CMF Design
Collectors Edition
A modular, premium shoebox system that merges CMF storytelling with functionality, designed to protect, showcase, and celebrate sneaker culture.
Year :
2024
Industry :
CMF Design
Project Duration :
4 weeks
CMF at glance :
This project explores how Color, Material, and Finish (CMF) can transform a shoebox into a collectible object. Inspired by sneaker culture, I designed and built a stacked shoebox system using wood as the base material, giving it a premium, durable feel. Instead of disposable cardboard, the wooden form makes the box something to keep, stack, and proudly display as part of the collection itself.
DESIGN INTENT :
This project came from my passion for sneakers and the culture around collecting them. Sneakers are often treated like pieces of art, but the boxes they come in are usually just flimsy cardboard that ends up damaged or thrown away. For collectors, that never felt right to me the box should carry the same weight as the sneakers inside.
I wanted to explore how Color, Material, and Finish (CMF) could change the way we see packaging. By building the box in wood, I gave it durability and presence, turning it from something temporary into something permanent. The stacked design made it functional for storage and display, while the finishes gave it the premium feel of a collector’s edition.
This wasn’t about solving a problem in the usual sense. It was about experimenting with CMF and materials to see how design can give even a shoebox its own identity and value.
Research & Insights :
When I started looking into sneaker culture more closely, one thing stood out collectors almost never throw their shoeboxes away. The boxes are kept, stacked, and sometimes even displayed as part of the collection. But most of these boxes are just thin cardboard, which gets damaged quickly and doesn’t match the value people place on the shoes themselves.
This made me think about how Color, Material, and Finish (CMF) could give the box a different identity. I studied luxury packaging and product design, where finishes like matte coatings, textured surfaces, or layered structures are used to signal exclusivity. I also looked at how furniture and storage systems use wood to create a sense of permanence and quality.
The insight was clear: for sneaker culture, the box could be more than just packaging. With the right material and CMF strategy, it could become a collector’s object in its own right something designed to be stacked, kept, and displayed.
Concept Development:
After sketching out different directions I decided to move straight into making instead of building CAD models I wanted to see how the box would behave in physical form and how the proportions would feel in real life The focus was on stacking and presence so my sketches stayed loose and exploratory more about mood and form rather than strict technical details
Prototyping and Making :
Since I skipped CAD the prototypes became the main way of developing the design I started directly with wood experimenting with how the boxes could be cut joined and finished Working with wood gave me the weight and durability I wanted right away and it forced me to make design decisions in the workshop rather than on a screen
I tested different finishes on the wooden surfaces from matte paint to glossy, Each finish completely changed the character of the box and showed me how powerful CMF choices are.
This stage was less about perfection and more about exploration, this prototype taught me something new about material presence finish and how design decisions show up in physical form
Final Outcome :
The project concluded with a stacked wooden shoebox system that showed how CMF can completely transform an everyday object The use of wood gave the box durability and presence something that felt permanent compared to flimsy cardboard Instead of being a throwaway container the box became part of the collection itself
Even though the prototypes were one off and not mass produced they captured the intent clearly The outcome showed how material choice and finish can change perception turning a shoebox into something worth keeping showing off and integrating into a collector’s space
Reflection and Learnings :
This project made me see how powerful CMF really is Working directly with wood and finishes showed me that even a simple form like a box can carry identity and presence if it is treated with care I learned how material choices completely shift how people perceive an object turning it from something ordinary into something they want to keep and display
Skipping CAD and moving straight into making also shaped the project for me It forced me to trust the process in the workshop and make decisions through trial and error rather than endless iterations on a screen That gave me a stronger connection to the material and taught me to see prototyping as a design tool rather than just the final step
Most importantly this project connected my personal passion for sneakers with my design practice It reminded me that design doesn’t always have to start with a problem sometimes it can start with culture curiosity and the desire to push an everyday object into something more meaningful
More Projects
CMF Design
Collectors Edition
A modular, premium shoebox system that merges CMF storytelling with functionality, designed to protect, showcase, and celebrate sneaker culture.
Year :
2024
Industry :
CMF Design
Project Duration :
4 weeks
CMF at glance :
This project explores how Color, Material, and Finish (CMF) can transform a shoebox into a collectible object. Inspired by sneaker culture, I designed and built a stacked shoebox system using wood as the base material, giving it a premium, durable feel. Instead of disposable cardboard, the wooden form makes the box something to keep, stack, and proudly display as part of the collection itself.
DESIGN INTENT :
This project came from my passion for sneakers and the culture around collecting them. Sneakers are often treated like pieces of art, but the boxes they come in are usually just flimsy cardboard that ends up damaged or thrown away. For collectors, that never felt right to me the box should carry the same weight as the sneakers inside.
I wanted to explore how Color, Material, and Finish (CMF) could change the way we see packaging. By building the box in wood, I gave it durability and presence, turning it from something temporary into something permanent. The stacked design made it functional for storage and display, while the finishes gave it the premium feel of a collector’s edition.
This wasn’t about solving a problem in the usual sense. It was about experimenting with CMF and materials to see how design can give even a shoebox its own identity and value.
Research & Insights :
When I started looking into sneaker culture more closely, one thing stood out collectors almost never throw their shoeboxes away. The boxes are kept, stacked, and sometimes even displayed as part of the collection. But most of these boxes are just thin cardboard, which gets damaged quickly and doesn’t match the value people place on the shoes themselves.
This made me think about how Color, Material, and Finish (CMF) could give the box a different identity. I studied luxury packaging and product design, where finishes like matte coatings, textured surfaces, or layered structures are used to signal exclusivity. I also looked at how furniture and storage systems use wood to create a sense of permanence and quality.
The insight was clear: for sneaker culture, the box could be more than just packaging. With the right material and CMF strategy, it could become a collector’s object in its own right something designed to be stacked, kept, and displayed.
Concept Development:
After sketching out different directions I decided to move straight into making instead of building CAD models I wanted to see how the box would behave in physical form and how the proportions would feel in real life The focus was on stacking and presence so my sketches stayed loose and exploratory more about mood and form rather than strict technical details
Prototyping and Making :
Since I skipped CAD the prototypes became the main way of developing the design I started directly with wood experimenting with how the boxes could be cut joined and finished Working with wood gave me the weight and durability I wanted right away and it forced me to make design decisions in the workshop rather than on a screen
I tested different finishes on the wooden surfaces from matte paint to glossy, Each finish completely changed the character of the box and showed me how powerful CMF choices are.
This stage was less about perfection and more about exploration, this prototype taught me something new about material presence finish and how design decisions show up in physical form
Final Outcome :
The project concluded with a stacked wooden shoebox system that showed how CMF can completely transform an everyday object The use of wood gave the box durability and presence something that felt permanent compared to flimsy cardboard Instead of being a throwaway container the box became part of the collection itself
Even though the prototypes were one off and not mass produced they captured the intent clearly The outcome showed how material choice and finish can change perception turning a shoebox into something worth keeping showing off and integrating into a collector’s space
Reflection and Learnings :
This project made me see how powerful CMF really is Working directly with wood and finishes showed me that even a simple form like a box can carry identity and presence if it is treated with care I learned how material choices completely shift how people perceive an object turning it from something ordinary into something they want to keep and display
Skipping CAD and moving straight into making also shaped the project for me It forced me to trust the process in the workshop and make decisions through trial and error rather than endless iterations on a screen That gave me a stronger connection to the material and taught me to see prototyping as a design tool rather than just the final step
Most importantly this project connected my personal passion for sneakers with my design practice It reminded me that design doesn’t always have to start with a problem sometimes it can start with culture curiosity and the desire to push an everyday object into something more meaningful
More Projects
CMF Design
Collectors Edition
A modular, premium shoebox system that merges CMF storytelling with functionality, designed to protect, showcase, and celebrate sneaker culture.
Year :
2024
Industry :
CMF Design
Project Duration :
4 weeks
CMF at glance :
This project explores how Color, Material, and Finish (CMF) can transform a shoebox into a collectible object. Inspired by sneaker culture, I designed and built a stacked shoebox system using wood as the base material, giving it a premium, durable feel. Instead of disposable cardboard, the wooden form makes the box something to keep, stack, and proudly display as part of the collection itself.
DESIGN INTENT :
This project came from my passion for sneakers and the culture around collecting them. Sneakers are often treated like pieces of art, but the boxes they come in are usually just flimsy cardboard that ends up damaged or thrown away. For collectors, that never felt right to me the box should carry the same weight as the sneakers inside.
I wanted to explore how Color, Material, and Finish (CMF) could change the way we see packaging. By building the box in wood, I gave it durability and presence, turning it from something temporary into something permanent. The stacked design made it functional for storage and display, while the finishes gave it the premium feel of a collector’s edition.
This wasn’t about solving a problem in the usual sense. It was about experimenting with CMF and materials to see how design can give even a shoebox its own identity and value.
Research & Insights :
When I started looking into sneaker culture more closely, one thing stood out collectors almost never throw their shoeboxes away. The boxes are kept, stacked, and sometimes even displayed as part of the collection. But most of these boxes are just thin cardboard, which gets damaged quickly and doesn’t match the value people place on the shoes themselves.
This made me think about how Color, Material, and Finish (CMF) could give the box a different identity. I studied luxury packaging and product design, where finishes like matte coatings, textured surfaces, or layered structures are used to signal exclusivity. I also looked at how furniture and storage systems use wood to create a sense of permanence and quality.
The insight was clear: for sneaker culture, the box could be more than just packaging. With the right material and CMF strategy, it could become a collector’s object in its own right something designed to be stacked, kept, and displayed.
Concept Development:
After sketching out different directions I decided to move straight into making instead of building CAD models I wanted to see how the box would behave in physical form and how the proportions would feel in real life The focus was on stacking and presence so my sketches stayed loose and exploratory more about mood and form rather than strict technical details
Prototyping and Making :
Since I skipped CAD the prototypes became the main way of developing the design I started directly with wood experimenting with how the boxes could be cut joined and finished Working with wood gave me the weight and durability I wanted right away and it forced me to make design decisions in the workshop rather than on a screen
I tested different finishes on the wooden surfaces from matte paint to glossy, Each finish completely changed the character of the box and showed me how powerful CMF choices are.
This stage was less about perfection and more about exploration, this prototype taught me something new about material presence finish and how design decisions show up in physical form
Final Outcome :
The project concluded with a stacked wooden shoebox system that showed how CMF can completely transform an everyday object The use of wood gave the box durability and presence something that felt permanent compared to flimsy cardboard Instead of being a throwaway container the box became part of the collection itself
Even though the prototypes were one off and not mass produced they captured the intent clearly The outcome showed how material choice and finish can change perception turning a shoebox into something worth keeping showing off and integrating into a collector’s space
Reflection and Learnings :
This project made me see how powerful CMF really is Working directly with wood and finishes showed me that even a simple form like a box can carry identity and presence if it is treated with care I learned how material choices completely shift how people perceive an object turning it from something ordinary into something they want to keep and display
Skipping CAD and moving straight into making also shaped the project for me It forced me to trust the process in the workshop and make decisions through trial and error rather than endless iterations on a screen That gave me a stronger connection to the material and taught me to see prototyping as a design tool rather than just the final step
Most importantly this project connected my personal passion for sneakers with my design practice It reminded me that design doesn’t always have to start with a problem sometimes it can start with culture curiosity and the desire to push an everyday object into something more meaningful