Premium Swag Box for MLC Connect

Swag Box for Athletic Creatives

For the designers, art directors, creative directors and other visionary minds behind our countries best-known athletic franchises, only the finest would do for a conference swag box.

A private gathering of creatives from major league teams from the NFL, NHL, NBA, MLB, as well as several collegiate team, the Major Level Creative ‘Connect’ conference has become an anticipated and beloved event for attendees. The exclusive gathering helps the small, agile teams of designers share successes, failures and new ideas for telling the heroic tales of their franchises.

Swag box with black soft touch material, silver foil stamping and a magnetic closure.
Swag box with black soft touch material, silver foil stamping and a magnetic closure.

As our parent company, Taylor Box Company, was a sponsor of this years MLC Connect, hosted by the White Sox in Chicago, we were asked to put together a special swag box. We decided on 060 Black Chip as the board substrate so the package would be strong but not overly heavy for those bringing the swag box home in a carry-on. MLC requested a soft-touch material, so we wrapped the tray and folder in black Mano from Neenah (formerly a Fibermark product).

The lid panel of the swag box had a Mano-lined envelope to hold important print collateral from the show, and the package was held shut with a magnet closure for a more premium touch. The killer graphics were provided by the creatives at MLC Connect, and were foil stamped in-house. As a nod to the event’s hosts, we chose a silver metallic foil that was a near exact match for the White Sox silver PMS.

This style of package is ideal for high-end invitations, welcome kits (whether to an exclusive group, time share, etc), season ticket packaging for athletics and the arts, etc. With the addition of a platform insert, foam insert or injection molded plastic insert, this package could easily be repurposed from swag box to premium consumer goods and electronic packaging.

Swag box with black soft touch material, silver foil stamping and a magnetic closure.
Swag box with black soft touch material, silver foil stamping and a magnetic closure.

Portfoliobox of the Month: Custom Menu Cover for New England Patriots

New England Patriots ownership wanted to take an already luxurious experience and elevate it in celebration of the team’s 50th anniversary.

They turned to Portfoliobox to create this exquisite custom menu cover for luxury suite catering. Glossy pages filled with scrumptious photographs of lobster, sushi and other delights were held in this anniversary keepsake folder.

Patriots Luxury Menu Box

The menu cover was constructed with heavyweight Eska board panels wrapped with Cialux, a silky, linen-like fabric imported from Manifattura del Seveso in Italy. Although there are other, equally elegant European linens they could have chosen, the Cialux color palette offered a blue that most closely matched the Patriot’s logo. Had the Patriots required a different color we would have suggested a different linen for the covering, perhaps from Germany, The Netherlands or Japan.

Foil stamping on a natural finished material can be very challenging, especially when there are large solid areas of color. In order to accomplish this Portfoliobox sourced Naiki foil from Japan, one of the few metallic foils that stamp well on linen. Even running on a 100-ton heated press, we had to apply 3 layers of foil for complete coverage.

When the folder is opened a concealed pocket inside the back cover allows the Wire-O bound menu to slide into place. Had the team decided to change the menu at any time during the season they could have easily done so. A set of simple ribbon ties completed the presentation. The end result was an elegant hard-cover memento of the anniversary season.
new-england-luxury-box-menu-2

Highly popular Wire-O binding uses formed wire that threads through punched holes. This allows books to lay flat when open. Wire loops are available in variety of colors to coordinate with cover color. A durable option for a wide variety of project types but not particularly elegant. Adding a Portfoliobox folder adds style and grace to an otherwise utilitarian design element.

Their 50th season saw the Patriots make it into the playoffs. Whether it’s a menu cover, an architectural presentation or a major financial proposal, let the team here at Portfolio help your team add style and grace so that you make it to the playoffs.

Choosing the Right Portfolio or Presentation Case for Your Budget

This week’s dispatch comes as a guest post from our amazing Digital Design Intern, Jordan Facin. Jordan is a senior at Roger William University where he is studying Graphic Design. We turned to Jordan for his unique insights into opportunities for undergrads to improve any presentation with a Portfoliobox Stock Product.

There are a variety of important considerations to address when assembling your work for an academic or professional presentation. Whether you want to display your photographs, final thesis, printmaking collection, or button up a curated array for portfolio review, you definitely don’t want to be the kid with their work in a paper folder stapled together at 2:30am the night before. Fortunately for creative students across America, there is always a great way to exhibit your work when you know about Portfoliobox.

With over 30 years of experience, steeped in a tradition of classical book binding, we at Portoliobox have perfected the art of handmade custom portfolios and are sought internationally by artists to house their work. To accommodate any budget, we also offer four different handcrafted stock portfolios. Made in the USA with beautiful premium materials, these stock options come in a myriad of different dimensions to suit your project. With all the options, however, the toughest part is choosing the right portfolio for your work. We are here to help!

13x19 Edition Folio Open & Closed 13x19 Edition Folio Open

Our Edition Folio is a timeless folio design that can be multi-functional and catered to your display needs; two stiff boards lined with acid free Stonehenge paper, 3 Stonehenge paper flaps to keep your prints in place, and an elegant grosgrain ribbon closure. Designed to hold a small volume, this would be the perfect fit for those who need to display or carry up to eight sheets of prized photographs, prints, architectural drawings, perhaps a short proposal, etc. If you are seeking a portfolio that is light, yet functional, and evocative of old school fine art portfolios, then this is the Portfoliobox for you.

With sizes up to 13” x 19”, this is a great option for students who prefer a select portfolio, and is perfect to hold those special creations being shown to potential schools, employers and buyers. With a 100% cotton, archivally pure lining, the Edition Folio is also a great place to store your sensitive works after class is done.

Available OverFlap Folio Sizes 8x10 Overflap Folio Side

Every medium has unique needs when it comes to presentation; even among the fine arts! Besides, your portfolio represents work in at least one concentration, likely two or more. If your mix media collection requires more space than the Edition Folio can provide, the Overflap Folio may be your best bet with its roomy ½ inch depth. The Overflap Folio is made of stiff wrapped board, with 3 lined flaps that fold in to offer additional structural and security support. The inside is lined with acid free Stonehenge paper to protect your sensitive photographs, and wrapped in smooth professional Arrestox.

If you have a thesis, proposal or project summary, and don’t want to be just another laminated booklet or plastic binder in the stack, the Overflap Folio can offer an elegant and singular home for your opus. Again, the Overflap Folio comes in sizes ranging from 8” x 10” to 16” x 20” so whether you’re housing small prints, large drawings or something in between, you’re certain to find what you need

8x10 Lipped Clamshell Open 11x14 Lipped Clamshell Open

Our Lipped Clamshell is a classic bookstyle silhouette that has become the gold standard for presentation boxes. The wooden construction ensures structural reliability and sturdiness, not to mention a premium heft when held that is complimented by the tactile quality of the linen book cloth wrap. The amazing1.5” depth of this portfolio guarantees all of your best work will be housed comfortably without any overcrowding, and can even accommodate certain dimensional creative works. The Clamshell itself opens to lay perfectly flat, and creates a dual viewing area framed within the two trays. This would be a great choice for any artist, but particularly photography and print students.

The Lipped Clamshell presentation is a prime selection for its luxurious materials and breadth when completely opened– perfect for showcasing during a crit or calling on galleries!

8-by-10-tray-portfolio-box5 11-by-14-tray-portfolio-box-4

While the Lipped Clamshell may be the classic choice, there is yet another option to consider. If you are looking for a portfolio with the same depth as the Lipped Clamshell, but a more contemporary and commercial aesthetic, you may want to consider the Tray Box. Our Tray Box is constructed with a heavy cover board tray, and comes wrapped and lined in either smooth black Arrestox or black Brillianta linen book cloth, for a monochromatic, chic appearance. The wrap around cover and closure flap are secured with Velcro to guarantee contents are safe and sound. Like the Lipped Clamshell, the Tray Box has a 1 ½” deep tray, which means that you can fit all of your favorite works of art, a thick business plan proposal, or even an insert to hold dimensional work like jewelry and prototype miniatures. This would be a great option for those going on interviews, who may need to carry more than one resume or CV.

Somewhere between a traditional folio and a business presentation case, a display and a storage solution, the Tray Box is an unsurpassed value for your next project.

Portfoliobox of the Month: Twig & Fig Couture Display

Twig & Fig Paperie’s letterpress artisans employ state of the art tools and the highest quality inks to continue the tradition of exquisite letterpress printing while reinterpreting the craft in innovative and forward-thinking ways. When you are that passionate about the invitations you create, you need an equally impressive box to display these wares. Naturally, they turned to the craftsmen at Portfoliobox for a couture display to suit.

This box is constructed with a basswood frame and Eska board neck tray and panels. The sides and interior are wrapped in a shimmery, silky fabric while the cover is clad in sumptuous gold brocade – both materials manufactured by World Cloth (Japan). The finishing touch is a deeply etched copper plate secured in a recessed setting in the cover.

Whether your product is bespoke invitations, special gifts, custom jewelry or handmade fine housewares, the inspired design team at Portfoliobox will work with you to produce an unforgettable, couture display.. Display or point of purchase, we strive to add value to the buying experience. Our attention to the details assures that your customer will know they are holding something special.

Best regards,

Stuart

 

Technical Specifications
Product Held: Invitation and stationary samples
Style: Lipped Clamshell box with neck tray
Size: 11 x 16 x 4.5
Materials: World Cloth 361-A Ginga + 150-B Mikura-Donsu
Decoration: Etched copper plate inset cover, copper foil stamp on spine

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Stock Portfolio Products