Clearstem
Scientific solutions for people who break out.
The Clear Skin System
The Context
Clearstem is one of the fastest-growing American acne-care brands. Even though ‘clear’ was in their name, there wasn’t much clarity in their ever-expanding product line. They came to Wedge to clarify their consumer-facing position, upgrade the ecommerce experience, and build a retail-ready system that would help them behave more like a beauty brand with a true POV.
The Insight
The category focuses on fear and elimination at all costs. Brand experiences are largely pharmaceutical, with a lack of guidance and care for the person looking for a way back to themselves.
The Big Idea & Success
The “Clear Skin System” is an architecture that maps and color-codes Clearstem’s entire range by use case and need, with clean ingredient transparency. It doesn’t just tell people what’s for them; it guides them along a journey to getting clear and staying clear.
Three color-coded need states do the navigation: Prevent + Support in purples amd pinks, Clear + Clarify in blues and greens, Skin Perfecting in warmer tones. A poppy-but-soft palette that brings warmth to a scientific system.
THE SYSTEM
The design takes its cue from the periodic table — a nod to the science at the brand's foundation. A modular chart on every pack houses the product name, key benefits, and key ingredients in full transparency, holding steady across formats as the range grows.
Disciplines
- Brand Strategy & Narrative
- Brand Voice & Messaging
- Packaging Architecture
- Product Naming
- Visual Identity System
- Packaging Design System
- UX & Wireframes
- Digital Design
- Photo Direction
- Creative Direction
- Brand Guidelines
- Packaging Production
As seen in
BeautyMatter -- “Clearstem Skincare: The Acne-Focused Brand Merging Clean Beauty and Clinical Results.”
Awards
Dieline, Merit, Beauty & Cosmetics
Team
Design Director: Justin Lortie
Creative Director: Sarah Di Domenico
Strategy: Nancy Chen
Narrative Lead: Marco Patricio
Associate Creative Director: Matthew Boyd
Design Lead: Capucine Labarthe, Clea Forkert
Senior Designer: Agathe Morin
Designer: Leo Maubert
UX Designer: Leila Bartholet
Digital Designer: Alon Baum, Agathe Morin
Senior Production Designer: Étienne Angot
Account Director: Fredo Zavarella
Account Manager: Marie Pierre Lachance
Case Study Team: Capucine Labarthe, David Diaz, Leo Maubert
Collaborators
Wireframes: Leila Bartholet
Photographer (Case Study): Michael Kazimierczuk
Prop Stylist (Case Study): Erica Morga
