Sustainable Toy Packaging Design for a Montessori Brand
Blueberry & Third is a small, family-owned Montessori-inspired toy brand that creates functional open-ended play furniture and toys, focusing on quality and sustainability. Their products support child development and are often used in occupational and pediatric therapy offices.
The brand started as two parents creating toys for their own children, but when they began selling, they had no strategic packaging design. They shipped products in a plain shipping box with a sticker featuring their logo. When they tried to appeal to retail stores, the plain packaging became a hurdle—retailers knew a plain white box would not spark curiosity or appeal to customers.
The founders knew they needed a different solution—one that was functional for shipping but also retail-ready. They wanted visually appealing packaging that reflected their branding and conveyed trust, authenticity, and quality.
But as a small startup, they were operating on a limited budget. They needed a low-cost solution they could order in small quantities that still felt credible and valuable to their customers as well as boutique and store owners.
They came to Crème de Mint, a packaging design agency specializing in working with small businesses, for an elevated toy packaging design that would allow them to keep costs low while appealing to retailers and meeting their multi-functional needs.
- Mood Boards
- Packaging Design
- Print-ready Artwork Mechanicals
A Values-driven Sustainable
Toy Packaging Design
Blueberry & Third had a passion for their products and for helping children learn through play. They created their products to ignite open-ended play, spark curiosity, promote creativity and exploration, and provide beneficial tactile sensory experiences for children.
It was important that the toy packaging design for Blueberry & Third reflected the brand’s values, commitment to quality, and beliefs in the benefits of play.
We wanted the designs to feel playful and engaging, offering a look at the products and creating a sense of curiosity and excitement. We also planned to bring in a sustainable element to the toy packaging design to resonate with a high-end audience and convey the quality and care put into the products.
Mood Boards Establish
the Visual Branding
We wanted the owners to understand the options for sustainable packaging design and to visualize the possibilities for their brand. We created visual mood boards that featured sustainable material options, such as green cell foam and mushroom packaging.
We knew the sustainable aspect of the packaging was important, but we also wanted to ensure the brand could stay within budget and maintain a healthy profit margin. The options we explored were affordable and functional, balancing the need for sustainable packaging with the budget.
It was also important that the toy packaging design captured attention and evoked feelings of comfort and quality. Parents needed to feel that they could trust Blueberry & Third to create safe and enriching toys.
When we explored competitors, we found that other toy packaging was either busy and cluttered, with bright primary colors, often conveying a cheap and generic look, or bland, beige, and minimalistic, failing to catch the eye or engage interest.
We wanted to set Blueberry & Third apart from these directions with a unique approach.
Our vision for the toy packaging included showing engaging photos of the toys and the play involved, while using custom illustrations to incite curiosity for parents and children, engaging and exciting them. Our visual mood boards showcased a retro bohemian illustration style, establishing a comforting, warm, and approachable feeling.
Custom Illustrations
for the Toy Packaging Design
Drawing inspiration from the retro bohemian trend featured in the visual mood boards, we created custom illustrations for the toy packaging. Our initial project centered on just one packaging design—for the brand’s rainbow activity board (an open-ended exploration toy focused on developing fine motor skills and promoting creativity).
We created a playful but elevated colorful rainbow illustration for the toy’s packaging.
The brand loved the result so much that they brought us in to design packaging for the entire activity board line, each featuring a unique illustration—a rocket, Saturn, and a butterfly.
The eye-catching illustrations draw the eye and evoke a playful, lighthearted, and fun feel, appealing to parents and children.
Our packaging design allowed the brand to stand out and grow—and the owners were thrilled with the result: “We FINALLY have product packaging!!! This is an ABSOLUTE dream. It’s truly a game changer for our growing business!”
Sustainable Toy
Packaging Design
We designed zero-plastic, eco-friendly packaging that featured the natural materials of the products and highlighted the brand’s commitment to quality and sustainability.
Using clean and minimalistic designs, we drew the focus to the quality of the materials and the level of play involved in the toys. The custom illustrations add an engaging appeal while product images show families what to expect.
We featured the brand’s tagline, “Play Done Differently,” largely on one panel, communicating the idea that these products are special and unique.
The back of the toy packaging shows the products in use and details everything included, allowing families to easily see the materials involved and visualize how their children could play with the toys.
The results
Blueberry & Third’s toy packaging design is sustainable, warm, and engaging, speaking directly to both children and their families and standing out both online and in-person. This also allowed the brand to secure retail partnerships and attract attention from consumers on shelves.
One retailer, Playroom—a boutique toy store in Virginia—stated that “each new Blueberry & Third product is such a wonderful addition to the collection and this packaging rules!” They valued the packaging design and were proud to sell the brand’s products.
Our unique toy packaging design allowed Blueberry & Third to establish itself as premium, trustworthy, unique, and committed to families and the planet, successfully selling in both retail and online.
We FINALLY have product packaging!!!
This is an ABSOLUTE dream.
It’s truly a game changer for our growing business!
—Nikki Benbenek, Co-Founder
