From Paranormal Inspiration to Sketch
Every piece of XPLR merch starts not in a design studio, but in the dark corners of an abandoned asylum or the cold halls of a forgotten prison. Sam and Colby don't just stumble upon these places - they chase the stories that linger there. When a location feels especially active, when shadow figures appear in thermal footage or EVPs come through clear as day, that moment is captured. That moment becomes the seed of a design. A distorted window from the Waverly Hills Sanatorium or the silhouette of a figure from the conjuring house - these aren't random graphics. They are direct artifacts of an experience that left both of them breathless. The sketches begin rough, often on napkins or phone notes during the drive back. The goal is to preserve the raw energy before rational thought softens it. One more time, they look at the footage to ensure the design captures the dread or wonder they felt.
Once the concept is locked in, the team translates it into a digital sketch. The challenge is balancing the haunting detail with wearability. A design that scares you on screen also has to feel right on a hoodie or hat. Sam and Colby often reject polished versions because they lose the grit. They want the texture of decay, the unevenness of a crumbling wall, the flicker of a shadow. This phase is a back and forth where the paranormal evidence itself acts as the art director.
