Sunrise Identity & Catalyst
Sustainable Promotional Mailer Kit
A promotional mailer kit for Sunrise Identity and Catalyst Marketing demonstrating sustainable promotional product options to current and prospective clients. The kit balances immediate sustainability cues with modern design, featuring customizable product selections and integrated messaging about reducing environmental impact.
The Challenge
Sunrise Identity and Catalyst Marketing needed a quarterly promotional mailer showcasing sustainable promotional product options to clients and prospects. The kit needed to demonstrate how clients could reduce environmental impact while creating effective marketing tools. The design challenge was avoiding predictable sustainability aesthetics while clearly communicating environmental benefits across packaging and diverse product selections.
The Solution
A kraft box serving as packaging, messaging carrier, and shipper eliminates separate materials. The visual system balances natural kraft with modern design—bold typography, tree bark and ring textures, and handcrafted icons. Minimal ink with no coatings keeps the box recyclable. Inside the lid, "sustainable stories" explain product benefits using Renew, Nurture, and Cherish messaging. Sales representatives could customize kits by selecting from 12 products chosen for sustainable materials and reusability.
The Challenge
Sunrise Identity and Catalyst Marketing needed a quarterly promotional mailer showcasing sustainable promotional product options to clients and prospects. The kit needed to demonstrate how clients could reduce environmental impact while creating effective marketing tools. The design challenge was avoiding predictable sustainability aesthetics while clearly communicating environmental benefits across packaging and diverse product selections.
The Solution
A kraft box serving as packaging, messaging carrier, and shipper eliminates separate materials. The visual system balances natural kraft with modern design—bold typography, tree bark and ring textures, and handcrafted icons. Minimal ink with no coatings keeps the box recyclable. Inside the lid, "sustainable stories" explain product benefits using Renew, Nurture, and Cherish messaging. Sales representatives could customize kits by selecting from 12 products chosen for sustainable materials and reusability.
  • Box Design & Multi-Purpose System
    The box served multiple functions simultaneously: protective packaging, complete messaging carrier, and shipping container. To maximize utility while minimizing materials, I designed the box to work as its own shipper, with graphics functioning both with and without shipping labels. Rather than including separate information cards, all messaging was printed directly on the box interior—lid copy invited recipients to look beneath packing materials to discover "sustainable stories" for each product printed on the box bottom. The box interior featured four circular "stamps" that recipients could cut out as coasters after unpacking, extending the box's useful life. Minimal ink usage with no coatings or treatments kept the box fully recyclable while supporting the sustainability message through material choices rather than just messaging.
  • Box Design & Multi-Purpose System
    The box served multiple functions simultaneously: protective packaging, complete messaging carrier, and shipping container. To maximize utility while minimizing materials, I designed the box to work as its own shipper, with graphics functioning both with and without shipping labels. Rather than including separate information cards, all messaging was printed directly on the box interior—lid copy invited recipients to look beneath packing materials to discover "sustainable stories" for each product printed on the box bottom. The box interior featured four circular "stamps" that recipients could cut out as coasters after unpacking, extending the box's useful life. Minimal ink usage with no coatings or treatments kept the box fully recyclable while supporting the sustainability message through material choices rather than just messaging.
  • Visual Identity
    I created a visual identity balancing immediate sustainability recognition (kraft material) with modern, unexpected design elements. Rather than typical earth-tone greens, I developed a system using black graphics from cropped tree bark and tree ring textures bleeding over corners, paired with bold typography. I art directed illustrator Ben Woods to create four handcrafted icons (planet, sprouting flower for Renew, circling arrows for Cherish, hands holding a seed for Nurture) that connected to the messaging framework.
  • Visual Identity
    I created a visual identity balancing immediate sustainability recognition (kraft material) with modern, unexpected design elements. Rather than typical earth-tone greens, I developed a system using black graphics from cropped tree bark and tree ring textures bleeding over corners, paired with bold typography. I art directed illustrator Ben Woods to create four handcrafted icons (planet, sprouting flower for Renew, circling arrows for Cherish, hands holding a seed for Nurture) that connected to the messaging framework.
  • Messaging
    Product copy used simple, playful language—phrases like "Here for the Food" on a lunch bag or "Not Your Average Baggie" on a reusable silicone bag—making sustainability benefits approachable rather than preachy. This approach avoided predictable sustainability aesthetics while maintaining clear environmental messaging throughout the unboxing experience.
  • Messaging
    Product copy used simple, playful language—phrases like "Here for the Food" on a lunch bag or "Not Your Average Baggie" on a reusable silicone bag—making sustainability benefits approachable rather than preachy. This approach avoided predictable sustainability aesthetics while maintaining clear environmental messaging throughout the unboxing experience.
  • The Results
    The promotional mailer successfully demonstrated Sunrise Identity and Catalyst Marketing's sustainable product capabilities to clients and prospects. The sales team and recipients responded positively to the sustainability focus and the playful, modern approach to environmental messaging. The kit effectively balanced demonstrating environmental responsibility with creating an engaging, memorable promotional experience.
  • The Results
    The promotional mailer successfully demonstrated Sunrise Identity and Catalyst Marketing's sustainable product capabilities to clients and prospects. The sales team and recipients responded positively to the sustainability focus and the playful, modern approach to environmental messaging. The kit effectively balanced demonstrating environmental responsibility with creating an engaging, memorable promotional experience.
Project Details
  • Collaborators
    • Role: Senior Designer, Catalyst Marketing
    • Illustrator: Ben Woods, Catalyst Marketing
  • Deliverables
    • mailer box production files
    • production files for 12 products
  • Design Tools
    • Adobe Illustrator
    • Adobe Photoshop
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