Coldplay
When I was brought in by Millinsky to explore a potential merch collection for Coldplay’s Music of the Spheres era, it genuinely felt like a full-circle moment. I’ve always admired how the band builds worlds — each album isn’t just a sound, it’s a system, a mood, a myth. The opportunity was clear: design something that felt like it came from that same universe.
Designing in Orbit
The direction I explored leaned into the album’s space-pop optimism and cosmic world-building. I designed a series of limited-run pieces with galactic type treatments, fictional planetary symbols, and bright, dreamlike gradients that matched the album’s visual tone. Phrases like “Love In Other Languages” acted as anchors for the concept — a merch line that felt otherworldly, but deeply human.
Typography played a big role. I wanted it to feel a little alien, a little vintage, and completely in tune with the band’s ever-expanding sonic world.
The Launch That Didn’t Happen
We developed the concept in collaboration with the Coldplay team, and for a good while, it looked like the collection would launch. But towards the end of the process, things shifted direction on their side and the project was paused before it went live. It was one of those “so close” moments — disappointing, sure, but also a valuable experience in designing for a world-class band with a deep visual legacy.
Still Worth Telling
Even though it didn’t make it to shelves or tour stalls, this project stayed with me — and it still shapes how I think about merch today. It pushed me to design with emotion, with imagination, and with the kind of scale that music like this deserves.
This work wasn’t just a concept. It was a collaboration that almost made it into orbit — and even if it didn’t, I’m glad I got to build it.