The Lemonade Stand
Posts
What do you know about branded gumballs?

What do you know about branded gumballs?

Your bi-weekly refreshment. Straight from the stand.

Emily Antonino
January 21, 2026

I made gumballs.

Tennis is BACK The 2026 season just started and thank god. I love this sport. It wouldn’t feel like a proper welcome back if I didn’t whip something up for the Australian Open. Let me walk you through my thought process.

A few weeks ago, I found a small shop in downtown Charleston that sells Swedish candy. I left with a bag full of candy and in that bag, a single gumball. No idea why I only grabbed one. It was Sprite-flavored and shaped like a tennis ball, so honestly shame on me for not getting more.

While scrolling back through my Substack I came across an old post about the electroshock gumballs from Spy Kids. That was all it took. I immediately knew this was what I wanted to make.

So naturally. Here we are.

I pulled the hex code and font from somewhere on the internet and got to work in Figma. For those curious, the Australian Open uses Sharp Sans Display No. 2 and the blue is #1991D0.

Label made in Figma

I opened up chat and about 3 or 4 prompts later I had a render I was happy with.

Original

A little help from chat

Conclusion: These are always fun exercises for me. I genuinely enjoy making stuff like this. But I also like thinking about what it can do beyond just existing. A small, unexpected product like this one can create the same kind of awareness as an Australian Open ad, and often with a longer life. It sticks around, moves through the world, and gives people something to engage with. It doesn’t interrupt. It invites. I’ve been noticing more brands experiment this way lately.

It’s a very sticky product, for lack of a better term. Once you see it, it’s hard to forget.

Field Notes

Just some findings & quick thoughts

New Color Unlocked

I had no idea the color of cell phone screens from the 90s/early 2000’s had an actual name. It’s called celadon.

When is the last time you saw a cool business card?

found this on cosmos

Social media, LinkedIn, and portfolio sites seem to have mostly replaced business cards. But I still love the novelty of them, especially when they’re done well. I really want to design a card that lives in someone’s wallet. Something that’s too cool to turn down. Even if they never plan on actually contacting me.

New Baby = New Fonts

Back of the birth announcement card

My best friend just had a baby and we spent about 2 hours workshopping a birth announcement card last Saturday. In that workshop I added 2 new fonts to my arsenal.

Baskerville Book Italic
Crimson Pro

My Bookmarks

What’s fueling the brain this week. A few things I clicked on and saved.

Silver and Stainless Steel Products

I’m a gold girl through and through, so even writing this feels a little like cheating. Silver and stainless steel keep showing up on my Pinterest, and I’m not mad about it. I honestly love it. To me, gold has always felt warm and heritage-driven. But silver feels minimal, modern, and sleek in a way I don’t think I fully appreciated until recently.

The more I sat with it, the more it clicked. The products below are some of my favorite pulls from Pinterest and Cosmos.

Minimal. Modern. Timeless. I want this “Waterdrop” bottle so badly but can’t find it anywhere.

This ones got some personality. I actually stumbled upon something similar at The Market in Charleston. Regretfully, I did not purchase.

Recently purchased one of these tube keys. I love it.

Singular Care toothbrushes have been on my radar for a minute. Another very practical item that is also very visually pleasing.

I’ve been on a 3 year hunt for coasters. These are a top contender

I feel like this just speaks for itself

This is true commitment to the bit.

Love the concept of this calming balm. The product design and packaging are beautifully understated. It’s the perfect thing to throw in your purse or travel bag.