I. Design Process
- Understand the Target Audience and Purpose
Firstly, it’s necessary to clarify what occasion the gift box is for and who it will be given to. If it’s a gift for children, the design of the gift box can be colorful and full of childish fun. For example, it can take cartoon images as the theme and use bright colors like pink, blue, green, etc. However, if it’s a business gift, the design style should be more stable and elegant. Colors like black, dark gray, dark blue, etc. can be chosen, and the patterns mainly include simple geometric figures or company logos. In different countries, the meaning of the same color is different. So, when choosing colors, it should fit the national conditions of that country.
Consider the purpose of the gift box, whether it’s for festivals (such as the Spring Festival, Christmas), weddings, birthdays or other special occasions. For example, Christmas gift boxes can use red and green as the main colors, paired with festival elements like snowflakes and Santa Claus. Wedding gift boxes may mainly use white and silver, with romantic flower patterns or the initials of the newlyweds.
Creative and Personalized Design
Incorporating unique creative elements can make the gift box stand out. For example, it can be designed as an interactive gift box, with small parts like puzzles or riddles, so that the recipient can have more fun when opening the gift box.
Personalization is an important trend in current gift box design. Customize the gift box according to the customer’s requirements, including the recipient’s name, blessings, special patterns (such as pictures of pets, patterns related to hobbies), etc. This can not only increase the sense of exclusivity of the gift but also show the giver’s thoughtfulness.
Size and Structure Design
The size of the gift box should be appropriate. It should be able to hold the gift but not be too large to cause waste. Meanwhile, the convenience of transportation and storage should be considered. In terms of structure design, the simple top and bottom cover structure is suitable for most gifts. But for some gifts with special shapes, such as round or irregularly shaped items, it can be designed as a special-shaped box or a box with layers, drawers and other structures. For example, for a gift box of a set of high-end tea sets, it can be designed as a multi-layered structure with drawers. The teapot can be placed on one layer, and the teacups can be put in the drawers. In this way, it can not only protect the tea sets well but also make them easy to take out.
II. Material Selection
- Outer Materials
Paper Materials: Cardboard is one of the most commonly used materials. It has different thicknesses and textures. For example, white cardboard has a smooth surface and is suitable for printing beautiful patterns. Kraft paper has a natural and simple feeling and is often used for gift boxes with a retro style or an environmental protection theme. For high-end gift boxes, special papers like pearl paper and flocking paper can increase the texture. Pearl paper will shine with a pearl-like luster under light, and flocking paper has a soft, fluffy texture, giving people a high-end feeling.
Wood Materials: Gift boxes made of solid wood have an excellent texture and natural grain. For example, a gift box made of walnut wood has a deep color and beautiful grain, which can show a high-end and magnificent quality. Besides, there are also wood composite boards. Their cost is relatively low, but they can also imitate the appearance of solid wood.
Plastic Materials: Transparent plastic gift boxes can display the gifts directly and are suitable for showing beautiful commodities, such as jewelry, small handicrafts, etc. Meanwhile, plastic has good toughness and waterproof property. However, from the perspectives of environmental protection and texture, plastic gift boxes may not be very suitable for some high-end occasions.
Leather Materials: Leather gift boxes give people a luxurious feeling. Natural leathers, like cowhide and sheepskin, are soft in texture, with unique smells and grains. Artificial leather has a relatively low price but can also achieve a similar appearance effect and is suitable for medium and low-end gift boxes.
Inner Materials
Padding Materials: Soft padding materials like sponge and foam can protect the gifts from collisions. For fragile gifts, such as glass products and ceramics, high-density sponge is a good choice. It can be cut according to the shape of the gift to provide a tight wrap.
Decorative Lining Materials: Materials like silk and flannel can be used for the decoration inside the gift box to increase the grade of the gift. For example, a jewelry gift box with red silk as the lining can set off the nobility of the jewelry.
III. Printing Process
- Traditional Printing
Offset Printing: This is the most common printing method and is suitable for mass production. It can print high-quality patterns and words with a high color reproduction degree. For example, when printing large-area patterns on gift boxes, offset printing can make the colors even and the details clear.
Screen Printing: For some patterns that need special effects, such as patterns with a three-dimensional or thick feeling or when printing on non-planar materials (such as the curved parts of wooden gift boxes), screen printing is a good choice. It can control the thickness of the ink to achieve different effects.
Special Printing
Bronzing / Silvering: This process can make the words or patterns on the gift box show a metallic luster, greatly enhancing the high-end feeling of the gift box. For example, bronzing the initials of the newlyweds or the wedding date on a wedding gift box makes it look very gorgeous.
UV Printing: By using ultraviolet-cured ink, the printed patterns can have a glossy and three-dimensional feeling. Moreover, the patterns printed by UV printing have good wear resistance and are suitable for the parts on the gift box that are often touched, such as the decorative patterns on the box cover.
Embossing Printing: While printing, it can form uneven textures on the surface of the gift box to enhance the texture. For example, embossing a leather texture on a paper gift box makes the gift box look like a leather product.
IV. Decoration and Accessories
- Decoration Process
Varnishing Process: A layer of transparent varnish can be coated on the surface of the gift box to increase the glossiness and also has a certain waterproof and moisture-proof effect. High-gloss varnish can make the surface of the gift box very shiny, while matte varnish can create a low-key and elegant texture.
Applique Process: Pre-made patterns (such as dried flowers, gold foil stickers, etc.) can be pasted on the surface of the gift box to increase details and beauty. For example, pasting dried flowers on a handmade gift box can add a natural and romantic atmosphere.
Accessory Addition
Ribbons and Bows: These are the most common accessories for gift boxes. Choose appropriate ribbon materials (such as silk, satin) and colors, and tie a beautiful bow to make the gift box more beautiful. For different occasions, different ribbons can be chosen. For example, ribbons with golden or silver threads can be used for Christmas, and white or light pink ribbons can be used for weddings.
Tags and Labels: Beautifully designed tags and labels can provide more information about the gift, such as the name of the gift, its source, blessings, etc. Tags can be made of materials like wood and paper through carving, printing and other methods.
