone being a collector of antiques.
In the second watch-through, the main character heads to a radioactive Las Vegas. He eventually arrives at an unnamed casino. In this setting he is in a less technological advanced area, which deemed acceptable for a place a matchbook would be. Since the casino had no name, I gave it the identity of "Honeycomb Casino," as a reference to a scene with a honeybee farm.
Research/Inspiration
Some of the development meant research on the subject. I glimpsed through the movie while taking screenshots to understand the general atmosphere as well as looking what scene I will make the matchbook for.
Production
In the second watch-through, the main character heads to a radioactive Las Vegas. He eventually arrives at an unnamed casino. In this setting he is in a less technological advanced area, which deemed acceptable for a place a matchbook would be. Since the casino had no name, I gave it the identity of "Honeycomb Casino," as a reference to a scene with a honeybee farm.
Once research was done, I had various draft stages. The first draft was mainly made for placement study purposes.
I decided to go for a bee and honeycomb themed motif for the matchbook.
Once research was done, I had various draft stages. The first draft was mainly made for placement study purposes.
I decided to go for a bee and honeycomb themed motif for the matchbook.
The second through fourth drafts were understanding how a fully colored design would work, as well as changing the font to make the design more cohesive.
These were printed from a laser jet printer to understand how the final draft may look
There were many changes to the font as many of them did not feel like they coincided with "honey."
The second through fourth drafts were understanding how a fully colored design would work, as well as changing the font to make the design more cohesive. These were printed from a laser jet printer to understand how the final draft may look
There were many changes to the font as many of them did not feel like they coincided with "honey."
The fifth draft was making a prototype of the final draft, by understanding the best techniques to ensure clean glueing and cutting. Premium Matte paper was used to achieve the same thickness as normal matchbooks.
This stage proved to be the most challenging as during the cutting and folding process, the paper would crumple and break.
The fifth draft was making a prototype of the final draft, by understanding the best techniques to ensure clean glueing and cutting. Premium Matte paper was used to achieve the same thickness as normal matchbooks.
This stage proved to be the most challenging as during the cutting and folding process, the paper would crumple and break.