Nintendo Switch Joy-Con GameStop USA exclusive
Giving pre-owned gaming hardware a second life through expressive surface design.
For GameStop’s refurbished hardware programme, I redesign pre-owned PS5, PS4, Xbox and Nintendo Switch controllers as distinctive retail products.
This Joy-Con concept draws on the nostalgic visual language of the Nintendo GameCube, bringing hidden hardware to the surface through colourful circuit-board graphics and component details.
Developed from concept to production-ready artwork and 3D visualisation, the design gives existing hardware a bold new identity and a second life.
Previous iterations
Early iterations explored references to the NES and Game Boy through contrasting layouts and colour palettes. The final direction combined GameCube-inspired graphics with Game Boy-influenced colours, creating the strongest visual impact.
Manufacturing
The Joy-Cons were produced using water transfer printing, allowing complex, wrap-around surface designs while working within the tolerances of existing controller shells.
Design decisions were informed by an understanding of seam lines, wear areas, and pattern distortion during the dipping process.
This video on the right demonstrates the water transfer printing process using a different controller shell, showing how the artwork is applied across a three-dimensional surface.
