Case Study: Visual Brand Systems from ‘Traveling to Mars’ and ‘Sweet Paprika’

Hook: Why your art stalls at the merch table — and how these two hits solved it

Creators and indie publishers tell me the same three frustrations: your artwork gets lost in feeds, licensing feels opaque, and when you finally print merch the colors and silhouettes don’t translate. If you want a graphic novel design that draws attention, converts collectors, and scales into merch and screen adaptations, study the systems behind the hits. In early 2026 the transmedia studio The Orangery (home to Traveling to Mars and Sweet Paprika) signed with WME — a clear signal that adaptable visual identities are now premium IP. This case study shows how those series build flexible, merch-ready brand systems and exactly how you can emulate those methods for your own work.

The thesis: Adaptable visuals are product-ready visuals

Successful IP today isn’t just a story or a stand-alone cover — it’s a visual brand system that anticipates new formats, audiences, and revenue channels. From late 2025 into 2026, agencies and studios have been scouting graphic novels not for a single book, but for assets that translate: repeatable palettes, iconic silhouettes, and modular motifs that work across posters, apparel, AR filters, and packaging. Below I break down the design DNA of Traveling to Mars and Sweet Paprika, showing the principles and a practical playbook creators can apply immediately.

How to read this case study

This is a visual deep-dive, not a plot summary. Each module includes:

• Design diagnosis — what the series does well visually
• Why it’s adaptable — the qualities that let assets scale
• Actionable steps — templates and specs you can reuse

Context: Why agencies are paying for brand systems in 2026

Industry moves in early 2026, like the signing of The Orangery with WME, reflect a larger trend: buyers now evaluate graphic novels as multi-rights packages. Adaptability — the ability to drop a character silhouette into a poster, a motif into a shirt pattern, or a color story into a trailer — increases licensing value. For creators, that means deliberate design choices can directly increase discoverability and revenue.

“Transmedia buyers want IP that’s modular — imagery that can be repurposed.”

Case Study A: Traveling to Mars — visual DNA and systems

Diagnosis: Core aesthetic cues

Traveling to Mars reads as retro-futurist sci‑fi with emotional stakes. Its visual identity leans on a tight, three-to-five color palette, high-contrast character silhouettes, and mission-patch iconography that’s instantly reproducible. Those cues are engineered to be readable at thumbnail size and striking on physical goods.

Why it’s adaptable

• Limited palette reduces printing complexity and keeps brand color consistent across mediums — a real production benefit in the era of proof swatches and low-impact print runs (eco-pack solutions).
• Distinctive silhouettes (helmets, jackets, signature props) work as single-color screen prints or embroidered patches.
• Modular iconography (mission badges, coordinate stamps) scales as small merch motifs or large-format posters.
• Texture system — grain, halftone dots, and halation effects that can be toggled for different product classes (premium vs. mass-market).

Actionable blueprint: How to emulate Traveling to Mars

1. Create a 3–5 color palette. Start with a dominant base (Martian red or rust), a neutral (space gray), and one high-contrast accent (cyan or teal). Use one warm and one cool to support photographic overlays.
2. Build silhouette keys. Draw each protagonist as a bold silhouette in three poses: profile, 3/4, and action. Save as SVG vectors and export single-color PNGs at 300 DPI for print.
3. Design mission patches. Make circular badges using no more than 3 shapes and 2 type sizes. These become stickers, embroidered patches, and sleeve labels.
4. Texture library. Build layered Photoshop/PSD assets: film grain, halftone, and light bloom. Label them by intended use: poster, apparel, digital.
5. Responsive logo. Create three lockups: full (title + logotype), condensed (symbol + initials), and micro (single glyph). Test at 16 px, 72 px, and 300 px.

Merch motifs & product pairing

Merch that performs for this aesthetic:

• Minimalist tees with single-color silhouettes (DTG or screen print)
• Enamel pins and embroidered patches using the mission-patch graphics
• Collector prints that layer a limited palette with metallic inks for highlights
• Vinyl stickers using bold glyphs and die-cut silhouettes

Practical tip: export motif art as vector EPS/PDF for screen printing and as 300–600 DPI PNG for DTG. Include a white-separate file if you expect printing on dark garments.

Case Study B: Sweet Paprika — visual DNA and systems

Diagnosis: Core aesthetic cues

Sweet Paprika trades in temperature and texture: warm, aromatic colorways, sensual character curves, and spice-derived motifs. Its identity feels tactile and intimate, built to translate into lifestyle merch as easily as book covers.

Why it’s adaptable

• Warm-centric palette ties instantly to the title and moods (paprika, saffron, rose).
• Gestural character silhouettes emphasize negative space and can be reproduced as one-color prints or layered illustrations.
• Motif lexicon (pepper seeds, flame curls, cocktail glass silhouettes) provides endless repeat patterns for textiles and packaging.
• Photography + illustration hybrid — characters sit comfortably alongside lifestyle photography, aiding social media and product styling.

Actionable blueprint: How to emulate Sweet Paprika

1. Define an emotional palette. Choose a dominant spice tone (e.g., paprika red), a shadow color (deep burgundy), and a highlight (muted gold). Produce swatches in RGB, HEX, CMYK, and the closest Pantone for print fidelity.
2. Gesture studies. Sketch 20-second figure gesture poses emphasizing curve and flow. Convert the strongest gestures into single-line, single-shape silhouettes usable as embroidery or stamp designs.
3. Motif extraction process. Identify 6 repeatable elements from the narrative (a pepper, a cigarette tip, a lipstick trace, a cocktail icon, a drape fold, a script flourish). Create a repeat tile (1000 x 1000 px) and test as fabric pattern mockups.
4. Photography treatment. Develop a 3-step preset: warm temp boost, soft grain, and split-toning with gold highlights. Use this preset for lifestyle imagery to maintain consistency across product listings.

Merch motifs & product pairing

• Silk-scarf patterns using pepper-seed repeats and soft gradients
• Limited-run enamel jewelry with gestural silhouettes
• Candles and packaging that use spice colors and tactile finishes (soft-touch, spot gloss)
• Posters and art prints with layered gradients and gold foil accents

Cross-series patterns: What both titles share

Both series converge on a handful of visual strategies that make IP scalable:

• Economy of color — fewer brand colors mean fewer printing passes and easier digital cohesion.
• Bold silhouettes — single-shape recognition that reads at app thumbnails and billboards.
• Repeatable motifs — small glyphs and icons that form pattern systems for textiles and packaging.
• Layered modular assets — textures, badges, type treatments that can be swapped to create sub-brands.

Practical file and production specs (2026 standards)

To make assets genuinely adaptable for licensing and merch in 2026, deliverables must be production-ready. Use this checklist when exporting and packaging your brand system.

• Vectors first: Provide SVG/PDF/EPS for logos, badges, and motifs. Vectors scale without losing fidelity and are required for embroidery digitizers and screen printers.
• Raster exports: 300–600 DPI PNGs with transparent backgrounds for DTG and mockups. Submit a flattened TIFF for large-format printing where color profiles are critical.
• Color systems: List HEX, RGB, CMYK, and the closest Pantone matches. Include a brief note on intended use (web, apparel, foil, metallic).
• Texture layers: Supply PSD files with labeled texture layers and recommended blend modes so partners can toggle effects for different uses.
• Type and license: Note web-safe fallbacks and any purchased font licenses; provide OTF/TTF or recommended Google Fonts alternatives for license clarity.
• Merch mockups: Include front/back/close-up mockups in 2 colorways and 3 product types (tee, poster, enamel pin). Mockups help buyers visualize use cases quickly. (See weekend pop-up and merch playbooks for activation guidance: pop-up merchandising.)

Production & fulfillment considerations

In 2025–2026, print-on-demand and local microfactories matured in color accuracy and eco-credentials. When planning merch, choose fulfillment partners based on these priorities:

1. Color profiling — ask for sample swatches and request a printed proof for critical color matches (brand reds and metallics). A physical swatch saves returns.
2. Print method selection — use screen print for bold, limited-color runs; DTG for full-color gradient art; dye-sublimation for all-over apparel; and direct-to-film for complex multicolor transfers.
3. Sustainability — many buyers now expect transparency. Request certifications for organic cotton, low-VOC inks, or recycled packaging if that’s part of the brand positioning. See sustainable packaging playbooks for a practical checklist.
4. Fulfillment footprint — pick a partner with multiple regional hubs for faster shipping and fewer customs issues if you plan international licensing.

Design playbook: Templates you can apply this week

Use these quick templates to turn narrative visuals into a brand system in one weekend.

Palette formula

1. Pick 1 dominant color tied to the title (emotional anchor).
2. Pick 1 neutral (for text and background).
3. Pick 1 accent for call-to-action or details.
4. Add 1 supporting color if needed for photography overlays.

Silhouette rules

• Single shape, no interior detail for merch use.
• Max stroke width for embroidery: 2–3 mm depending on scale.
• Test silhouettes at 32 px, 72 px, and 300 px sizes.

Motif library starter

1. Extract six narrative items (tools, foods, props).
2. Design them as flat, single-color glyphs.
3. Create a 500 x 500 px repeat tile and test for textiles and wallpaper.

2026 trends & future predictions creators should plan for

Here are six developments shaping how visual brand systems are valued in 2026 and beyond.

• Transmedia valuation: Agencies favor IP with modular brand systems. Expect more literary talent deals tied to visual asset libraries.
• Micro-factory fulfillment: Regional on-demand production reduces minimums and shortens lead times — good for limited merch drops. See our weekend pop-up playbook for activation ideas: weekend pop-up playbook.
• AI-assisted pattern generation: Tools can produce repeatable motifs from sketches, but human curation remains essential for brand voice. For infrastructure and memory considerations, read about AI training pipelines that minimize memory footprint.
• Color sustainability: Eco-inks and low-impact processes are increasingly required by retailers and partners — link packaging choices to reuse and refill playbooks (sustainable refill packaging).
• Short-form social assets: Thumbnail-first design requires logos and silhouettes that read on small screens — pair visual systems with short-form video best practices (showroom & short-form video).
• Licensing clarity: Buyers expect detailed asset packs — missing vectors or color specs can block deals.

Common mistakes and how to avoid them

• Over-complicating motifs — keep icons simple and repeatable.
• Ignoring scale — always test at 32 px and in physical mockups.
• Mixing too many color families — choose temperature (warm vs cool) and stick to it for primary assets.
• Not providing production files — sellers who don’t provide vectors and Pantone values slow licensing deals.

Checklist: Brand system deliverables to create before pitching

• Color swatches (HEX, RGB, CMYK, Pantone)
• Logo lockups (full, condensed, micro) in vector format
• Three silhouette keys in vector and PNG
• Six motif glyphs and two repeat tiles
• Texture library PSD with labeled layers
• Photographic presets and lifestyle mockups
• Merch mockups for tees, pins, and a premium item
• Exported production specs and recommended print partners

Final takeaways — the creative and commercial payoff

Designing for adaptability is both an artistic choice and a business strategy. Think like a curator and a manufacturer simultaneously: build tight color systems, prioritize silhouette recognition, and invent motifs that breathe across formats. The market signals in early 2026 — from transmedia signings like The Orangery’s deal with WME to the maturation of on-demand production — reward creators who package their visuals as systems, not just single covers.

Actionable next steps

1. Audit one existing character and extract three silhouette poses this week.
2. Create a 3-color palette and export swatches in HEX, CMYK, and Pantone.
3. Design two repeat motifs and test them on a mock tee and a scarf.
4. Bundle all assets into a single “brand pack” PDF and one zipped folder of source files for licensing conversations.

Call to action

If you want a hands-on template, download our Brand System Checklist & Export Kit (free for subscribers) and submit a cover image to get a 10‑point visual audit from our editorial team. Join a growing community of creators turning graphic novel design into flexible, licensable IP — and make your next release a system, not just a story.

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