Case Study: Global Vending Machine System Redesign

Brand: Benefit Cosmetics

Category: Travel Retail | Visual Merchandising

Project Type: Global Graphic System | Retail Experience | Scalable Design Framework

Project Overview

When I joined Benefit Cosmetics, the brand had a custom Zoom vending machine placed in select airport locations worldwide. While the format was innovative, the graphic system lacked consistency, scalability, and clarity. Files were outdated, poorly organized, and difficult to update—leading to off-brand visuals and time-consuming revisions.

I approached the project as a full redesign, treating it like a ground-up creative system build. The goal: streamline production, elevate storytelling, and empower global teams to make fast, brand-consistent updates.

Objective

Create a modular, easy-to-update graphic system for Benefit’s global vending machines—supporting ongoing product launches and seasonal campaigns while maintaining a cohesive brand experience across all markets.

My Role

• Lead Designer for global vending machine redesign

• Managed every aspect of the project, from dieline creation to final mechanicals

• Collaborated with packaging, production, and regional marketing teams

• Established a repeatable system to scale future updates across international locations

Process

Asset Audit & System Rebuild

• Evaluated all legacy assets and converted artwork into clean, print-ready mechanicals

• Organized files by product zones and messaging type for intuitive updates

Modular Template Development

• Built standardized templates with smart guides, locked layers, and preassigned text styles

• Designed a flexible framework for seasonal launches, hero products, and campaign overlays

Graphic Design & Messaging

• Redesigned interior and exterior graphics, including instructional panels and hero-product zones

• Created shopper-friendly wayfinding and clear out-of-stock signage

• Prioritized core product categories: mascara and brows

Empowering Global Teams

• Delivered the full mechanical system to the DAM (Digital Asset Management) platform

• Provided templates and naming conventions that allowed designers and vendors to plug-and-play updates

• Reduced reliance on headquarters for routine design work

Design Strategy

• Playful & Bold: Aligned with Benefit’s brand voice while modernizing the vending experience

• Functional: Optimized for travelers on-the-go, with clear navigation and intuitive layout

• Scalable: Built to accommodate global rollouts and product refreshes with minimal redesign

• Production-Ready: Ensured files met printer specs and minimized vendor errors

Results

• Cut design update time in half

• Reduced vendor revisions and reprints

• Created a consistent global shopper experience at airport retail

• Scaled system now used for vending machines worldwide

This project turned a messy, underleveraged retail channel into a polished, user-friendly, on-brand experience—bringing the Benefit charm to travelers everywhere, one vending machine at a time.