CM Final Project Proposal

Project Title: Nat Wells Design Co. Holiday Decor Box
Project Members: me, myself, and I

decor inspiration from World Market, Mcgee & Co., Etsy, Target Threshold with Studio Mcgee

Project Summary

What is it? What’s its purpose?

• A box of various unique decor items for the holidays, curated to match coordinate well with existing decor (or begin afresh) and to also ease the time of a shopper searching high and low for different items, all the while trying to coordinate them together well.

What problem(s) are you solving?

• The box is tasteful and saves time for the consumer to do a one stop shop and know that all the pieces will work well together. It would also be an easy and tasteful gift to give, as it is packaged in a beautiful way too.

packaging inspiration from Shoppe by Amber Interiors and McGee & Co.

What will it do?

• The box will give the consumer a complete kit for decorating for the holidays to create a warm and inviting atmosphere, including ornaments, festive figurines, garland, tree topper, and a scented candle. This box would also serve as a great holiday gift for a loved one.

How will it work?

• The consumer will come to the website and either pick out specific pieces or select a box based on price with curated items for a one stop shop experience delivered to their door.

What challenges do you anticipate?

• Two Levels: First level will be designing and making the items myself for this project, specifically making them as I do not have much experience with that.
• From a business standpoint, the difficulty would lie in competition from other retailers (target, hobby lobby, michaels).

In what ways does it or will it relate to your other work in Entrepreneurial Design, Design Leadership, and/or UX?

• I am creating a brand, mockups of the website, and incorporating my knowledge of UX for a beautiful and usable website.
• The idea of the box also solves the problem that consumers have of being overwhelmed with so many options and trying to find coordinating decor for a cohesive look.
• I will create each of the objects for the box, style, and photograph them for the website mockups

logo example

Key components of your project

What resources, skills, and technologies are needed to realize it?

• Illustrator, sketch, laser cutter, carpentry, fusion 360, paper sketches

What kind of fidelity do you want to achieve?

• High fidelity, full creation of the physical product and high fidelity mockups of the e-commerce platform

What “materials” do you need to use?

• Wood, metal, 3D models, sketches

What research have you done and/or still need to do?

• I have researched current trends for what is popular this year, while also creating objects that have a timeless and classic, yet modern style. The pieces will be high quality and can last a lifetime of decorating.

Milestones you have hit thus far and what you plan to do in order to realize it in the next 3–4 weeks.

If you need to order parts and supplies, what do you need?

• Wood, metal, paper box filler, beeswax, candle jar and wicks, essential oils, ribbon, twine/jute string, paint/stain, fairy lights, mini pine cones

What questions do you have?

• How to cut the metal, how to create the files for the laser cutter, how to build the gift box for which the pieces will be shipped in, how to make a candle that smells good and is good for the environment (trying to use only sustainable materials too!)

Where do you feel you are lacking in skill and need assistance?

• I am asking my Dad (who does woodworking) to assist with building the wood tree ornaments, I am going to the idea forge to help with laser cutting and to make the metal tree topper