Fathom Optics

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.

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.

Fathom Effects are created with 2 layers of patterned ink sandwich between a clear substrate material. These patterns are generated through Fathom Optics software, which I would tinker with to create catered textured and dimensional effects.

Fathom Effects on Products

Fathom Effects can be applied to any product. The company mostly focused on packaging products. Below is a small showcase of effects and designs that I helped create.

Though packaging was a large focus for the company, Fathom Optics could be utilized in practically any other consumer product. This ranged from architecture, wearables, and medical devices such as Little Sparrow’s Bili-Ruler.

Digital Tools for All

Though I created the Fathom effects, 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.

Aside from being one of the main product testers, I assisted with UX / UI and created models for the 3D viewer tool. A prototype Adobe plug-in was also built for early users.

The innovative technology of Fathom Effects were awarded on several designs, such as the Confluence The Wizard beer label. Tutorials for other users were built around these award winning labels. Here is an example of a sharelink for the Confluence’s The Wizard project.

Branded Samples

It’s amazing to watch the visuals on Fathom Designer, but people obviously want to see the real thing. Physical sample packs were printed and sent to interested designers so they could gauge it themselves. These packs were used internally as well to account and plan for unpredictable color reactions.