Katie Barry
Data Driven, Client Focused, Design Obsessed
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Step into a dimension where vintage glamour and outer space collide...
Every facet of the Cosmic Coupe solar system imagines a colorful alternate timeline where humans focused on progress and science instead of war and power, crafting a utopia where interstellar travel was all the rage during the jazz age. Cosmic Coupe began as an art magazine with cocktail and mocktail recipes - now, the universe has expanded to include home decor, clothing, art prints, stickers, magnets, keychains, functional vintage decor, and more.
About
After scouring the internet for objects and art that combine Art Deco and Outer Space, I quickly realized that what I was looking for didn't exist: so I decided to create it. Using my pandemic stimulus check, print design background, creative vision, and project management skills, I brought Cosmic Coupe to life digitally and in print! I pitched specific illustration ideas, presented sketches to a number of artists, and chose five to commission. I purchased the rights to the final designs (artist credits in the gallery below and in the FAQ) so I can continue to design new products. After testing a series of original recipes over the course of several months, I designed the magazine from scratch on Canva and worked with a commercial printer based in my hometown to produce physical copies of my colorful, glossy magazine. I took Cosmic Coupe from an original idea to a successful small business: I now sell direct to consumers in my online shop, in person at local art and vintage markets, and in select stores.
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Most recently, I leveraged all the business strategy expertise I gained throughout my 9-5 analytics consulting job and expanded Cosmic Coupe with a new apparel and decor line, powered by print-on-demand services. I analyzed the data from all my past experiences to develop products that resonate with my buyers, designed 65+ products with extensive personalization options, and built a new e-commerce storefront. In the spirit of a futuristic utopian universe, I'm proud to offer gender-neutral apparel options inclusive of sizes S-3XL.
Flip Through the Recipe Book
In Stores
Events & Press
Bow Market​
Since July 2023 I have completed 17 popup events with more in the books. Each one allows me to meet incredible people, interact with my customers, and test out new displays and concepts on larger and larger scales! Bow Market is a place I had my eye on for ages, and I started building the relationship after securing a spot in a witchy night market called Moon Over Bow. This particular location, audience, and energy are incredibly aligned with the world of Cosmic Coupe, and I look forward to moonlighting again!
Super Mercado​
A block party, live music, vintage and art vendors, field day activities, free food tasting samples, games all day, and beautiful weather - this event was thoughtfully organized and marketed by a local vendor and art lover. Similar to Portico, there were a lot of browsers but not many shoppers for myself or my vendor neighbors - I took the opportunity to test new display configurations and debut new glitter stickers, tee designs, and portal pins. The operational logistics of vending are unique to every venue, so I developed a system of "reverse packing" in my two sturdy suitcases that allows me to unload and organize items in optimal order. I also upgraded my packaging, from reusing plastic shopping bags to offering customers matte black recycled paper bags. I will be flecking them with metallic ink to resemble stars for future markets to elevate the Cosmic Coupe brand.
Solo Popups @ The Goods​
Riding the momentum of my omnichannel launch, I pitched my retrofuturist concept to a new local business with a passion for community and art, located in the highest foot traffic area of the city. I started with an email introduction and followed up with product samples in person, securing free space to set up shop indoors during my city's large Artbeat festival to ensure visibility.
Next, I produced and deployed a co-branded print and web advertising campaign, including physical poster prints, animated digital posters, static and video social posts, a web banner ad, and an instagram ad, then curated a site-specific collection of vintage decor. My strategy paid off: I increased sales 127% from my last market, which was previously my most successful. My web traffic went up by 308%, I sold out of all my original canvases and more than half my curated vintage collection, and forged a recurring partnership with this venue, popping up 5 more times and counting.
Brighton Bazaar
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After a small business hiatus and a mass layoff, I jumped back into my retrofuturist dimension with enthusiasm. Cosmic Coupe started as an art zine, and as of June 2023 I have expanded my product lines to include art prints (framed, posters, and acrylic prints), apparel, coasters, keychains, magnets, totes, mugs, and handmade accessories. Combining alcohol ink techniques with my love of vintage and sustainability, I transformed vintage purses and sculptures sourced secondhand to make one-of-a-kind art and upcycled statement decor pieces. I debuted my enhanced version of Cosmic Coupe at the Brighton Bazaar Night Market at the Charles River Speedway, an arts community packed with vendor popups, breweries, restaurants, bars, and live music.
This was the perfect opportunity to leverage my years of consulting experience and partnerships with clients in user experience, marketing, retail, operations, and design. A half decade spent in research taught me to notice buying patterns, and I embedded those into my relaunch: personalization, inclusive sizing, sustainable policies, clear images, and of course the option to physically see and hold products. I integrated a shop into my resume website, synched my shop with a print-on demand service, and produced additional merch for in-person events.
Small Mart @ The Crystal Ballroom
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A curated market featuring favorite local artisans, vintage, makers and experiential vendors, hosted in the Crystal Ballroom inside Somerville Theater. In addition to Cosmic Coupe zines and merch, I expanded my product lines and brand to include vintage barware and curios:
all fit for a delectable dinner party in outer space.
We Zine!
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We Zine! Community Building Through Zines is a collection of work by 15 artists who create zines. The exhibit explores how artists build community across distance through a variety of forms, highlighting the zine, a low-fi self-publishing format.
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The folks that normally converge through open studios, gigs, parades, and zine festivals pivoted to build community across distance. Lots of communities bridged their distance by creating zines and correspondence art. Adopting low-fi methods like mailing photocopied drawings. Artists, music lovers, punks, took a renewed interest in the accessible, resourceful, and low-fi qualities of zines. People also became increasingly disenchanted by social media and its relation to mental health and mass media. New generations of folks were ushered into the punk tradition of DIY publishing. These people used the zine as a tool for healing and connectivity.
In addition to Abby Neale (Curator), Christina Hasjoy, The Boston Compass, Flight or Visibility, Peter Landy, Tori Holder, Polina Protsenko, Mara Gervais, Emily Cobb, Katie Barry, Celene Chen, Luis Blackaller, Jennifer Turpin, Mandy Waryasz, and Neil Horsky.
Canzine 2021 by Broken Pencil
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The Canzine Festival of Zines and Independent Print Culture was first held in Toronto in 1995. Since its inception, Canzine events in Toronto, Vancouver, Calgary, Brampton, Winnipeg, Saskatoon, Halifax and elsewhere have displayed thousands of zines and small press works and hosted hundreds of writers and performers. Canzine 2021 was part of the Toronto Comic Arts Festival (TCAF) and featured hundreds of international artists, spanning styles and subject matter.
San Anto Zine Fest
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SAZF is a community zine festival organized by five WoC in San Antonio, Texas. Since 2017, they have made space for local and national creatives to share their art, meet other zinesters, and celebrate DIY culture. In 2020 due to the need for a safe fest during the pandemic, they curated an online "snail mail" catalog instead of an annual in-person event. It is important to continue the DIY tradition of making the best of what you have and overcoming obstacles to continue to create. From the creators: "We are so happy to join the international zine community that has used those guiding principles to adapt to our current circumstances and still find new and creative ways to share zines."
Fort Lauderdale Small Press Fair
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SPF’20 was presented virtually with a 3-month online market of exhibitors, and a 6-hour Live Broadcast event. The COVID-safe online market welcomed 60 exhibitors from around the state, country and world. The SPF’20 Live Broadcast featured over 40 artists, collectors, curators. and other creatives from across the country, all working in the fields of prints, books and zines.
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The online market highlighted a diverse cross-section of local, national and international artists, writers, independent publishers and regional small presses, and provided a snapshot of the 2020 print, book and zine scene mid-pandemic!