Creasidence Residency — September 18-21

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We empower creators through educational programs shaped by our original method, fostering growth, expanding skills, and opening doors to cutting-edge experiences from the global creative community.

Why does it work?

LEARN

Creasidence offers educational programs that boost your creative craft and enhance collaboration through targeted soft skill training.

CREATE

Each participant receives personal feedback from Mentors who are active creators combining teaching with real industry practice.

RELEASE

Instant result: participants create collaborative works and release them online and offline as the essential part of educational programs.

TOGETHER

Our global community unites creators from 25+ countries, boosting diverse networking and accelerating long-term creative careers.

ABOUT THE RESIDENCY

Have an idea for merch but don’t know where to start? Creasidence Merch Design Residency is a 4-day program dedicated to turning your characters and concepts into real products.

Over the course of four days, participants will co-create original concepts and develop designs for their own merch collections. Guided by professional mentors in Tokyo, you will work under a shared theme while exploring how to transform your original characters, stories, and motifs into tangible items – all united by the common theme of Harajuku culture.

One design per participant – concluding the Residency, we will release the collection of Merchandise in collaboration with VOGRACE and SOMSOC GALLERY!

Choose Your Item

Explore different types of merchandise and decide what you want to create.

Design Foundations

Learn from mentors how to turn an idea into a strong, eye-catching design. Start drafting your first concepts.

Build Your Collection

In teams of four, develop your designs into a cohesive mini-collection. Focus on branding, collaboration, and the story behind your items.

Finalize & Release

Refine your designs with professional feedback from mentors. Prepare production-ready files and present your first merch item.

DESIGNED FOR THOSE WHO:

Wish to explore the creative and practical process of making merch
Want to collaborate with fellow creators in an intensive residency format
Look for ways of launching their own brand in Tokyo with support from SOMSOC GALLERY
Want to release their first produced item with VOGRACE

APPLY NOW

Participation Fee: 25,000 JPY (20,000 JPY for the participants of past events)

PARTNER

VOGRACE — global manufacturer of custom merchandise — joins the residency as our production partner. Known for high-quality acrylics, keychains, stickers, standees, and apparel, Vograce works with thousands of creators worldwide to bring original designs into reality.

For this residency, VOGRACE will support each participant by producing one finished design free of charge. This means that by the end of the program, every creator will not only have a finalized design, but also a professionally manufactured item ready to showcase at SOMSOC Gallery.

PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS

DAY 1 – SEPTEMBER 18

18:45–19:30

WELCOME & TEAM FORMATION

Check in, meet the cohort, align on Harajuku theme, form teams of four.

19:30–20:30

WHAT MAKES A STRONG MERCH DESIGN

Mentor-led masterclass on composition, readability, materials, and constraints!

20:30–21:30

CONCEPT LAB

Choose your item, build a reference board, and sketch first directions!

DAY 2 – SEPTEMBER 19

18:45–19:10

DAY INTRO & QUICK CRIT

Share overnight sketches, set priorities, outline file specs.

19:10–20:30

FROM SKETCH TO PRINT-READY

Workshop on preparing print-ready designs!

20:30–21:30

STUDIO SPRINT

Refine drafts, do lightning shares, and get targeted mentor feedback!

DAY 3 – SEPTEMBER 20

10:45–11:30

MORNING SYNC

Status check, blockers, and mini-plan for finalization.

11:30–16:30

CO-CREATION LAB

Develop a cohesive mini-collection with mentor rounds, branding, and mockups.

16:30–18:30

FINALIZATION BLOCK

Lock artwork, prep production files, scan and upload assets.

DAY 4 – SEPTEMBER 21

11:45–13:30

POLISH & FILE CHECKS

Last adjustments, packaging assets, compliance with production specs.

15:00–17:00

PRESENTATIONS & FEEDBACK

Show your item and collection context; receive final mentor and Vograce’s notes

17:00–17:30

WRAP-UP & HANDOFF

Gallery launch prep and production handoff!

Final digital submission due by 21:30!

Friends and colleagues are welcome to attend the final presentations on Day 4!

APPLY NOW!