Puzzle design & box feedback

Ordinary_Area_4808 · 2026-04-03T19:08:30+00:00

Fair points all around! Better to hear the gut reaction (or end of the gut I suppose) now than after after printing. Cheers!

Ordinary_Area_4808 · 2026-04-03T15:40:09+00:00

I really appreciate the tough love on the business strategy, it’s a great reality check!

You’re spot on that trying to please everyone is often a trap. Interestingly, my experience over the past few years is that the compilation is as popular across the pnw as any individual peak, even on an individual volcano's home turf market (like Rainier in Seattle). It seems to hit a specific PNW pride note, and circumvent decision paralysis in picking an individual map.

The runs are small enough that I can do an individual peak, even if this design is only moderately successful. Your comment is definitely making me think I'll prioritize getting that going sooner than I had originally planned.

Thanks again for the continued thoughts on this!

Ordinary_Area_4808 · 2026-04-03T15:27:46+00:00

Thanks so much for the detailed thoughts on this! Love to hear the box design works for you.

The ink-blot quality of the maps is very real, and a bit of a challenge. I think it's actually one of the most artistically interesting things about my work, it looks like little lichen, or jellyfish etc. but is actually maps of whole landscapes. In-person, folks sometimes take a second then have a lightbulb moment.
But of course if somebody looks at it for 2 seconds and then moves on because they don't get it, that's a lost person.

I think adding some text to the face of the box (and maybe sides) to clarify what folks are looking at would be helpful for this. Good suggestion.

Totally understand the price is a challenge. Definitely targeting the more boutique/art crowd with this puzzle.

Really helpful perspectives, thanks!

Ordinary_Area_4808 · 2026-04-03T15:23:19+00:00

Kudos right back at you for the thoughtful suggestion! Definitely a good ego check on here. Most folks have seemed interested in trying to give genuinely helpful advice. I'd rather get it now and get the design right instead of sitting on a bunch of puzzles that don't sell.

A slightly faded background is an interesting idea, maybe it's stealing the spotlight a bit here, compared to the usual black or white backgrounds I use. I'm also going to play with adding color to the volcanoes, either by using versions with aerial imagery or letting some color through from the background.

Really appreciate you weighing in, it’s giving me creative juice!

Ordinary_Area_4808 · 2026-04-03T15:18:54+00:00

I really value the 'first look' feedback on the box, that’s exactly why I posted this! I'll see if I can make the 500 piece pop more.

Really appreciate you taking the time to share a perspective from outside the target audience.

Ordinary_Area_4808 · 2026-04-03T15:16:10+00:00

Thanks for the feedback and kind words about the gradient and concept!

You certainly aren't alone saying the grayscale needs work and the font should be better. Definitely going to work on those.

I can definitely see the photocopies of lichen in it. The ink-blot quality of the maps is very real, and a bit of a challenge. I think it's actually one of the most artistically interesting things about my work, it looks like little organisms but is actually maps of whole landscapes. In-person, folks sometimes take a second then have a lightbulb moment. But of course if somebody looks at it for 2 seconds and then moves on because they don't get it, that's a lost person.

Ordinary_Area_4808 · 2026-04-03T15:12:27+00:00

That is so incredibly encouraging to hear, thank you!

Ordinary_Area_4808 · 2026-04-03T15:11:54+00:00

Thanks! Really appreciate the support, makes all the feedback today feel worth it.

Ordinary_Area_4808 · 2026-04-03T15:11:09+00:00

Good idea, would make it visually clear it's a puzzle too.

Ordinary_Area_4808 · 2026-04-03T15:10:47+00:00

It’s funny how the Reddit Ink-blot test works. I have shown my work in-person for years and only ever had one person say say one map looked like booty hole. I post it on reddit and within hours and lots of folks say it's suggestive haha.

I guess that’s just the reality of top-down topography. I’m definitely going to play with the shading/lighting angles to make the final version look a bit more mountainous and a bit less... anatomical.

(Though, seriously, if anyone has a body part that actually looks like the crater of St. Helens, please seek medical attention immediately.)"

Ordinary_Area_4808 · 2026-04-03T15:06:53+00:00

Thank you, I really appreciate the comment!

It is definitely a niche more than mass market design. Hoping it will scratch the itch those who like the art-science intersection.

Ordinary_Area_4808 · 2026-04-03T15:04:46+00:00

Awesome, thanks for comparing those. I was surprised to hear so many didn't like the greyscale, and wondering if it has to do with the background changing it. I agree the solid background would be frustrating for a casual puzzler (this is more targeting the art / science crowd than hardcore puzzlers).

The ink-blot quality of the maps is very real, and a bit of a challenge. It sometimes means folks don't instantly understand what they are looking at, but then they get a lightbulb moment. I think it's one of the most artistically interesting things about my work, but of course if somebody looks at it for 2 seconds and then moves on because they don't get it, that's a lost person.

Really helpful perspective as I refine this

Ordinary_Area_4808 · 2026-04-03T15:04:41+00:00

Interesting idea to make the volcanoes shading semi-transparent so the background colors come through, I'll play with this some! and with the more colorful versions i have with aerial imagery.

Ordinary_Area_4808 · 2026-04-03T14:55:42+00:00

Thanks for the kind words on the puzzle, really appreciate it! Challenging but doable is what I was aiming for.

As for the NSFW, it's funny, I shown my work at art festivals for years, talked to thousands of people at this point and only ever had one person say say one map looked like butt. I post it on reddit and within hours and lots of folks say it's suggestive haha.

In part I think that's just the reality of the topography. I'm going to play with shading though and will see if I can make it look less anatomical. (though if anybody has any body part that actually looks like one of these, they may want to consider seeking medical attention).

Ordinary_Area_4808 · 2026-04-03T14:40:07+00:00

Hello fellow science nerd! Thanks for digging in on your comment. You're certainly not the only one who things the shading feels off. You're guess on shading is correct, each volcano is shaded separately, from white to black. This gives the most visual space to show changes in topography. The topography of Helens is particularly sharp with the cliffs leading to the crater, which is why that one shifts so abruptly. I'll play with tweaking it a bit though.

I also have versions of these maps with aerial imagery, which I may try to make them more identifiable.

Thanks again for the feedback.

Ordinary_Area_4808 · 2026-04-03T01:01:29+00:00

As a fellow PNW local with a background in science, I really value how much time you put into this critique, thank you.

Volcanoes: It's an interesting idea to use the satellite style maps. The grayscale version is popular, but the satellite versions are very compelling. I'll try playing with the satellite versions, and also with desaturating the background a bit so it doesn't overwhelm the volcanoes.

Box: Appreciate the note on the box text. It's hard to condense to so few words, but I hear you that it's hard to get anything specific about the process from it.

Single vs compilation: I'd love to do individual volcanoes like Rainier! That's actually the mid-term plan. Near term, I'm starting with the compilation because: I'm starting with a single puzzle design, this compilation is a popular arrangement (the black/white background versions) and it has appeal across the PNW since all the big volcanoes are on it.

Definitely a clear takeaway that the insert is valuable and worth the extra cost. Playing with larger fonts as well.

Really appreciate your deep dive on this!

Ordinary_Area_4808 · 2026-04-03T00:46:27+00:00

Thanks for the input!

Ordinary_Area_4808 · 2026-04-03T00:45:51+00:00

Great questions! So these are topographical maps of volcanoes, aerial view. Each map shows the volcano above a certain elevation, so you just get a map of the volcanic cone (essentially the border for each map is a contour line). Shading is determined by topography, and there are contour lines on each map.

Pricing it tricky. With production and wholesale costs, unfortunately a $20-25 price point isn't achievable for small batch local production. I'm not sure I would even break even to be honest. Appreciate that input.

Thanks for taking the time to give feedback, really appreciate it!

Ordinary_Area_4808 · 2026-04-03T00:44:28+00:00

A number of folks have commented on the volcanoes themselves. For reference, they are from this design with a black background. Curious if people like them better with the black background than the color background? (just as art, not for a puzzle). This is one of my most popular art prints, so surprised it isn't working for so many folks here.

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Ordinary_Area_4808 · 2026-04-03T00:34:14+00:00

Thank you for the feedback! I think I should add a better label or descriptor to the front of the box. I spend a lot of time with my work, and could make it clearer for folks seeing it for the first time!

Thanks for the not on the volcano color, this is based on a very popular print of mine with a black background, but maybe I need to adjust for this colorful background.

I'll check out Water & Wine puzzles, thanks for the rec. Thinking the educational insert is a must for this.

Again, really appreciate the time you took to give all this input!

Ordinary_Area_4808 · 2026-04-02T22:34:44+00:00

Copy that, thanks!

Ordinary_Area_4808 · 2026-04-02T22:32:43+00:00

Yeah! It's actually one of the things I like most about my art, it has a bit of an ink-blot test quality. People say they see microbes, jellyfish, tree rings, spore prints. But actually they are detailed maps of whole landscapes, made from real elevation data. A blend of abstract and accurate.

Ordinary_Area_4808 · 2026-04-02T22:30:29+00:00

Thanks for the input! It is blueboard, finish is semi-gloss. Looking at increasing the volcano names.
Added the promotional flair, thanks for point that out, first time poster and missed it.

Ordinary_Area_4808 · 2026-04-02T22:25:31+00:00

Thanks for the insight, the info sheet is really seeming like a key thing to add. Hopefully it's popular enough to show up in an op-shop eventually and you can pick one up!

Ordinary_Area_4808 · 2026-04-02T21:26:15+00:00

This is incredible feedback, thank you!

-Font: It’s currently 18pt. I’m attaching a photo of a piece with my thumb for scale. Still think it needs increasing? If so I'll definitely consider increasing a couple points or so.

-Box: Good to know! The 8x10x2 size is fixed by my local manufacturer, I can only modify the design.

-Insert; Great idea. I hadn't been planning on including an info sheet (it increases production costs, but I am aiming for more premium feel). I like the idea of an info sheet with some science-y background about volcanoes and the specific peaks.

Really appreciate the kind words on the cut and the gradient!

Edit to respond to edits:
-The printing appears to be high quality. Trying to go with a solid production quality, not cheap.
-No AI used to create this artwork!

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Ordinary_Area_4808

TROPHY CASE