I. Design Stage
Accurate Dimension Planning
For the size of the product, the gift box should be precisely manufactured according to the nature and use of the product itself. If the box is too large or too small, it will cause a waste of cost. For example, if the gift box is too big, the product placed inside will look too small and won’t fill it up. Also, if the gift box is too large, then you have to stuff foam or other decorative items into it, increasing the cost. If the gift box is designed too small, the product won’t fit in at all, and the production of the gift box will be wasted.
For products with irregular shapes, such as handicrafts, dolls, etc., it is necessary to make physical models or use 3D modeling software for virtual modeling to accurately determine the shape and size of the gift box. In this way, the mismatch between the gift box and the product caused by inconsistent sizes can be avoided, which will affect the overall craftsmanship effect. The advantage of 3D modeling is that you can see the product image very intuitively and can also show it directly to customers, allowing them to see what the gift box originally looks like. Doing so can effectively reduce the time for communication with customers.
Reasonable Structural Design
Choose an appropriate box type structure. Common box types include top and bottom cover boxes, flip-top boxes, drawer boxes, etc. The top and bottom cover gift box has a simple structure and relatively easy manufacturing process, and is suitable for most products. The flip-top gift box is easy to open and has good display properties, and is suitable for some products that need to be displayed, such as high-end jewelry. The drawer gift box gives a delicate and steady feeling and is often used for high-end gifts.
For the design of different gift boxes, there should be different opening methods. For example, a shoe box is a flip-top box. It opens quickly and is very common. Because shoes are daily necessities, it is more appropriate to use this kind of daily flip-top box for packaging. Custom-made clothes are relatively expensive, so the box used is a top and bottom cover box, giving a luxurious feeling. Many cosmetic gift boxes have a variety of design styles. For example, some are designed into a heart shape and packaged with a top and bottom cover box, and others are designed into a house shape with a drawer opening method. Various designs make consumers feel that the design is very creative. Because when giving gifts on specific holidays, you always want to give gifts that are creative, unique, and heartfelt. Analyze specific problems specifically, and different products need to be designed with different gift box packaging.
Consider the design of the partitions and fixing structures inside the box. For fragile items, such as glass products and ceramics, it is necessary to design appropriate partitions to cushion and fix the products. The partitions can be made of materials such as foam plastic and corrugated cardboard, and should be precisely cut and shaped according to the shape of the product. For example, for a round glass vase, an annular foam plastic partition can be used to fix it to ensure that the product will not shake during transportation and display.
Attention to Detail Design
The design of decorative elements should be fine. When adding processes such as gold stamping, silver stamping, and embossing to the surface of the gift box, the design of patterns and words should be clear and beautiful. The width of the gold stamping pattern lines should be moderate to ensure the integrity of the gold stamping effect. The depth of the embossing should be moderate so that it can reflect the texture without damaging the paper.
For the pattern design of label packaging, it should be combined with trendy patterns as much as possible to design gift boxes that consumers like. For example, in the past two years, Disney toys like StellaLou and LinaBell were very popular, and many products incorporated these two patterns. For example, they were printed on common schoolbags, stationery, and clothes. Because they are popular, many people like products with popular symbols. If the gift box needs to be equipped with a handle, the position of the handle should be reasonable and convenient for carrying. The material of the handle can be ribbon, leather, or plastic, etc., and should match the overall style of the gift box. For example, for a gift box with a Chinese style, using a silk ribbon with traditional patterns as the handle will add beauty.
II. Material Selection Stage
High-Quality Base Materials
Paper is the main material for making gift boxes. For the outer layer of paper, choose paper with uniform texture and high flatness. For example, choose cardboard with a grammage of 250 – 350 grams per square meter. This kind of cardboard has enough thickness and stiffness to ensure the shape stability of the gift box. Meanwhile, the color of the paper should be pure without obvious color difference.
For inner layer materials, such as materials used for partitions and linings, choose appropriate materials according to the nature of the product. If it is a food gift box, the inner layer materials should meet food hygiene standards. For example, food-grade white cardboard or laminated paper can be used.
Quality Control of Auxiliary Materials
The choice of glue is very important. Use environmentally friendly and highly viscous glues, such as white latex or hot melt glue. White latex is transparent and odorless after drying and is suitable for pasting between papers. Hot melt glue has a fast curing speed and is suitable for some parts that need to be assembled quickly. When using glue, control the amount of glue to avoid glue overflow affecting the appearance of the gift box.
Decorative materials such as ribbons, stickers, and pearl cotton also need to ensure quality. Ribbons should choose products with soft texture and are not easy to fluff, and the width and length should meet the design requirements. Stickers should have good adhesion and clear patterns, and the density of pearl cotton should be moderate to provide good cushioning performance.
III. Manufacturing Stage
Cutting and Forming Processes
When cutting paper, use high-precision cutting equipment, such as CNC cutting machines or laser cutting machines. The CNC cutting machine can accurately cut according to the designed size, and the error can be controlled within ±0.1 millimeter. The laser cutting machine not only has high cutting precision but also can slightly burn the edges of the paper to make the edges smoother and avoid paper fluffing.
During the forming process of the gift box, ensure accurate folding. Use professional origami tools, such as origami sticks, to fold the paper so that the creases are clear and straight. For top and bottom cover gift boxes, the fit between the lid and the box body should be tight, and the gap between the lid and the box body should not exceed 0.2 millimeter to ensure the overall delicacy.
Printing and Decorating Processes
For surface decorating processes, such as stickers and decals, ensure that they are pasted flat without bubbles. Before pasting, you can first apply a small amount of glue or use double-sided tape on the surface of the gift box, gently paste the stickers or decals, and then gently wipe from the center to the edge with a soft cloth to drive out the bubbles.
Assembly and Inspection Stage
When assembling the gift box, follow the designed structure and sequence. For gift boxes with partitions and fixing structures, install the partitions and fixing parts first, and then install the product. During the assembly process, pay attention to the firm connection of each part. When using connection methods such as staples or rivets, ensure that the position of the nails or rivets is accurate and firm.
Finally, conduct strict inspections. Check the appearance of the gift box, including whether there are scratches, stains, or glue residues on the surface; check whether the size meets the design requirements; check whether the structure is firm and whether the product can be stably placed inside the box. For unqualified gift boxes, they should be reworked or scrapped in time.
