Clients: Various (Gillette, Colgate-Palmolive, Diageo, P&G)
Roles: Product Designer, Graphic Designer
Fathom Optics provides the future of packaging embellishments with holographic ink patterns generated by software.
Fathom Optics is a software startup that provides dimensional light fields, or holographic effects, that are created with only standard printing ink. A cost effective and sustainable means that can make brands pop out when seen.
I was one of the original designers within the team to help with all aspects of the company, from creating the actual holographic effects, designing branded graphics, digital development, and client outreach.
Making products POP with dimensional effects
These patterns are generated through Fathom Optics software, which I would tinker with to create catered textured and dimensional effects. Though the company mostly focused on packaging products, Fathom Effects can be applied to any product or spatial. Below is a small showcase of effects and designs that I helped create, usually for food, beverage, and lifestyle brands.
Award winning Confluence packaging
Gift sets with glittering geodes “embedded” on the box
Cosmetic tubes with frozen water droplets
CBD products with trippy visuals
Posters and POP displays were created for a range of seasonal promotions, from lovely chocolates for Mother’s Day to romantic Victoria Secret deals for Valentine’s Day. Rendered spaces were paired with printed prototypes to showcase the spatial possibilities.
Other products, like watches, can also be integrated with Fathom Effects. A few 3D viewers showcasing several concepts: Watch 01, Watch 02, Watch 03. Renders and physical prototypes were paired to showcase the whole interaction.
These concepts lead to partnerships with Swatch and Koenig & Bauer, paving the way for Fathom Effects to appear on the SUSI Optics Jazz, a new currency prototype.
Example of rough concepts
Fathom Watch Dial Prototypes
Digital Tools for All
Though I created the Fathom Effects library, anyone can start interacting and using the effects on Fathom’s free online Fathom Designer tool. Upload designs and see in real-time how the effects will look on your packaging when printed. Sharing features were also included so concepts can be shared between teams and clients. Alongside the web browser tool, a prototype Adobe plug-in was also built for early users.
As with any new technology, many new users needed a guiding hand to get started. I created tutorial videos and projects for users to play around with, usually releasing new content based on user reviews and interviews.
Walkthrough of the Fathom Designer online tool.
Adobe Icon Iterations
Screenshot of Adobe Plug-In
Branded Samples
Looking at a 3D render is one thing, but nothing can beat the actual physical copy. Physical sample packs were printed and sent to interested designers so they could see the Fathom Effects in real life. These packs were used internally as well to account and plan for unpredictable color reactions in mass printing.
These sample packs also included a break down in how Fathom Effects are built. Fathom Effects are created with 2 layers of patterned ink sandwich between a clear substrate material. Helpful for the production factories that were interested.
