Shangfang Large Seal Script Building Block Packaging

Press Kit

Unique Properties

This case is a gift box package designed for the building block toy Shangfang Large Seal Script. To visualize the deep heritage and charm of traditional Chinese culture, it is intended to reveal the multipurpose of the package for building block toy and more reasonable storage of components. Inspired from the jade seal, or the emperor’s seal symbolizing the supreme power in ancient times of China, it is designed as a square tray and lid box conferring a deep meaning.

Dimensions & Packaging

308mm*308mm*133mm

Tags

Building blocks, packaging, philosophy, education, culture

Production Technology

The lid of the gift box is made of acrylic with gold stamped letters. The tray is made of red touch paper, EVA-lined and velvet-backed. The inner box is made from frosted PVC and also velvet-backed. The cover of the Instruction Book is cotton with gold stamped letters and patterns.

Design Challenge

Size fitting is considered a challenge of design. With a plurality of materials combined, the fabrication processes and size errors are different, so it is required to verify and tune up repeatedly until the right components are obtained. It might take 4-5 revisions and improvements to transit from prototype to finished product. The sustainable design of the package is also a critical factor, including the sustainability of the materials and the reuse value of the package.

Project Duration

The project commenced in March 2023 in Beijing. It is projected to be completed in September 2023 and released to market in June 2024.

Operation Flow

Opening the acrylic lid on top of the box, you will first see two transparent components which are used to fix the assembled words. Then you will see the instruction book in the grooved EVA liner box, a ribbon is attached besides the book for ease of removal and opening the next layer. The component box disposed in the lower part also embedded in the grooved liner box. Each component is neatly stored in a grid with photo shows and dimensional information marked on the top and sides of the box.

Research

The packages of most block toys purely pack components which are unfriendly to use and loses the reuse value. Given this, the designer tailors a gridded box for different components, and each grid is a space that permits users to readily find the desired component without mistake. In addition, the outer packaging with the transparent PVC components set inside can function as a display box for the real product, a design tapping into the multipurpose and sustainable value of the toy package.

Inspiration

Internal grids store components separately, a design inspired by the thought investigating things and probing into principles proposed by the Ming thinker Zhu Xi, where investigating things is construed as an analysis of things as implied by the categorized storage of components. Probing into things means an understanding of the logic of how things develop. This l motivates users to think about Chinese philosophical thoughts and wise words, and pays a tribute to ancient thinkers.

Colors of Shangfang Large Seal Script Building Block Packaging