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Cardboard Design

This heavyweight paper becomes a primary material for eco-friendly design

Implications - Cardboard has typically been used for things like food takeout containers, shipping boxes and the like, but over the course of the year, designers have been applying it to everything from architecture to branding. An eco-friendly building material, cardboard is also heavier than ordinary paper, making it more practical for construction and design. The use of cardboard seems to have no bounds, especially as designers and companies get more creative with it.
Trend Themes
1. Cardboard as Sustainable Material - Businesses can explore innovative ways to use cardboard as a more eco-friendly and heavier alternative to ordinary paper such as Cat Houses, Churches, Coat Hangers, and Playgrounds.
2. Cardboard as Creative Branding Element - Incorporating cardboard into branding efforts, such as using it to package products, allows for a unique and practical approach, for example, Aufschwung Swing packaging and Reinhard Deines 'Dickens' bookshelf.
3. Cardboard as Offbeat Luxury Material - Luxury companies could explore cardboard as an unconventional yet elegant material for temporary design, such as Hermes + Shigeru Ban Pavilion, showcasing home objects in a modular pop-up structure made entirely out of paper.
Industry Implications
1. Sustainable Architecture - Architects can explore using cardboard as a more eco-friendly and affordable building material as demonstrated by the 1864 Cathedral in New Zealand and Bloomberg Meeting Space by Lazerian.
2. Environmental Interior Design - Interior designers can incorporate cardboard into their projects as demonstrated by the unique, sustainable, and functional Pupa meeting area inside Bloomberg's London headquarters, enhancing the acoustical and structural elements of the cardboard material.
3. Creative Eco-friendly Branding - Businesses can incorporate simple yet sustainable cardboard packaging to showcase their products and increase its aesthetic values, such as the modern Aufschwung Swing packaging, the luxury Hermes + Shigeru Ban Pavilion and the Reinhard Deines 'Dickens' bookshelf.
4.6
Score
Popularity
Activity
Freshness
Patterns
Megatrends
9 Featured, 79 Examples:
3,011,143 Total Clicks
Date Range:
Oct 11 — Feb 12
Trending:
Warm

Featured Examples

Bow-Shaped Branding
Bow-Shaped Branding
Aufschwung Swing Packaging Celebrates the Crescent Form of its Contents
More often than not a product is required to conform to the dimensions of a standard size box that in no way represents the true appearance of the item. Aufschwung Swing packaging bore the advantage of… MORE
Prefabricated Playgrounds
Prefabricated Playgrounds
The Play Modern Cuba and 2cuba Playhouses are Built With Minimal Tools
The fanciest toys aren't always the ones that keep kids entertained the longest, which is why Play Modern Cuba and 2Cuba decided to use minimalist materials proven to be favorited by kids: cardboard. The… MORE
Luxury Paper Pop-Ups
Luxury Paper Pop-Ups
Hermes + Shigeru Ban Pavilion is an Eco-Friendly Design
A joint project between the French fashion house Hermes and ecological architect Shigeru Ban, the Hermes + Shigeru Ban Pavilion is a special exhibit part of Tokyo's Design Tide Exhibition. The project… MORE
Completely Recyclable Compartments
Completely Recyclable Compartments
The Reinhard Deines 'Dickens' Bookshelf is Sustainably Chic
The concept of the Reinhard Deines 'Dickens' bookshelf seems so sleek and simple that it's a wonder why the cardboard creation isn't a standard decor staple. The shelving unit that stands tall with strategically… MORE
Cardboard Coat Hangers
Cardboard Coat Hangers
The Memory Hook is Unmatched by Plastic and Metal Racks
With a closet full of durable wire, wood and plastic clothes hangers, you may be wondering what the appeal is of the paper-based Memory Hook. Perhaps you might be skeptical of its stability, its longevity… MORE
Cardboard Constructed Interiors
Cardboard Constructed Interiors
The Bloomberg Meeting Space by Lazerian is Paper-Made
The Bloomberg Meeting Space by Lazarian fuses creativity with environmentally conscious design ideals. English designer Liam Hopkins of Lazerian used waste cardboard as a primary material when... MORE
Cardboard Cat Houses
Cardboard Cat Houses
The Kitty Dome is a Sustainable Space for Your Furry Feline
When shopping for your beloved cat, the Kitty Dome offers a comfortable and secure shelter that also boasts environmental benefits. Made from industrial-strength cardboard, the Kitty Dome is easily set… MORE
Cardboard Churches
Cardboard Churches
The 1864 Cathedral in New Zealand Will Be Rebuilt Out of Cardboard
The 1864 Cathedral has stood at the zenith of Christchurch, New Zealand for almost 150 years. But this past February, a 6.3-magnitude earthquake ripped through the small island nation and delivered considerable… MORE
Upcycled Festive Tannenbaums
Upcycled Festive Tannenbaums
A 'Makedo Kit' Will Help You Create a Cardboard Christmas Tree
If a Charlie Brown Christmas tree is your only option this holiday season, you may want to consider this clever cardboard Christmas tree crafted using old boxes and a 'Makedo KIT for THREE'. With a little… MORE

Related Examples

Undulating Ledges
Undulating Ledges
Wave Shelves by Vishal Agale Present an Ocean of Orientation Possibilities
14 Marvelous Man-Made Christmas Trees
14 Marvelous Man-Made Christmas Trees
From Canned Christmas Trees to Star of David Tannenbaums
Giant Cardboard Tannenbaums
Giant Cardboard Tannenbaums
Giles Miller's Carboard Christmas Tree is the World's Largest
Crazy Cypress Crowns
Crazy Cypress Crowns
This Christmas Tree Hat by Stupid.com Will Make you Look Smart
Odd Inverted Tannenbaums
Odd Inverted Tannenbaums
The CMI Upside Down Christmas Tree Turns the Holiday on its Head
Earthquake-Inspired Shelving
Earthquake-Inspired Shelving
Tembolat Gugkeav's Tectonic Bookcase is Precariously Balanced
Oblique Boxy Libraries
Oblique Boxy Libraries
BookCaseScreenWall Provides a Slanted and Pixelated Display of Publications
Literal Green Holidecor
Literal Green Holidecor
The Christmas Tree by Jolanta Šmidtienė is Made of Plastic
$2 Million Christmas Trees
$2 Million Christmas Trees
The Ginza Tanaka Jewelry Store Shows Truly Opulent Holiday Decor
Scarf Styling Sessions
Scarf Styling Sessions
Hermes' 'Paris Mon Ami' Campaign Offers Shoppers a Fab Fashion Experience
Circular Library Bookshelves
Circular Library Bookshelves
Ex Libris' Curvy Design is Capable of Holding 20,000 Tomes
Toy Brick Trees
Toy Brick Trees
The LEGO Christmas Tree Uses Over 600,000 LEGO Pieces
Shelf-Hook Hybrids
Shelf-Hook Hybrids
Frederic Lecrivain's Ensemble Hyphens is Contemporary and Customizable
Curiously Cutout Cabinets
Curiously Cutout Cabinets
The Hotel Claska Long-Term Resident Rooms are Inspired by Inventory
Feline Friendly Tents
Feline Friendly Tents
The Native American Cat Teepee is a New World of Fun
Outlined Bake Dish Branding
Outlined Bake Dish Branding
Falcon Enamelware Packaging Employs the Simplicity of its Plate Design
Sustainable Clothing Pop-Ups
Sustainable Clothing Pop-Ups
Nike, Hurley & Otis College 'Considered' Exhibit Centers on Salvation
Vibrant Pop-Up Cafes
Vibrant Pop-Up Cafes
The ING Express Mobile Coffee Bar is an Eye-Catching Modular Establishment
Slanted Storage Systems
Slanted Storage Systems
The A2 Angle Shelf Functions Despite and Due to its Peculiarity
Delightful Tetrapod Ledges
Delightful Tetrapod Ledges
Ushanki Shelf-Lamps Animate Spaces with Whimsical Form and Light
Tied Eco Takeaway
Tied Eco Takeaway
Take-Out Packaging by JoAnn Arello Contains All Food, Condiments and Cutlery
52 Pop-Up Establishments
52 Pop-Up Establishments
Temporary Biz, from Pop-Up Fashion Restaurants to Pop-Up Nightclubs
Malleable Bookshelves
Malleable Bookshelves
Luke Hart's 'Rubber Shelves' is Fit for Literature of All Sizes
Pierced Pin Branding
Pierced Pin Branding
Jobeur Nail Packaging Demonstrates Creative Handiwork
30 Disaster-Proof Homes
30 Disaster-Proof Homes
From Post-Quake Container Houses to Inflatable Micro Homes
Iconic Culinary Packaging
Iconic Culinary Packaging
Cook It Kitchen Gadgets are Rebranded for a New Consumer Base
Confused Clothes Hangers
Confused Clothes Hangers
The Trook Hanger is Installed with Three Separate Hooks
Cute Cardboard Branding
Cute Cardboard Branding
Mama, Papa and Gloria Packaging Embraces a Youthful Theme
Flexible Closet Designs
Flexible Closet Designs
The Split Hanger Changes Shape to Fit All Collar Sizes
Clandestine Retail Shops
Clandestine Retail Shops
Topshop Pop-Up is Hidden Within Flagship Store as a Florist Shop
Boardwalk-Inspired Shops
Boardwalk-Inspired Shops
Dri Dri Pop-Up Creates a Unique Beach Experience
Inflatable Churches
Inflatable Churches
Transparante Kerk is a Pop-Up Church That is the First of its Kind
Mismatched Coat Hangers
Mismatched Coat Hangers
Pedersen + Lennard's Single Hook Mixes Handmade and Machine-made Materials
Sculptural Religious Sanctuaries
Sculptural Religious Sanctuaries
The Martin Luther Church Focuses on Light and Transparency
Hexagonal Hole Branding
Hexagonal Hole Branding
Nooka Mindstyle Packaging Embraces the Nature of its Contents
Charming Cardboard Branding
Charming Cardboard Branding
Librito de Mi Packaging Makes Recipients Feel Special
Inner Beauty Branding
Inner Beauty Branding
Fruute Packaging is Decorated on the Inside
Curling Lumber Clothes Racks
Curling Lumber Clothes Racks
Hook Hanger by Julius Bucelis is Both Practical and Pretty
play_circle_filledBiblical Phone Covers
Biblical Phone Covers
The BookBook for iPhone Will Make You Seem Holy
Crosswise Coffee Branding
Crosswise Coffee Branding
Starbucks Special Edition Packaging Seeks a Different Approach
Time-Based Bartering
Time-Based Bartering
The Time/Bank Pop-Up Shop Trades Minutes Instead of Money
Stunning Corrugated Sculptures
Stunning Corrugated Sculptures
Vally Nomidou Makes Perfect Paper People
Spikey Seed Sanctuaries
Spikey Seed Sanctuaries
The Rosebud Orthodox Church Burgeons Like a Modern Bulb
Modern Faceted Mausoleums
Modern Faceted Mausoleums
The Panteon Nube Looks like a Contemporary Ice Cave
Bulbous Honeycomb Sculptures
Bulbous Honeycomb Sculptures
HEXigloo is an Intricate Exploration of Parametric Design
Simple Pop-Up Shelters
Simple Pop-Up Shelters
Atelier OPA Creates Simple Cardboard Havens That Takes Seconds to Make
Curvy Contemporary Cathedrals
Curvy Contemporary Cathedrals
The San Josemaria Escriva Church Brings New Shape to Church Design
play_circle_filledRecycle Awareness Shops
Recycle Awareness Shops
The Coca-Cola Israel Pop-Up Store Educates Visitors on Upcycled Products
Collapsible Clothes Racks
Collapsible Clothes Racks
The Hangair Foldable Hanger Offers a Solution for Traveling with a Suit
Midas-Touch Church-Toppers
Midas-Touch Church-Toppers
The Arch-Group and Sade Sarl Design a Futuristic Russian Church
Huge Holy Houses
Huge Holy Houses
Old Church Remodeled into the $7.5 Million 601 Dolores Street Home
Designer Kiddie Playhomes
Designer Kiddie Playhomes
The SmartPlayhouse Offers Personal and Stylish Spaces for Children
Animalistic Memo Holders
Animalistic Memo Holders
Yaacov Kaufman Creates a Cute Way to Stay on Task
Angular Arboreal Sanctuaries
Angular Arboreal Sanctuaries
The Ecumenical Chapel by AOA Architects Branches Out to All
Cult-Classic Cookies
Cult-Classic Cookies
Kandy Cakes Celebrates the Jim Henson Classic With Labyrinth Cookies
Pampered Pet Accessories
Pampered Pet Accessories
The $900 Dog High Chair by Rockstar Puppy is for Discerning Dog Owners
Dapper Dog Fashion
Dapper Dog Fashion
Wall Street Dog Trench Coats are Cute, Cuddly Couture
Dream Playhouses
Dream Playhouses
This Robert Potokar Treehouse is Every Kid's Dream
UFO-Inspired Pet Sleepers
UFO-Inspired Pet Sleepers
The Hepper Pod Pet Bed is a Unique Retreat for Your Tired Pets
Lavish Pet Lairs
Lavish Pet Lairs
The Operetta Pet Lounge by Kenneth Cobonpue is Dedicated to Canine Comfort
Formal Dog Fashion
Formal Dog Fashion
The Bow Tie Dog Collar Gives Your Pooch Panache
Illusionary Dog Houses
Illusionary Dog Houses
The MySpots Line by Mural Direct Creates Deceiving Doggie Decals
30 Adorable Pet Innovations
30 Adorable Pet Innovations
From Animal Employees to Heartwarming Virals
Adorable Jacket Hangers
Adorable Jacket Hangers
The Bird Hanger Features a Cutely Perched Plastic Parrot
DIY Christmas Trees
DIY Christmas Trees
Megan Reardon Shows You How to Make an Ornament Mobile Tree
Top 100 Christmas Trends of 2010
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From Tattooed LEGO Toys to Space Geek Headphones
Typographical Closet Companions
Typographical Closet Companions
The Helvetica Coat Hanger Makes the Typeface Tangible
Fairytale Garden Castles
Fairytale Garden Castles
Dreaming Spires Willow Playhouses are Designed for Imaginative Play
Hanger Bouquets
Hanger Bouquets
Alice Rosignoli Combines 20 Hangers for an Instant Closet and Art Installation
Chair Back Hangers
Chair Back Hangers
The Abitudini Clothes Hangers Take Recycling to a New Chic Level
Geometric Cardboard Seats
Geometric Cardboard Seats
Lazerian Studio Reveals Recycled Cardboard Furniture in Milan
Psychedelic Children's Bedrooms
Psychedelic Children's Bedrooms
Karim Rashid Designs Colorful Furniture for Neoset
14 Playful Playhouses
14 Playful Playhouses
From Multi-Purpose Kids Centers to Flatpack Forts
Dangerous Retro Playhouses
Dangerous Retro Playhouses
Playgrounds from the 70s are Modern Bad Ideas
Prefab Playhouses
Prefab Playhouses
Modern Cabana Takes Its Prefabrication Skill to the Kiddo Cabana
Crooked Playhouses
Crooked Playhouses
Whimsical Play Homes You Can Customize With Paint & Porches
Lacy Plywood Lampshades
Lacy Plywood Lampshades
'Light Modulator' by Lazerian
Webbed Plywood Furniture
Webbed Plywood Furniture
The 'Mensa' Table
Victorian Play House
Victorian Play House
Luxury for Kids