12 Custom shoe box designs for branding inspiration

There is something special about purchasing a brand new pair of shoes. That satisfying feeling of trying them on for the first time, or catching a whiff of the brand new shoe smell, never gets old. 

As consumers, we tend to look at the shoe itself; the price, the quality, but more importantly, how it makes us feel. All fair observations that assist our underlying decision of whether to buy the shoes or not. 

But there's more to it than that.

Shoe box design plays a subtle but powerful role in our purchasing decisions. A quality custom shoe box complements the product, not only adding value to the shoe but to the overall experience of the purchase. 

In this article, we'll be showcasing some creative examples of custom shoe boxes, that we hope will inspire you to go off and create your own. 

You'll also see:

• Innovative custom shoebox designs
• Shoe boxes as collectables 
• Eco-friendly shoe box examples

Innovative Custom Shoe Box Design 

Packaging is so much more than protection. It's the first touchpoint for consumers and can add tremendous value through creative design and user experience. 

An innovative shoebox design creates a memorable unboxing experience that resonates with the customer and leaves a lasting impression. 

Take a look at our examples of innovative shoebox designs:

Adidas 1

The Adidas 1 is a running shoe manufactured by the German shoemaker giants. The shoe was the first of its kind to incorporate a computer, so the design of this shoebox is completely futuristic. At first glance, it looks like your unboxing a piece of high-tech equipment or machinery. 

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The innovative die-cut design complements the visionary idea of the shoe. This custom shoe box arouses curiosity for the consumer, imploring them to find out what lies beneath - a brilliant example of custom shoebox design that adds to the overall customer experience.

Vans Shoebox

Created by designer Nate Eul, this custom shoebox pays homage to the roots of the skate and surf company. 

The packaging uses vibrant, contrasting colours that immediately draw in your attention. The graphics reflect the skate/surf culture of the company.

The non-traditional shape of the box aligns with the alternativeness of the brand. It's also more efficient, using less material and wasting less space because of the unique design that allows the boxes to be stacked on top of one another. 

This custom shoe box is dynamic and visually appealing for consumers as they unbox their fresh pair of Vans sneakers. 

Jeffrey Campbell Shoes

Designed by Katy Verbrugge, the innovative design of this shoebox is intended to replicate the feeling of unboxing a gift. In the words of Katy:

"I designed it this way because shoes are a gift that you buy yourself and it should feel like opening a present."

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The inside of the lid includes a scratch-off element that reveals a fun quote about shoes. This interaction is precisely the type of addition that creates a memorable unboxing experience for the buyer.

Adidas THE PACK

A sleeved box created by American design agency Hovers over Water. The outer sleeve of the packaging is built with a lenticular animation, creating a premium unboxing experience. The box itself is constructed with the utmost quality, utilising iridescent foil to highlight the graphics.  

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THE PACK shoe box showcases the importance of memorable packaging and unboxing for the user. An example of a premium custom shoe box that adds an element of luxury.

Fisherman Boots

The creation of designer Igor Mitin, who utilised the product as part of his design. The result is a unique custom box that immediately distinguishes the Fisherman brand from its competitors. 

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The life-like packaging also highlights the functionality of the product, with that message emphasised by the product itself. Unquestionably an effective form of packaging marketing that has an immediate impact on consumers as they browse the retail shelves. 

Saucony 

Established in the late 19th century, Saucony is one of the oldest sport shoe companies around. In the attempt to come up with some truly one of a kind packaging, the shoemaker came up with a competition to design a custom shoebox. 

The response was amazing with a number of entries submitted and three designs awarded. The awarded designs were printed on an Eco-white mailer. The box served as a blank canvas allowing for the creative design to be the focal point of the packaging. 

The intuitive concept is an excellent example of the marketing power that custom packaging can add to your business. 

Custom Sneaker Boxes for the Sneaker Collector

The sneaker world is a wild one. For some, buying sneakers is a full-blown obsession, resulting in thousands of dollars spent each year collecting the freshest pair of kicks available. 

Many famous sports stars, musicians and actors have created their own shoe lines with industry powerhouses like Adidas and Nike. 

The packaging of these sneakers is as impressive as the shoes themselves and adds sentimental value to the shoe collection. 

Take a look at some of the best custom sneaker box examples:

Nike SB Dunk - Travis Scott

The American rapper released his first signature shoe in 2018. The shoe is designed to mirror the rapper's fashion style with bandanas and patchwork worked throughout the design. 

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The custom sneaker box is designed with the same elements of the shoe itself. The packaging serves not only as protection for the shoes but as an added component to the collective value of the shoes.

Lebron 12 Sneaker

Lebron James has been releasing sneakers since his first professional basketball season way back in 2003. Throughout the years, he's garnered a global following of sneaker enthusiasts collecting his new releases as they become available.  

The Lebron 12 was released in 2012, and the sneaker box was something to behold. The custom shoebox was designed to add all of the elements of Lebron's brand, focusing primarily on the lion and crown of his branding. 

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Although Lebron is a well-known figure, his shoebox exemplifies how branding is a meaningful component of packaging design. Without even seeing his name on the packaging, buyers are instantly aware of the product through the creative branding design. 

Jordan Brand Sneaker Boxes

This list wouldn't be complete without the iconic Jordan Brand. Michael Jordan is regarded as the greatest basketball player of all time, but his exploits of the court may be even more impressive. 

His signature sneakers are the most sort after by collectors, and his custom shoe boxes are equally impressive. 

At first glance, it doesn't look like much thought has gone into the design. A plain black box with the Jordan logo and his famed number 23 doesn't seem like much, but there is more than meets the eye. 

The Jumpman logo and 23 are printed in gold using the hot stamping technique generating a shiny, premium effect. The logo and 23 are also embossed, meaning they're raised off the surface of the box, which you can see and feel. These two finishing techniques are very popular for high quality or premium products and a natural fit for Jordan Brand. 

Eco-Friendly Custom Shoe Box Designs

Environmental awareness has never been greater than it is right now. Consumers (particularly millennials) are steering away from traditional, non-sustainable forms of packaging. 

This behavioural shift is particularly evident within the fashion industry. There is increasing innovation in sustainable packaging that's visible in custom shoe box designs.

Here are our eco-friendly custom shoebox examples: 

Sustainable Adidas Shoe Box

A concept devised by Sanket Patel, an industrial product designer who noticed stagnancy in shoebox designs. He came up with a fully collapsable shoe box made from recycled content. The impressive design also minimises material use and eliminates wasted space.

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Millennials place great emphasis on the environment with their purchasing decisions. A custom shoebox that's designed with the environment in mind is an excellent example of how packaging influences buyer behaviour. 

Plae Packables collection 

Plae is an eco-friendly Ecommerce that specialises in footwear. The eco-friendly brand uses a variety of sustainable manufacturing techniques and utilise compostable materials to create their footwear. 

Plae invented completely flexible footwear (for both men and women) that are conveniently designed to be carried in a handbag or backpack. 

A sustainable brand such as this one requires eco-friendly packaging to complement the product, so they decided to think outside of the box by removing the box! 

The shoes arrive in an airtight bag that showcases the flexible design of the shoe while ensuring the safe delivery of the product. The bag is also reusable so it can be used again and again in the future. 

As pressure mounts for greater environmental awareness, more brands will be introducing packaging such as Plae's clever bag. 

Pedro custom shoebox concept

The creation of some talented students from India. Pedro is a premium brand and therefore, a natural choice for their project. This idea behind this custom shoe box was based on the enjoyment that consumers have when boxing a new pair of shoes for the first time.

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Once the shoebox is brought home, it can be repurposed into a display box so the user can recreate that new shoe feeling every time he puts them on. A multiple-use shoebox that not optimises the experience for the consumer but is also environmentally friendly.

In Conclusion

Hopefully, these custom shoe box examples have provided a better understanding of the power of packaging. Whether it's an innovative, collectable or eco-friendly design, custom shoeboxes bring the most out of the shoes that lie within. 

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