Stylo Mobile

Challenge

Stylo is a private-label mobile phone brand sold through PEP Stores, one of South Africa’s largest retail chains. When they came to me, the packaging was in trouble. Hierarchy unclear. Layout disorganised. Generic stock icons that fell apart at small sizes.

With over 170 SKUs in the range, no two box formats looked like they belonged together. Customers couldn’t compare products or read the range. The brand also had no presence beyond the box.

Approach

Packaging System

I built a structured grid that flexes across every SKU without losing visual discipline. Each box reorganised into clear zones: brand, product name, key specs, and legal. Typography given a proper hierarchy.

Custom Icons

Over 40 icons drawn from scratch. Each tested for legibility down to 8mm on press. Replaced the stock set entirely.

Device Branding

Startup and shutdown animations in After Effects. Original ringtones composed in Adobe Audition. The brand carried into the device itself.

Retail Support

Redesigned PEP’s in-store screen protector graphics. Clearer information for customers at the shelf.

Result

Since 2015, the system has handled more than 170 products without falling apart. Entry-level handsets and premium models sit in the same range and look like they belong there. The icon set, motion graphics, and sound branding gave Stylo a personality that retail packaging alone could not deliver.

The system is still running today.