Board Game Design & Launch: Sold Out First Batch

Trash Pitches is a board game created for IT professionals and startup founders, born from a casual New Year’s party idea. What started as a product to support an IT blog became a sold-out first batch and the catalyst for launching a design agency.

From Concept to Creation

Turning an idea into a physical product brought numerous challenges — from design and production issues to unforeseen setbacks. Here is how we tackled each stage:

• Design and development — Inspired by real team members of the IT blog, we developed character illustrations and selected a unique visual style. The real challenge was printing: ensuring colors, textures, and card designs matched expectations took multiple rounds, but the final cards came out vibrant and true to the vision.

• Social media engagement — We used Instagram to document the entire development journey. Behind-the-scenes insights and progress updates built a community around the project. Followers began associating the brand with the game, making it a recognizable part of the personal brand.

• The first batch — The initial production run sold out quickly. Some games were lost in a warehouse fire, but the remaining stock was delivered with a unique story attached — including a faint scent of smoke that added unexpected charm and made the product more memorable.

The Entrepreneurial Journey

Like many product launches, the journey included financial surprises and logistical hurdles.

• Storage setbacks — A few months after release, some games remained in storage, incurring additional costs. Despite this, the business model stayed profitable long-term.
• Warehouse fire recovery — The initial loss was devastating, but insurance reimbursement covered the stock. This unexpected turn led to a full sell-out of remaining inventory.
• Financial outcome — Total revenue exceeded expectations. After covering printing costs and distribution, the project turned a profit despite early challenges with delayed deliveries and unanticipated expenses.

From Product to Design Agency

The success of Trash Pitches provided more than a profitable side business — it laid the groundwork for launching a design agency. The game became one of the agency’s first cases, showcasing the ability to create engaging, visually appealing, and marketable products for clients.