Case Study
How Knockout gave Merge Curated Goods a super-matte, beach-inspired carton design for their expansion into self-care and home goods.
Named for its ethos of uniting creative goods, Merge is a brand that champions uniqueness, design, sustainability, and mindfulness. The brand runs a shop featuring quality, locally-made products alongside timeless collections of apparel, self-care, and home goods.
Based in the beach town of Tofino, Merge encourages a lifestyle of celebrating simple moments through intentional, purpose-driven products.
Learn more about Merge Curated Goods →
As Merge expanded into self-care and home goods, they needed packaging that represented their high-end products and distinct Tofino style, while showing their connection to nature through sustainable materials. Knockout worked closely with Merge's own graphic designer to ensure the artwork translated well onto the finished cartons.
To achieve a luxe feel, Knockout specified a more rigid paperboard and printed on its uncoated side, delivering additional texture and a true super-matte look without an added laminate. Muted sea tones and ocean imagery on the cartons were tailored to suit Merge's beachy brand identity.
Knockout delivered environmentally friendly, visually appealing packaging that resonated with Merge's sustainability ethos. The designs harmonized seamlessly with Merge's high-end self-care and home goods, giving the whole collection a cohesive, premium shelf presence.
Most paperboard has one smoother, coated side and one uncoated, rougher side. Printing on the uncoated side gives a natural, super-matte texture without needing a separate matte laminate.
Color palettes, imagery, and finishes can be chosen to echo a specific place, like Merge's muted sea tones and ocean imagery reflecting their home in Tofino, British Columbia.
Coordinating closely with a brand's existing designer ensures the artwork translates cleanly onto the physical carton, avoiding surprises between the digital design and the finished product.
Brands selling across categories like self-care and home goods often benefit from a consistent structural and material approach that unifies the collection, even as individual product graphics vary.
A more rigid paperboard stock resists crushing and holds its shape better than standard cartons, giving products a sturdier, more premium feel when a customer opens the box.
