Etsy Shop - Digital Download

I started an Etsy shop selling digital design files inspired by the K-pop group Ateez. I noticed a gap in the designs available within the fan community, so I created my own and shared them with fellow fans. I began by designing the shop's logo and banner, based on Mito, Ateez's bunny character. I took Mito's silhouette and simplified it into an icon, swapping in a heart for the eyes to make the mark my own while keeping Mito's signature black-and-pink color palette. The moon detail nods to the scar on Mito's face, and the star references Seonghwa, one of the group's members known for his love of stars. One of my best-selling designs recreated the visual style of member Mingi's solo era, translated into a scratchy, hand-lettered SVG/PNG file compatible with cutting machines. It let fans use the design to make their own merch, stickers, or fan projects — part of a shop built around giving the fan community options they couldn't easily find elsewhere. Role: I handled every part of this shop myself — design, product creation, and shop management — from initial concept through listing and sale.

Tools: Illustrator

Final thoughts: Running this shop taught me more than just design — I handled everything myself, from concept to product listing to customer messages, which gave me a real look at the business side of design work. I learned that if you're part of the community you're profiting from, you should really know the story. Being able to relate to the community and understand its needs really helped shape the shop to reach its potential.