Notes on branded collectibles
Why we collect, how desire is engineered, and what happens when a brand becomes an object. Articles are published in Spanish; each one has an English summary below.
We are wired to collect, and now it’s culture
Collecting is an ancient human impulse tied to belonging, status and identity. While brands filled the physical world with forgettable giveaways, Affixum Studio argues for a new category: branded collectibles designed as cultural assets.
By Affixum Studio · Read in Spanish →
Drop culture: The Devil Wears Prada 2 and the engineering of the cult object
How The Devil Wears Prada 2 and Super Mario Galaxy show collectibles going mainstream: concept over image, pieces for every budget, and the value of memory over production cost.
By Julio García · Read in Spanish →
The Simi Effect: from product to cultural icon
A case study: high-quality keychains, pill cases and figures that moved a discount pharmacy brand from promotional to emotional, so people adopted a character instead of just receiving a gift.
By David Carvajal · Read in Spanish →
The engineering of desire: why the World Cup is now collected in metal
Written before the 2026 World Cup: why disposable giveaways fail, and how metal collectible cards for Dr. Simi × Domino's Pizza were designed for permanence instead of noise.
By David Carvajal · Read in Spanish →