PROJECT: SKULLCANDY X TMNT
CATEGORY: SMU / SPECIAL PROJECT
ROLE: PRODUCT CREATIVE LEAD, CMF AND GRAPHIC.
IMPACT: MASSIVE BRAND IMPACT. COLLECTION COMPLETELY SOLD OUT UNDER 60 DAYS.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles may have begun as a simple comic cartoon, but today it's a powerhouse of pop-culture influence, backed by a massive fan base that can spot inauthenticity a mile away. When I started designing these headphones, I wasn’t just making something inspired by the Turtles—I was building something for the day-one fans and the new heads discovering the legend. It all started with the TCRI Ooze. That radioactive juice that flipped four pet turtles into straight-up underground icons. We ran with that energy.
Translucent details on the ear cups give it that ooze-dripped look, like it’s mid-transformation. TCRI Ooze residue, lab graphics and beaker-style measurements hit the sliders on the PLYR headset. Sewer manhole covers call out your left and right ear cup. And because TMNT without pizza ain’t a thing—I dropped a pizza graphic right on the mic for that extra flavor. And of course we had to let you rep your favorite. Each set comes with swappable headbands or ear gels in the signature colors: Red for Raphael, Orange for Mikey, Purple for Donnie, and Blue for Leo. Pick your turtle.
Images are from Concept Deck
Because the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles have such deep history and a die-hard cult following, I felt real pressure to get this collection right. It couldn’t just be another logo slap. We (Skullcandy) had to understand the ins and outs, all the IYKYK moments, to do this justice.
One of the biggest challenges? The Turtles themselves. I didn’t have just one character to focus on (though having the SKU count to go all-in would’ve been epic). I had to represent all four turtles in just two products—because no matter who you ask, everyone has a favorite.
After hours of concepting and a few rounds of internal reviews, I landed on what started it all: the ooze. The TCRI Ooze. That toxic slime that transformed discarded pet turtles in a New York sewer into legends. That’s where our story begins.
I brought that origin to life—ooze dripping across each headset, layered with subtle nods to the Turtles’ world. And yes, we still found a way to let every fan rep their favorite turtle.
Images are from Concept Deck
The PLYR gaming headset was the perfect canvas. I was able to flex and push the limits of what this product could do with CMF—color, material, and finish. The combination of transparency, printing, and water transfers let me fully tell the "Secret of the Ooze" story.
The transparent parts represent ooze dripping over the turtle shell, capturing the exact moment the transformation begins. TCRI branding and beaker-style measurement markings were added to the metal sliders. On the acoustic mesh of each ear cup, we printed sewer manhole covers to indicate left and right. And of course—we had to drop a pizza graphic on the mic.
To take it further, the mic, TPU headband adjusters, and ear cup button dampeners all glow in the dark, leaning deeper into that toxic, radioactive ooze vibe. I also color-tagged each headband to rep the four turtles—a natural way to bring them into the design without it feeling forced.
The best part? The story told itself just by looking at the headset—no big explanation needed.
Images are from Concept Deck
Push Active was another great platform to explore CMF and bring the Secret of the Ooze story to life. Everything I applied to PLYR carried over here, too. A transparent case lid with a glow-in-the-dark underside creates the effect of ooze dripping onto the bottom tray, which is printed with a turtle shell graphic. We brought transparency into the buds themselves with clear ear hangers, and interchangeable gels gave fans the “Choose Your Turtle” moment—letting them rep their favorite.
This whole collection told the Secret of the Ooze story without needing to spell out every detail. From deep-cut references to subtle nods, we layered in just the right amount of IYKYK for the day-one die-hards.
Image is Final Mock-up
Seal of approval from TMNT co-creator Kevin Eastman. It was wild to see his excitement and appreciation for all the design details that went into this collection. No promo, no paid post—just a genuine shoutout from one of the legends behind it all.