Junk Drawer store check in

NARRATIVE RETAIL EXPERIENCE

2026 ADDY Award — Illustration & Visual Design
The Junk Drawer is an experimental retail concept built around reuse, play, and transformation; the project reimagines discarded toys and found objects as materials for creative reconstruction. Custom typography, illustrated characters, and an adventure-style world map establish a narrative framework that turns the store into an immersive environment, inviting visitors to explore, discover, and reinterpret familiar objects through a playful, story-driven lens.

wayfinding
& signage

In store wayfinding and character-led signage guide visitors through each phase of the toy-building experience, transforming the store into a navigable narrative environment.
  • Queuebi character --- green robot
  • Sprocket character --- metal robot
  • Binny character --- patchwork dog
  • Jibz character --- mechanical pirate cat
  • Googz character --- hand-knit yarn doll
  • Scrapster character --- Toy block bear

narrative artifacts & character systems

Illustrated characters, specialized station posters, adoption certificates, and take-home packaging extend the store's narrative beyond the build experience. Each artifact reinforces the idea of care, ownership, and play, allowing visitors to leave with a personal connection to the world they built their toy in.
Typography & Lettering
Custom lettering constructed from discarded toys and objects reinforces the store's playful narrative of reuse and transformation, allowing typography to function as both langugage and artifact within the enviroment.