ZoTEAaC BOBA TEA & ART
Brand Design / Creative Direction Case Study
ZoTEAaC was a fantasy-themed Boba Tea and Art brand blending high-quality tea service, illustration, and narrative-driven merchandise into a cohesive, immersive experience.
Created and art-directed from concept to service, ZoTEAaC explored storytelling through beverages, art, and themed products.
MY ROLE: Founder - Creative Director - Illustrator - Manager
- Created the brand identity, world concept, and visual language
- Designed all characters, merchandise, packaging, and promotional artwork
- Led visual development from sketches to final products
- Managed inventory, pricing, and daily operations while running a small team
- Served guests directly at the trailer and conventions
ZoTEAaC began in 2022 as an art and tea booth at local conventions and grew into a full-service boba tea and art trailer in 2023. The brand combined high-quality loose-leaf tea with fantasy-inspired visuals, characters, and merchandise to create an immersive guest experience.
The project was built around a constellation-inspired fantasy framework (not astrology), using elemental themes, cosmic imagery, and mythic storytelling as creative foundations.
Early Visual Development established how illustration would translate into physical form. ZoTEAaC’s logo was designed to feel bold and fantastical, anchoring the brand’s visual storytelling. The trailer became an iconic billboard for the brand, transforming ZoTEAaC’s world into a space the public could experience.
CHARACTERS & THEMATIC DESIGN
ZoTEAaC featured a small cast of original characters used primarily as brand mascots and merchandise icons.
4 ELEMENTAL SPRITES: Ambassadors of the Elements
- playful, approachable mascots
4 ELEMENTAL ANCIENTS: Keepers of the Elements
- guardians representing Fire, Earth, Water, and Air
A hidden antagonist (The Hanzeel): Retrograde incarnate
- the evil cosmic force that threatens our heroes
Additional concept art explored future expansions, including the full Zodiac constellation character lineup, serving as teasers rather than public story content.
PRODUCT & MERCHANDISE DESIGN
All merchandise was designed to feel cohesive, collectible, and rooted in the brand’s fantasy identity.
Illustration was integrated directly into product design:
- Enamel pins, stickers, art prints, patches, and bookmarks
- Tea tins, tea kits, labels, and packaging
- Menus and promotional materials
FOOD & BEVERAGE EXPERIENCE
ZoTEAaC’s drink offerings reinforced the world-building through theming and presentation:
- 14 core drinks themed around the Zodiac constellations and elemental concepts
- Seasonal monthly drinks tied to holidays and events
- Specialty food items like “Mana Pops” (Popcorn) and “Armor Links” (Corn Dogs)
- Collectible potion bottles used as drink-ware
ABU Games in Idaho was ZoTEAaC’s flagship location for its trailer setup, partnering with and supporting local gaming / pop-culture events and charity initiatives.
Through the brand growth, ZoTEAaC consistently received positive guest feedback and 5-star reviews with repeat guests.
ZoTEAaC represents a complete creative ecosystem—where illustration, branding, storytelling, and real-world execution intersect.
From concept to service, the project demonstrates how visual development and narrative design can extend beyond the page into a fully realized, functional brand.
