BOXD:
Overview:
The final product was a personalised storytelling box, containing sensory prompts, humour, and small acts of kindness which created a strong connection from the client to the designer before meeting, helping aid the design process. It made Designer-Client communication more human, memorable, and scalable, with potential for digital and subscription-based expansion.
Research
Industry Input: Research began with insights from &Us, an agency that discussed the struggle to connect with clients quickly online. My design focus was then aimed toward workplace communication. Initially a group of designers worked on research together, sharing our learnings, then dividing to work on separate projects.
Research methods:
love and break-up letters: to hybrid work, this confirmed what we assumed(e.g., flexibility, lack of commute).
Competitor audit: this was far more insightful, highlighting the elements that truly foster real connection.
Interviews+emapthy mapping: interviewed people from various cultures and discovered universal patterns.
Key Findings:
People want connection in workplace but worry about being seen as unprofessional.
People struggle to connect due to concern over unkown workplace etiquette and boundaries.
Small acts of kindness, humour, vulnerability, and effort were key to genuine bonds.
Ideation
As a group we came up with concepts such as sharing walls, communication tools etc. My focus was workplace connection. I interviewed people from various cultures and discovered universal patterns: small acts of kindness, humour, vulnerability, and effort were key to genuine bonds.
Concept: A personalised box sent from designer to client, containing:
A snack and drink (kind gesture/vulnerability)
Designers favorite song and scent (sensory storytelling)(personality
Prompts for conversation (storytelling aid)
A designer figurine (presence in remote work)
Process
I followed an iterative, human-centred design approach:
Explored hybrid work: struggles with &Us agency and tested icebreaker activities to understand real connection triggers.
Concept Creation: Interviewed users across cultures; identified humour, kindness, and vulnerability as key. Proposed a personalised sensory box to foster authentic connection.
Development: Designed and prototyped a playful box using the five senses — snacks, scents, figurines, and prompts. Explored metaphorical forms like a dollhouse unfolding office.
User Testing: Ran a 1:1 session with designer Switchblade. Created a custom version using her favourite items and feedback to refine tone and interaction.
Outcome Delivered a thoughtful, tested tool praised for making remote storytelling fun, human, and memorable.
Development
At this point Karolis joined the project, and we began developing the physical product. The original idea was enhanced.
Enhancements:
The physical build was carefully designed to be:
Icebreaker games (ease tension)
Refining the design
We iterated on two box styles: one chic outside with a fun/playful inside, and the other playful throughout. Initial feedback praised the personality but advised us to push the weirdness further and integrate the five senses. We also wanted the box to encourage the client to get excited to have the opportunity to think creatively with the designer.
Refinement and Conceptual Expansion:
I designed “thinking outside the box” :
A dollhouse-style unfolding office
Drawers activated by puns like “pull my finger”
A mini office on the lid interior
We also explored how to position this as a real-world tool by creating a service flow chart . A mock business model for a company helping designers send personalised connection kits to clients.
User Testing & Iteration
I ran a mock consultation with artist/designer Switchblade to test the concept. We refined the prompt questions to be low-risk, personal, and appropriate. Her feedback guided the creation of a box designed just for her, featuring:
Her scanned face on the box
Her favourite snack, drink, and music
A custom figurine (a rainless storm cloud!)
Her own sticker art on the interior
We tested the final box with a recipient — it successfully built connection and understanding between creator and viewer before they even met.
Outcome + Impact
The final product was a personalised storytelling box, using sensory prompts, humour, and small acts of kindness which created a strong connection from the client to the designer before meeting helping aid the design process.
It Contained:
Designers favorite song and scent
Prompts for conversation
A designer figurine
A snack and drink
It made Designer-Client communication more human, memorable, and scalable, with potential for digital and subscription-based expansion.
Boxd demonstrated that physical, personal storytelling tools can have strong emotional impact — even in professional settings. The box successfully built rapport between designer and client before a single Zoom call took place.
Future potential includes digital hybrids or subscription-based creative matchmaking services.
We presented a fully designed, user-tested, custom storytelling tool — a deeply personal box that made creative communication more human, humorous, and heartfelt.
We received industry praise and thoughtful feedback on expanding digitally and testing more broadly. We also got to present it at the &Us office — a full-circle moment.cle moment.
