One of the projects we work on as a group is when we create a new complicated box. Usually they give it to me or another intern to try and mockup where I would have to show where its folded and glued, the dimensions etc. So once I build it and print it and test it a thousand times, I show it to the other designers that work with me and they show me that certain things can be done easier and why certain cuts that I built wont work. They recommend changes that I implement and once that’s done we show the factory department and they take it from there.

Recently, We had to create a wrapping kit where the box had an extended piece that contained a separate backer piece/ riser that held gift tags and pom poms to appear on the same level as the gift wrapping rolls. We build maybe 15 versions of that between communicating with each other and communicating with the factories about cost to be able to come up with the proper version. Once this was done we then gave it to the head designers to choose the patterns of wrapping paper would go in it and the colors of the pompoms etc

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Honestly, every single project we work on is done collaboratively in this office. Each product makes its way through every department in our company. It starts off with the idea of it which is roughly sketches/mocked up in the catalog, then its given to actually be mocked up and created packaging for then it’s also posted to discuss with the factories where that department negotiates how (material wise) the product will be build for best quality and best price and then it’s sent to production to actually be built. Everyone goes through every product that’s done it’s actually really cool and it’s a process that’s never ending because while i’m working on something someone is working on the next step or the step before mine and when it’s finally done you’re like wow so much work goes into this one small thing but you’re proud of it.

Another collaborative thing we do is we have trend meetings where everyone makes these pinterest boards of new patterns or brings in something that they saw that was new that we can get inspired from. In these meetings we also talk about how these new ideas can be applied to what we are working on at the time, so it’s like homework for work but it’s fun.