Visual Design • Print Design • Experiential Design • Prototyping • Campaign Design
When Sonatype launched its new space-themed rebrand, the Developer Relations team wanted a conference handout that wouldn’t immediately end up in the trash. It needed to communicate useful developer resources while standing out in a crowded, swag-heavy environment.
I designed an interactive origami spaceship that translated the new brand into a physical, hands-on experience. Developer resources were built directly into the piece, turning a traditional conference handout into something attendees could build, explore, and keep.
The Challenge
The idea was fun, but it still had to actually work. Once folded, every panel had to align correctly, the content needed to remain legible, and the finished structure still had to feel intentional rather than like a brochure folded into a novelty shape. Once folded, every panel had to align correctly, the content needed to remain legible, and the finished structure still had to feel intentional rather than like a brochure folded into a novelty shape.
I printed, folded, adjusted, and reprinted the piece throughout the process, refining panel placement, fold lines, orientation, and hierarchy until the information remained readable in both its flat and assembled states.
Designing in Three Dimensions
I developed the structure and layout through repeated physical prototyping, moving between flat artwork and folded versions to understand how the design changed once it became a three-dimensional object.
I printed, folded, adjusted, and reprinted the piece throughout the process, refining panel placement, fold lines, orientation, and hierarchy until the information remained readable in both its flat and assembled states. I also adapted the structure for U.S. Letter and A4 formats so the experience would remain consistent across regions.
Once the structure was established, I worked with the Developer Relations team to refine the content across each panel. QR codes, developer resources, messaging, and visual elements were distributed throughout the spaceship so the piece remained useful while preserving the playful quality of the concept.
From Handout to Keepsake
The finished spaceship turned what could have been a disposable conference handout into an interactive extension of Sonatype’s new brand. Attendees could access developer resources through the piece, assemble it themselves, and keep the finished spaceship after the event.
The concept was well received by developers, with attendees keeping the assembled pieces as desk décor. What began as a way to distribute information became a small brand experience that continued to live beyond the conference itself.
