A case study on how design and social growth are interwoven

The Hazel-Potato:

Also known as Rotunda, the sassy one-eyed cat has grown to internet fame via organic marketing. My partner and I adopted Hazel-Potato in the summer of 2021 and created an Instagram account (@thehazelpotato) for her a few months later. I started posting daily; her account has 76k followers as of April 2023. Using engaging photos, captions, and graphics that I designed, she has become a sensation people love following. Rotunda has had dozens of fan art created for her and now has a merch line that I designed.

Hazel Potato has collaborated with Arm & Hammer, Happy and Polly, and Make It Mine.

Article by Metro UK News feat. Hazel Potato: read here. (September 2022)

Why hazel-potato is important for the internet:

We get a lot of comments saying, “I was having a bad day, and then I saw this, and it put a smile on my face,” and other similar messages. And that’s why we do it. Sharing Rotunda brings joy to not only others but also brings us joy. We love to see people laughing at her silliness and enjoying her in different hats.

There are many ugly and scary things in the world right now. My partner and I are in the LGBTQ community, and people’s rights within our community are being stripped away every time we check the news. So sharing a sassy one-eyed cat who loves beef and who makes people smile is the dopamine fix we need.

The branding:

Comic Sans for the font?! Yeesss! I wanted her brand to feel nostalgic and homey. With Comic Sans as the font, pinks as the main color palette, and cute emojis, her brand is reminiscent of Elementary School, good times, and fun.