How an Artist Used Synthetic Research to Pitch Cruise Lines

John Littleboy is the founder of Artiphany, a boutique gift company known for whimsical, hand-illustrated playing cards featuring dogs, cats, and skeletons. His “Pack of Dogs” deck went viral on Reddit and now ships to dozens of countries.

The opportunity

When John saw an opportunity to get his cards into cruise ship gift shops, he needed more than a hunch. He needed data that would actually resonate with corporate buyers.

Building a data-backed pitch

Using Viewpoints, John ran a study to validate consumer appeal for his designs among cruise passengers. The results gave him exactly what he needed: quantified proof of purchase intent, detailed demographic breakdowns, and insights into which designs would land best.

The takeaway

For a one-person brand competing for shelf space alongside major gift companies, having research-grade data changes the conversation. Instead of leading with a portfolio and a pitch deck, John could walk into meetings armed with quantified consumer demand—the kind of evidence that corporate buyers take seriously.