Behind the Design of Garage Pail Kids Series 1
First introduced in the 1980s, Garbage Pail Kids quickly became a cultural phenomenon, captivating collectors with their irreverent humor and iconic sticker designs. Fast forward to today, and the tradition continues with 2024 Garbage Pail Kids Series 1, featuring a blend of classic characters and brand-new creations.
Welcome to 2024 GPK Series 1
Behind the vibrant artwork and clever designs lies the creative genius of Art Director Ryan Lee, who graciously shared insights into the fascinating process behind the scenes. When asked about recreating the “original series” sticker backs for collectors and fans, Lee explains, “Something we’re tasked with when approaching every GPK Chrome release is recreating the card backs from the original series with a reprint of that year. Unlike any other Topps product, GPK card backs can be as engaging as the card fronts.” He adds, “GPK card backs would include comics, character bios, and other unique themes unrelated to the card fronts, so it’s our responsibility to closely recreate these originals to elevate them with new content for our fans.”
In terms of designing subsets, Lee finds inspiration in the opportunity to inject creativity. He shares, “In terms of design, GPK has its sacred Base design that remains relatively untouched for years — it’s in the relic cards where we get to flex some creativity.” Lee elaborates on designing patch subsets: “We’re tasked with producing and showcasing artist-created patches to deliver the fans the most authentic memorabilia we can from the GPK universe. From Boy Scout badges to astronaut suit patches, seeing GPK parody reality is fun.”
Staying True
When asked about keeping subsets fresh and appealing year over year, Lee emphasizes the importance of staying true to the Garbage Pail Kids universe. He explains, “For a fictional IP such as GPK, we want to provide our collectors with memorabilia that feels like we pulled it from the ‘real’ GPK universe.” Lee adds, “Anything to help push the narrative to any character, giving them and the product more life.”
Despite the challenges of adapting classic character art for modern printing techniques, Lee and his team embrace the opportunity to innovate while staying true to the essence of Garbage Pail Kids. “The biggest challenge is adapting classic character art for our Chrome technologies,” he explains. “With as many characters spewing bodily liquids or exploding into several parts, it’s up to us to determine how best to showcase them.”
In essence, the 2024 Topps Garbage Pail Kids Series 1 is not just a collection of cards—it’s a celebration of creativity, nostalgia, and the enduring legacy of an iconic brand. With each card, collectors are transported to a world where imagination knows no bounds, and laughter is always guaranteed.
