How Knockout designed a modular crystal kit carton for Aethereal that adapts to changing shapes, sizes, and suppliers without a redesign.
Aethereal aims to inspire everyone to create the life they desire by bringing tangible reminders of their own potential into the rituals of daily life, with a goal of becoming the world's leading brand in self-empowerment, self-care, and wellness.
With mindfully curated crystal kits, Aethereal brings joy, positivity, and inspiration to everyday moments, all while striving to limit their environmental footprint.
Learn more about Aethereal →
As a new business venture, founders Michael and Jennifer of Aethereal were unsure where to start with their crystal kit packaging. Their crystals vary in size, shape, and weight, and the packaging needed to work for both direct-to-consumer sales and a retail environment, all while standing apart from competitors and staying true to a sustainability-first ethos.
Knockout used a highly consultative approach to determine Aethereal's priorities and how to best allocate their budget. A modular design let the team configure packaging on the fly by adding or removing inserts to fit different crystals, which proved essential as suppliers and product mixes changed. Knockout also guided Aethereal on where to spend and where to save, prioritizing paper stock quality over full-box print coverage.
As an alternative to traditional rigid packaging, this crystal kit shows how sustainability and luxury can work together. The kit uses minimal glue and can be reused or recycled through curbside programs, with a graphic design that matches the fun, airy feel of the Aethereal brand and sets it apart from competitors.
A modular design uses adjustable inserts or compartments that can be reconfigured for different product shapes and sizes, avoiding the need for a new box design every time a product lineup changes.
Glueless trays fold into shape without adhesive, making them easier to recycle and just as sturdy for cushioning fragile items like crystals during shipping.
A soft-touch coating gives paperboard a matte, tactile finish. Paired with a heavier paper stock, it creates a look and feel similar to rigid packaging at a lower cost.
A consultative process that reviews priorities early helps a new brand decide where to spend more, such as paper stock, and where to save, such as limiting print coverage to a sleeve rather than the whole box.
Packaging designed with future product variations in mind lets a brand introduce new items without redesigning the box from scratch each time, saving cost and time as the business scales.
