Nicole Gao
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Product design · Pet toys

HugSmart

Plush toys, tug toys and walking gear for the pet brand HugSmart, from the first drawing to the finished product, including a licensed Volkswagen collection.

Client
HugSmart
Role
Product designer
Category
Plush toys, tug toys, leashes and harnesses
Retail
PetSmart, Winners, Sam’s Club

Volkswagen collection

Officially licensed toys and gear built around the classic VW camper bus and Beetle.

  • Yellow plush VW camper bus with a lantern, owl and backpack toy
    Camper bus set
  • Mint plush VW bus with a surfboard patch and a rope handle
    Beach bus rope toy
  • Dog harness printed with Beetles and flowers on a yellow checkerboard
    Beetle print harness
  • Italian greyhound in a VW print harness and leash beside plush VW bus toys
    Harness, leash and bus toys
  • The yellow camper bus plush held up in a pet store
    Camper bus in store

More toys and gear

  • Smiling campfire plush on two plush logs
    Campfire plush
  • Thunderbird tug toy in black, orange and white with a red and black rope ring
    Thunderbird tug toy
  • Corduroy wine barrel plush with two wine bottle toys next to a French bulldog
    Wine barrel set
  • Shiba Inu lying on grass wearing a striped collar and leash
    Collar and leash

Concept drawings

Animated drawings for new toy ideas, most of them food characters.

  • Three sushi characters with salmon, egg and tuna toppings
    Sushi trio
  • Two onigiri characters in front of a red bento box with waves and a sun
    Onigiri bento
  • Three takoyaki characters in a yellow boat with an octopus on top
    Takoyaki
  • Smiling avocado poop bag holder with a zipper along its side
    Avocado poop bag
  • Grumpy bok choy character with three leaves
    Bok choy
  • Cantaloupe melon with a green stem
    Melon
  • Picnic basket with a gingham lining, bread and a carrot
    Picnic basket
  • Three green aliens in a pink and blue flying saucer
    UFO aliens