Product Design
Storytelling
Branding
Apple TV+ Severance Party Invites
Mar 10, 2025
Created by Shawki
The Work Is Mysterious and Important.
Summary
I combined my love for the TV show Severance with the spirit of Ramadan by organizing a themed 'Iftar' (fasting) event for my classmates. The idea was to create an immersive experience that celebrated both the show and the tradition, culminating in a group viewing of the Season 2 finale. To make the event feel special and true to the world of Severance, I designed and produced custom MDR badges for each guest, along with personalized invitations and "outie fact" cards. What started as a fan tribute turned into a unique blend of storytelling, design, and cultural exchange.
Objectives
Design and produce custom MDR badges resembling those worn in the show.
Source materials that match the aesthetics of Severance.
Create personalized invitations and “outie fact cards” for each guest.
Package all materials in a visually cohesive way that feels special and thematic.
Educate classmates about Ramadan in a welcoming, creative setting.
Challenges
Budget constraints: Pre-made badges online cost ~$20 each—too expensive for a student.
Lack of experience: Had never designed or created physical objects before.
Time management: Balancing grad school work while planning a detailed themed event.
Technical precision: Needed to ensure laser cutter settings and design file formats were exact for both cutting and engraving.
Design and Development Journey
1. Collecting Materials
Before jumping into design, I needed to gather all the physical materials that would bring the project to life. This meant thinking carefully about cost, availability, and how well each element would match the aesthetic of Severance.
Identified dark blue opaque acrylic sheets compatible with the laser cutter.
Purchased two 6" x 12" sheets—enough for 10 badges plus extras.
Sourced affordable bulk lanyards and packaging sleeves online.
Found blue envelopes that perfectly matched the Lumon aesthetic.
2. Designing the Badge
This was my first time designing a physical product, so I relied on screenshots from the show. The goal was to stay true to the badge design from Severance while making sure it could be cut and engraved accurately.
Used Adobe Illustrator to create a credit card–sized vector file based on references from the show.
Ensured the design had appropriate layers for engraving and cutting.
Cut and engraved 16 badges in two 8-minute sessions using the laser cutter.
Achieved a professional-looking result that matched the show's tone.
3. Designing the Invitations
The invitations and “outie fact” cards were meant to be personal and tactile—something you couldn’t replicate through a simple text message. I wanted guests to feel like they were receiving something truly curated.
Used Figma to design formal invitations and individual “outie fact cards” for each guest.
Printed on contrasting paper textures for a premium tactile experience.
Packaged the invitations and badges in the blue envelopes for distribution.
Results
Invitations Reactions
Event Photos
Guests were genuinely excited and impressed by the level of detail and effort.
Everyone wore their MDR badges and followed the formal dress code, enhancing the immersive experience.
The cost of producing all materials was still cheaper than buying a single pre-made badge online.
Realized the joy and value in crafting physical things from scratch.
Sent a special Ramadan invite to Ben Stiller (no response yet—maybe his innie got it!).
Conclusion
This project turned out to be a creative success, merging fandom, cultural tradition, and hands-on design in a way that felt both personal and communal. It pushed me to step outside my comfort zone and try something I’d never done before—designing and producing physical items—and the positive response from my classmates was incredibly rewarding. The fact that I was able to pull it off for less than the cost of a single pre-made badge made the whole process even more satisfying. More importantly, it reminded me that meaningful experiences don’t have to be expensive or extravagant—they just need intention, effort, and heart. I walked away from this experience feeling more confident in my ability to make things and more inspired to create tangible, thoughtful moments in the future.