On the surface, cosplay is an activity where participants dress up as characters from pop culture, sometimes seen by others as “Halloween...but all year round”. At its core, it’s about feeling a deep connection and being part of an inclusive community.
True cosplayers don’t randomly pick a character they think looks cool. They feel a personal connection to them, whether it’s their origin story, their motivation, or their personality. I focused on normalizing cosplay, showing that it’s not some odd hobby and people of all different background are part of it. Each part of the project showcases a different part of cosplay: the relationship between human and character, the community outreach, or the diversity of the cosplay community.
This branding project included a R&D, identity development, clothing design, animation, and potential outreach opportunities.
Thank you to all of the cosplayers at the San Francisco Comic Con and the 501st Legion for their help!
