Turning Pandemic Memories into a ‘Dog’s Holiday’ Gift Box Design

Project Background

During the past year the pandemic forced everyone into prolonged home confinement, canceling travel plans and making masks a daily necessity. When a new‑year gift‑box project was requested, the team decided to break the traditional folk style and use the unique 2020 context to create a gift that carries blessings and records this special year.

2020 Keywords

The team identified several high‑search‑volume keywords from 2020 to inform the concept.

Brainstorming

A good theme must be personally relevant and resonate widely with employees. The pandemic became a collective memory, so the team focused on emotional commonality and settled on a “holiday travel” theme, naming it “DOGA’S HOLIDAY”. The aim was to deliver a warm, hopeful travel‑related experience.

Design Ideas

Reasonable Product Selection : With the travel theme defined, the product line was quickly narrowed to a mini travel suitcase, a DOGA neck pillow, a travel plush, and stickers. Additionally, a New Year set includes a food gift pack, red envelope, couplet, and greeting card.

Product Allocation : Emphasizing practicality and a lightweight gift‑box feel, the team chose to forego elaborate packaging in favor of adding one or two small accessories, reducing waste while enriching the travel theme.

Considered accessories were luggage tags, eye masks, and passport holders; ultimately, the DOGA luggage tag was selected for production.

Design Process

Character Setting Stage

After finalizing the theme and product categories, the team explored travel‑related scenes and matched them with the personalities of the dog characters. Early 2D sketches guided the creation of three‑view drawings for 3D modeling.

2D‑3D Stage

Skateboard Pigeon : The original 2D design featured a five‑finger hand, which conflicted with the dog characters. The model was adjusted to a relaxed pose to maintain visual harmony.

Adventure MAX : MAX’s cowboy hat with straps and feather details required structural adjustments to fit the head and ears, and some fine details were simplified to avoid breakage in production.

From 3D to Physical Prototype

Once the 3D models were approved, the team entered the sampling phase, working closely with the factory on material choices, color tweaks, and multiple rounds of communication to finalize the physical product.

DOGA Material Design

Each of the seven characters received a uniquely colored travel suitcase, and all interior materials followed the character’s theme color, turning the previous blind‑box plush into a cohesive surprise gift set.

Conclusion

The gift‑box broke away from conventional folk designs, exploring a holiday travel theme that conveys blessings and hopes for freedom. The team wishes everyone a mask‑free, freely traveling 2021, inviting people to embark on the long‑awaited journey.